Analysis of the labor productivity decline in the U. S. bituminous coal mining industry. Final technical report

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6332845

Hill, F E; Cook, F X; Herhal, A J; Krohta, B J; Manuel, E H

This study assesses the causes for the decline in productivity in United States surface and underground coal mining since 1969. It also analyzes the major reasons for differences in productivity among mines as they are today. Data for the analysis were obtained from a number of sources within the federal government, from every significant coal mining state and from visits to 120 cooperating mines. The major causes for the productivity decline in underground mines were: the 1969 Mine Health and Safety Act; union contract provisions, especially job bidding; labor instability; and higher prices relative to miners' wages. The major causes for the productivity decline in surface mines were: increased state and the federal reclamation requirements; the 1969 Mine Health ad Safety Act; union contract provisions, especially job bidding; higher coal prices relative to miners' wages; in some regions, under-utilization of capacity due to the limits on burning high-sulfur coal; and declining growth of scale economies. Current reasons for differences in productivity among mines are widely varied and in addition to the above factors include: geology, equipment, cleaning losses, contract terms, end-market, shift schedules worked, and relative management ability. The outlook for the future is that productivity can increase in both underground and surface mines, and will if supported by government policy and by adequate investments on the part of industry.

• Research Organization: Ayers (Emory) Associates, Inc., New York (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-78ET10033
• OSTI ID: 6332845
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/10033-T2; FE-3120-1; ON: DE81026286
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
015000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
BITUMINOUS COAL
BLACK COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL INDUSTRY
COAL MINERS
COAL MINING
DATA ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
LABOR
MATERIALS
MINERS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PERSONNEL
PRODUCTIVITY
SURFACE MINING
UNDERGROUND MINING
USA