Considering its current definition (see below) and the wish to be politically correct, I wonder whether the word has come to acquire any racist overtone.
What is a coal miner hewer-Ask.com. Coal miner hewer is a person who hews or cuts the coal from its natural situation. The hewer is the actual coal-digger removing it from the coal face.
Coal is a fossil fuel that was formed from once-living plants of various types. Coal and humankind have a long, intertwined history. The fossil fuel was even being used by cavemen, though its first extensive use was by the Roman Empire. Today, coal accounts for 94% of the United States' fossil fuel energy reserve. It's found in 38 U.S. states and it's the number one energy resource used to generate electricity globally. Types of Coal