6
as an example, the medical-only direct cost in the 75th per-
centile is $1,447. This means that for lower back strains
with medical-only WC claims, the direct cost is likely to
be at most $1,447 75% of the time, while direct cost is
likely to be higher 25% of the time. For these medical-only
claims shown in Table 5a, injuries to facial bones and fin-
ger fractures when caught in, under, or between an object
being lifted had the highest median direct costs, and the
same finger fractures category had the highest 95th percen-
tile costs at $9,398.
Table 5b shows the common injuries for all mining in
2022 and the lost-time claim direct cost percentiles. Lost-
time does include medical and indemnity, so these costs
are much higher than the medical-only injuries shown in
Table 5a and are usually considered more severe injuries.
For lower back strains in Table 5b, the direct costs in the
75th percentile is $71,624. This means that for lower back
strains with lost-time WC claims, the direct cost is likely
to be at most $71,624 for 75% of the time, while direct
costs are likely to be higher 25% of the time. For these lost-
time mining injuries, shoulder strains from lifting had the
highest median costs ($52,821) and lower back strains had
the highest 95th percentile costs ($432,455).
When the indirect cost is considered, the total cost of
injury can be quite surprising. Table 6 shows the common
mining injuries with lost-time claims, their 75th percen-
tile direct cost, the calculated indirect cost, and the total
cost, which is the sum of direct and indirect costs. The total
cost gives a good estimate of what the true cost of the spe-
cific injury can be to a company. A finger injury with a
direct cost of $26,303 can end up costing a company about
$82,000.
What is the Impact of Occupational Injury?
Using the total costs of the selected injuries from Table 6,
the impact to a company’s profits can be calculated. Table 7
displays the common mining injuries along with their total
cost, total cost as a percentage of annual sales, and most
importantly, the additional sales needed to pay for the total
cost of that specific injury. The example in Table 7 is for
a hypothetical mine with $14.98 million in annual sales
and a 11.7% profit margin. To cover the cost of a shoulder
Table 5b. Percentiles of direct costs for the most common lost-time mining injuries in 2022
Common Injuries 25th
50th
Median Mean 75th 90th 95th
Hand (excluding fingers) $6,238 $16,215 $46,975 $42,542 $83,037 $170,365
Finger(s) (excluding thumbs) $6,079 $13,695 $25,301 $26,303 $51,331 $88,985
Cumulative lower back strain $14,675 $26,172 $38,314 $44,156 $102,175 $120,780
Lower back strain $9,004 $28,440 $80,311 $71,624 $268,485 $432,455
Lower leg $8,105 $29,579 $105,095 $87,702 $228,618 $392,059
Upper leg $4,371 $20,518 $66,148 $72,933 $156,160 $210,747
Shoulder strain $19,596 $41,537 $62,006 $85,120 $110,210 $133,790
Shoulder strain by lifting $14,935 $52,821 $69,426 $86,268 $161,223 $229,172
Shoulder strain by pushing or pulling $24,257 $49,100 $56,743 $71,218 $112,974 $141,088
Ankle $4,000 $13,396 $42,955 $38,050 $78,485 $141,597
Eyes $2,673 $8,182 $55,452 $46,157 $117,875 $328,758
Table 6. Most common lost-time mining injuries and their associated 75th percentile direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs
Common Injuries 75th Percentile Direct Cost Indirect Cost Total Cost
Hand (excluding fingers) $42,542 $90,189 $132,731
Finger(s) (excluding thumbs) $26,303 $55,762 $82,065
Cumulative lower back strain $44,156 $93,611 $137,767
Lower back strain $71,624 $151,843 $223,467
Lower leg $87,702 $185,928 $273,630
Upper leg $72,933 $154,618 $227,551
Shoulder strain $85,120 $180,454 $265,574
Shoulder strain by lifting $86,268 $182,888 $269,156
Shoulder strain by pushing or pulling $71,218 $150,982 $222,200
Ankle $38,050 $80,666 $118,716
Eyes $46,157 $97,853 $144,010
as an example, the medical-only direct cost in the 75th per-
centile is $1,447. This means that for lower back strains
with medical-only WC claims, the direct cost is likely to
be at most $1,447 75% of the time, while direct cost is
likely to be higher 25% of the time. For these medical-only
claims shown in Table 5a, injuries to facial bones and fin-
ger fractures when caught in, under, or between an object
being lifted had the highest median direct costs, and the
same finger fractures category had the highest 95th percen-
tile costs at $9,398.
