my point of view…

MSHA’s Data Mining Puts the Spotlight on Safety

Nearly two years ago, I first interviewed Dave Lauriski, assistant secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. At the time, I realized that Lauriski had plans to move MSHA’s data collection and analysis systems into the 21st Century. He talked about mining the data the agency already collected and using it to develop better safety information and education materials. Fast forward a couple of years. Into my e-mail pops a Power Point presentation detailing fatalities in the metal/non-metal sector for 2003 — when a record-low 26 fatalities occurred. As the song goes, the numbers do indeed tell a story.

• By employee, approximately 85 percent involved mine employees, while the other 15 percent involved contractors.

• By mine size, 19 percent occurred at mines with more than 100 employees, 4 percent at mines with 50 to 100 employees; 28 percent at mines with 25 to 50 employees, 15 percent at mines with 15 to 25 employees, 4 percent at mines with 10 to 15 employees, 15 percent at mines with five to 10 employees, and 15 percent at mines with one to five employees.

• By classification, 34 percent were machinery, 22 percent were powered haulage, 12 percent were slip or fall (of a person), 8 percent were electrical, 8 percent were fall or slide (of material), 4 percent were hand tools, 4 percent were ignition, and 8 percent were other categories.

• By activity, 61 percent were maintenance and repair, 15 percent were walking or sitting, 8 percent were dismantling a conveyor, 8 percent were trenching, and 8 percent were production cycle.

• By occupation, 34 percent were supervisors, 23 percent were repairmen or technicians, 19 percent were mobile equipment operators, 12 percent were machinery or plant operators, and 12 percent were laborers or utility workers.

I found the information on mining experience particularly interesting. Figure 1 shows the breakdown of fatalities based on years of experience. Most of us might have guessed that miners with five or fewer years of experience account for 44 percent of fatalities. But, I thought it was particularly interesting that after decreasing during successive later ranges, fatalities jumped back up in the 20- to 25-year and and 25- to 30-year categories. This jives with the statistics that say supervisors were the most likely candidates for fatalities in 2003.

Take the time to review the statistics and evaluate how they should apply to your safety program. If we all do a little data mining, we might be able to post a new record-low fatality rate in 2004.

March-April 2004 my point of view... MSHA’s Data Mining Puts the Spotlight on Safety				my point of view… MSHA’s Data Mining Puts the Spotlight on Safety Nearly two years ago, I first interviewed Dave Lauriski, assistant secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. At the time, I realized that Lauriski had plans to move MSHA’s data collection and analysis systems into the 21st Century. He talked about mining the data the agency already collected and using it to develop better safety information and education materials. Fast forward a couple of years. Into my e-mail pops a Power Point presentation detailing fatalities in the metal/non-metal sector for 2003 — when a record-low 26 fatalities occurred. As the song goes, the numbers do indeed tell a story. • By employee, approximately 85 percent involved mine employees, while the other 15 percent involved contractors. • By mine size, 19 percent occurred at mines with more than 100 employees, 4 percent at mines with 50 to 100 employees; 28 percent at mines with 25 to 50 employees, 15 percent at mines with 15 to 25 employees, 4 percent at mines with 10 to 15 employees, 15 percent at mines with five to 10 employees, and 15 percent at mines with one to five employees. • By classification, 34 percent were machinery, 22 percent were powered haulage, 12 percent were slip or fall (of a person), 8 percent were electrical, 8 percent were fall or slide (of material), 4 percent were hand tools, 4 percent were ignition, and 8 percent were other categories. • By activity, 61 percent were maintenance and repair, 15 percent were walking or sitting, 8 percent were dismantling a conveyor, 8 percent were trenching, and 8 percent were production cycle. • By occupation, 34 percent were supervisors, 23 percent were repairmen or technicians, 19 percent were mobile equipment operators, 12 percent were machinery or plant operators, and 12 percent were laborers or utility workers. I found the information on mining experience particularly interesting. Figure 1 shows the breakdown of fatalities based on years of experience. Most of us might have guessed that miners with five or fewer years of experience account for 44 percent of fatalities. But, I thought it was particularly interesting that after decreasing during successive later ranges, fatalities jumped back up in the 20- to 25-year and and 25- to 30-year categories. This jives with the statistics that say supervisors were the most likely candidates for fatalities in 2003. Take the time to review the statistics and evaluate how they should apply to your safety program. If we all do a little data mining, we might be able to post a new record-low fatality rate in 2004. Therese Dunphy, editorial director therese@aggman.com