A COMPARATIVE POLICY ANALYSIS OF COAL MINE SAFETY REGULATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND POLAND

The study concerns an analysis of the factors which influence death rates in coal mines in the United States and Poland. The study uses multiple regression and time series analysis on data since the end of World War II. A formal causal model is derived from political economy literatures and safety studies to analyze the determinants of death rates. Independent variables hypothesized to affect death rate include government regulation, numerous technical safety measures, profit, production, productivity, legislation and differences between the two countries' industrial and planning systems and ideologies. Death rate was reduced dramatically in Poland by the mid-1950s, due primarily to stringent safety regulations, and extensive safety training programs for workers. American death rate remained much higher than Polish death rate until the late 1970s, due to weaker legislation and regulations. Fines, closure orders, and safety training most strongly reduce American death rate. In both countries, political values relevent to safety are more important than centralized planning and administration in reducing American death rate. In both countries, political values relevent to safety are more important than centralized planning and administration in reducing death rates. Political values and regulation stringency are more favorable to safety in Poland than in the United States. The study used data gathered in Poland in 1979-80 under a Fulbright grant. Polish data are from unpublished government statistics, dissertations, interviews, and mining journals. American data are from mining journals and government documents. Criticism of policy studies and recommendations for future outcome analysis are given.