Premium
The accuracy of self‐reported regulatory data: The case of coal mine dust
Author(s) -
Boden Leslie I.,
Gold Morris
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700060606
Subject(s) - coal mining , environmental health , coal dust , environmental science , medicine , coal , mine safety , statistical analysis , mining engineering , statistics , waste management , engineering , mathematics
Coal‐mine owners are required to measure miner exposures to respirable dust so that compliance with Federal health regulations can be monitored. This study analyzes the problem of possible underreporting of dust exposures. Using two statistical approaches, data for three mining occupations in 54 large underground coal mines during 1976–1978 are examined for evidence of underreporting. First, regression estimates compare dust concentrations reported by coal‐mine owners with those reported by government health inspectors. Then, the statistical distribution of concentrations reported by coal‐mine owners are examined for the size and nature of their deviation from log‐normality. Both approaches suggest widespread underreporting.