What type of hazard does coal mining primarily expose workers to?

Coal mining primarily exposes workers to physical hazards, which involve risks that can lead to injuries or accidents. These hazards encompass a range of dangers including cave-ins, falls, equipment-related injuries, and exposure to moving machinery. The nature of the mining environment presents various physical risks due to the underground conditions and the physical demands of the work involved.

For example, workers may face risks from heavy machinery, geological instabilities that can cause structural failures, and the need to navigate difficult and sometimes confined spaces. The control and management of these physical risks are crucial for maintaining safety standards and protecting the health of coal miners.

While thermal, biological, and chemical hazards may also exist in mining contexts, the predominant concerns are related to physical safety and the direct risks workers encounter as part of their daily operations in extracting coal.