Table 5b shows the common injuries for all mining in
2022 and the lost-time claim direct cost percentiles. Lost-
time does include medical and indemnity, so these costs
are much higher than the medical-only injuries shown in
Table 5a and are usually considered more severe injuries.
For lower back strains in Table 5b, the direct costs in the
75th percentile is $71,624. This means that for lower back
strains with lost-time WC claims, the direct cost is likely
to be at most $71,624 for 75% of the time, while direct
costs are likely to be higher 25% of the time. For these lost-
time mining injuries, shoulder strains from lifting had the
highest median costs ($52,821) and lower back strains had
the highest 95th percentile costs ($432,455).
When the indirect cost is considered, the total cost of
injury can be quite surprising. Table 6 shows the common
mining injuries with lost-time claims, their 75th percen-
tile direct cost, the calculated indirect cost, and the total
cost, which is the sum of direct and indirect costs. The total
cost gives a good estimate of what the true cost of the spe-
cific injury can be to a company. A finger injury with a
direct cost of $26,303 can end up costing a company about
$82,000.
What is the Impact of Occupational Injury?
Using the total costs of the selected injuries from Table 6,
the impact to a company’s profits can be calculated. Table 7
displays the common mining injuries along with their total
cost, total cost as a percentage of annual sales, and most
importantly, the additional sales needed to pay for the total
cost of that specific injury. The example in Table 7 is for
a hypothetical mine with $14.98 million in annual sales
and a 11.7% profit margin. To cover the cost of a shoulder
Table 5b. Percentiles of direct costs for the most common lost-time mining injuries in 2022
Common Injuries 25th
50th
Median Mean 75th 90th 95th
Hand (excluding fingers) $6,238 $16,215 $46,975 $42,542 $83,037 $170,365
Finger(s) (excluding thumbs) $6,079 $13,695 $25,301 $26,303 $51,331 $88,985
Cumulative lower back strain $14,675 $26,172 $38,314 $44,156 $102,175 $120,780
Lower back strain $9,004 $28,440 $80,311 $71,624 $268,485 $432,455
Lower leg $8,105 $29,579 $105,095 $87,702 $228,618 $392,059
Upper leg $4,371 $20,518 $66,148 $72,933 $156,160 $210,747
Shoulder strain $19,596 $41,537 $62,006 $85,120 $110,210 $133,790
Shoulder strain by lifting $14,935 $52,821 $69,426 $86,268 $161,223 $229,172
Shoulder strain by pushing or pulling $24,257 $49,100 $56,743 $71,218 $112,974 $141,088
Ankle $4,000 $13,396 $42,955 $38,050 $78,485 $141,597
Eyes $2,673 $8,182 $55,452 $46,157 $117,875 $328,758
Table 6. Most common lost-time mining injuries and their associated 75th percentile direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs
Common Injuries 75th Percentile Direct Cost Indirect Cost Total Cost
Hand (excluding fingers) $42,542 $90,189 $132,731
Finger(s) (excluding thumbs) $26,303 $55,762 $82,065
Cumulative lower back strain $44,156 $93,611 $137,767
Lower back strain $71,624 $151,843 $223,467
Lower leg $87,702 $185,928 $273,630
Upper leg $72,933 $154,618 $227,551
Shoulder strain $85,120 $180,454 $265,574
Shoulder strain by lifting $86,268 $182,888 $269,156
Shoulder strain by pushing or pulling $71,218 $150,982 $222,200
Ankle $38,050 $80,666 $118,716
Eyes $46,157 $97,853 $144,010