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Disease and illness in U.S. mining, 1983-2001
Douglas F Scott1, R Larry Grayson, Edward A Metz
1National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane Research Laboratory, Mining Injury and Disease Prevention Branch, 315 E. Montgomery Avenue, Spokane, WA 99207, USA. dus3@cdc.gov
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|December 14, 2004
Summary
Reporting of mining-related diseases and illnesses in the U.S. shows inconsistencies and under-reporting, with coal worker's pneumoconiosis and hearing loss remaining prevalent despite declining rates.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Mining Safety
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Disease and illness reporting in the U.S. mining industry between 1983 and 2001 is examined.
- Inconsistencies in data collection across agencies like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) are noted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe inconsistencies in disease and illness reporting in U.S. mining.
- To identify under-reporting of mining-related diseases and illnesses.
- To summarize selected mining-related diseases and illnesses from 1983 to 2001.
Main Methods:
- Data from the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) database for the years 1983-2001 were summarized.
- Analysis focused on mining-related disease and illness data.
Main Results:
- Significant discrepancies exist in the information collected by the CDC, NIOSH, and MSHA.
- Under-reporting of occupational diseases and illnesses in the U.S. mining sector is attributed to factors such as fear of job loss and impact on benefits.
Conclusions:
- Despite a decrease in mining employment and disease/illness rates since 1997, coal worker's pneumoconiosis and hearing loss remain the most common conditions.
- Addressing reporting inconsistencies and under-reporting is crucial for accurate occupational health surveillance in mining.