Coal Mine Health and Safety
A commitment to enhance safety training and the development of new technologies has yielded remarkable improvements in the mine as a workplace.

• Mining has a lower rate of injuries and illness per 100 employees than the agriculture, construction or retail trades. According to the Department of Labor, the accident and injury rate for miners today is comparable to that of grocery store workers.
  
  
• Since 1970, coal miners have more nearly tripled their productivity, while work related injuries and fatalities have declined 45 percent and 82 percent, respectively (1970-2001).

  Sourece: U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety & Health Administration, Mine Injury & Worktime Quarterly Closeout 2001 Edition; NCA, Bituminous Coal Data 1972 Edition, p. 39

  
  
• In an underground mine, the walls of the tunnels or shafts are covered with pulverized white rock to help settle coal dust. Also, water sprayers on mechanized equipment, such as continuous and long wall miners, help reduce dust concentrations in the mine.
  
  
• To keep the air constantly moving, huge ventilation fans at the surface pull a continuous supply of fresh air into the mine. This helps remove lingering coal dust and discourages the buildup of potentially explosive methane gas. Electronic methane monitors are installed throughout a deep mine, and miners carry hand-held units as well.
  
  
• Roof bolts, protective steel canopies on mining equipment, and automated temporary roof supports provide miners continuous protection while mining coal.
  
  
• Personal protective equipment is evident throughout a coal mine. Miners wear hard hats, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, air purifying systems and high intensity lamps that improve visibility underground. They also carry self-rescuers that filter out harmful gases in case of an emergency in the mine.
  
  
• Coal mines are subject to regular, comprehensive inspections by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), as well as safety and health reporting requirements that are much more stringent than those required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which regulates most other U.S. industries.
  
  
• According to Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA), the 20th century saw "remarkable improvements in safety and health for U.S. miners..." MSHA data indicates that for underground coal mining, "the rate of fatal injuries declined by 92% since 1960 (1960-2000).

  Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety & Health Administration, Mine Injury & Worktime Quarterly 2000 closeout and historic MSHA data - Bituminous Coal Data, 1972, p. 39

  
  
• For miners disabled by coal worker's pneumoconiosis (black lung), the coal industry is committed to providing equitable benefits. Coal producers pay $1.10 for every ton of underground coal mined and 55 cents for every ton of surface coal mined into the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which is used to provide benefits to eligible miners where no last responsible operator can be identified. Where there is a responsible operator, that company must pay the eligible claimant and dependant's black lung benefits.