ANALYSIS OF SELECTED BACK INJURIES OCCURRING IN UNDERGROUND COAL MINING.

Musculoskeletal injuries are a constant problem in the underground coal mining industry. Back injuries represent the largest single category of lost-time injuries. Traditional attempts to address the problems consist of compiling statistics from standard accident report forms to identify the jobs and activities that caused the back injuries. This research project, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Mines and conducted by West Virginia University (WVU), is conducting back-injury investigations that are more comprehensive than the traditional methods. Arrangements have been made with six coal mining companies in four States to call WVU when a back injury occurs. A thorough investigation is conducted by WVU personnel within a few weeks to document the environmental, biomechanical, behavioral, and task-related variables associated with the injury. Interviews with supervisory and safety department personnel are also part of the investigation. Results from 100 accident investigations are presented.