Mining Injuries
The U.S. depends on our natural resources for energy and production, and many of these materials are gathered through various mining techniques. Mining safety has a pretty grim history in the U.S., with thousands of deaths occurring per year in the early 20th century according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There has been a fairly steady downward trend in both injuries and fatalities since then, but mining still carries risks, and for the individuals and families affected by a mining accident, overall trends in safety lose their importance.
Mining Accident Statistics
Mining carries risks, and although many improvements in safety measures have been made over the years, those involved in mining might still want to know recent statistics on mining accidents:
- During the 1980s, there were still more than 100 deaths per year in the mining industry.
- Injury counts have dropped substantially since the 1980s. However, even in the years of 2006 and 2007, there were 11,800 average annual injuries in the mining industry. These are the most recent statistics on the Department of Labor website.
- Injury rates were up in North Carolina mines in 2007 and 2008.
- Men experience higher injury rates in the mining industry in North Carolina, probably due to disproportionate distribution of tasks among miners.
No matter the general trends regarding safety, if you were involved in a mining accident, the results can be catastrophic for you, and you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to help you with any associated expenses.
Contact Us
Contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC, by calling 919-851-3311 if you were injured in a mining accident and you need assistance with any aspect of a workers’ compensation claim.
