In 2002, a total of 763 nonmetal mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Examples of nonmetal mining operations include the mining of clay, trona, barite, phosphate rock, gypsum, talc, gemstones, and pumice. Nonmetal mines comprised 5.3% of all mining operations. A total of 19,864 employees, corresponding to 20,529 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, were reported by nonmetal operators to MSHA. This is a 5.9% decrease in the number of FTE nonmetal operator employees from 2001. There were no work-related fatalities in nonmetal mines in 2002. There were 594 nonfatal lost-time injuries among nonmetal mine employees, occurring at a rate of 2.9 per 100 FTE employees. These injuries resulted in 27,284 days lost from work. Forty-five cases of occupational illness were reported to MSHA for nonmetal mine employees.
NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236