Abstract
In order for the Bureau of Mines (BOM) to focus health and safety research on the human factor element of the mining operations, it is essential to quantify and characterize the composition of the entire mining workforce with respect to occupation, job experience, age, education, region, etc. The BOM in 1986 began conducting a probability sample survey to measure the population characteristics of the mining industry workforce. The demographics profile provides information to questions such as, “What is the socio-economic background of the population?”, “What are the differences between the various groups of workforce?”, etc. This paper will discuss the utilization of the population characteristics with respect to the analysis of the mining industry accident data which are being collected on a continuing basis. In particular, this paper will outline how the demographic data are used in identifying those sectors of the population that are exhibiting higher than average accident rates. This information will be used to improve and expand mine health and safety research, and to customize training and safety programs for specifically identified demographic sectors of the mining industry population.
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