News Release
MSHA News Release: [01/31/2013]Contact Name: Amy Louviere
Phone Number: (202) 693-9423
Release Number: 13-0190-NAT
MSHA releases preliminary fatality data for 2012
"Of all miners working in mines last year, fewer lost their lives in mining accidents, and more returned home safely to their family and friends at the end of their shifts," said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. He added:
Thirty-six miners (19 in coal and 17 in metal/nonmetal mining) died in work-related accidents at the nation's mines in 2012, making it the second-lowest annual fatality total on record, one more fatality than the 2009 historic low of 35. Seven miners died in West Virginia, five in Kentucky, three each in New York and Alabama, two each in Montana and Florida, and one each in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia.
The leading cause of fatalities during 2012 was powered haulage, which claimed the lives of 10 miners. Other causes included machinery accidents, which killed six; slip or fall of person accidents, which also claimed six lives; and rib falls, which killed three miners. Most notable was the number of supervisor deaths, which accounted for nine fatalities, or 25 percent of the total — a much higher percentage than in previous years and cause for concern.
In 2012, three of the miners killed at metal/nonmetal mines had less than one year of experience at the mine.
Five miners had less than one year of experience at the job or task they were performing.
At coal mines, five miners who died had one year or less experience at the mine. Eight miners who were killed had one year or less experience at the job or task they were performing when they died.
"These numbers underscore that effective and appropriate training — particularly task training — needs to be provided to miners before they perform a new task," said Main.
Pinning, crushing and striking accidents in underground coal mines continue to cause significant numbers of injuries and fatalities. From 1984 through 2012, 73 deaths occurred from these types of accidents — including 33 that were associated with continuous mining machines and could have been prevented by proximity detection, a system designed to stop mining machinery from coming into contact with miners.
MSHA estimates that using a proximity detection system could have prevented several nonfatal injuries associated with underground mining machines. MSHA believes that, in 2012, three deaths at coal mines could have been prevented if these systems had been in place. Some mine operators already have invested in this technology.
For an analysis of 2012 mining deaths, along with best practices to help mining operations avoid similar fatalities, visit http://www.msha.gov/fatals/summaries/summaries.asp.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20130190.htm
MSHA Summary Fatal Accidents with Preventative
Recommendations:Mid-year Summary of 2013 Fatal Accidents
The number of miners that died in mining accidents the first half of 2013 was one less than the first half in 2012. While actions undertaken by MSHA and the mining industry continue to move mine safety in the right direction, these deaths are a reminder that much more needs to be done to protect the nation’s miners. We continue to see fatalities occur that are preventable.
In coal mining, eight of the fatalities occurred in the first quarter of the year and one occurred in the second quarter. Two miners died in machinery accidents. Three miners died in powered haulage accidents, and two miners died as a result of roof fall accidents.
One miner died in an accident resulting from exploding vessels under pressure, and one miner died in a hoisting accident. Eight of the fatalities occurred in underground mines; one was at a surface mine. The deaths were not isolated to certain occupations. Seven occupations were represented among the nine miners killed. Two of the powered haulage deaths may have been prevented through the use of proximity detection systems.
In metal and nonmetal mining, three of the fatalities occurred in the first quarter of the year and six occurred in the second quarter.
One miner died as a result of a fall of highwall. One miner died in a machinery accident and one miner died in accident involving explosives and breaking agents. Four miners died in powered haulage accidents, and two miners died in falling material accidents. Three of the fatalities occurred at underground mines; six were at surface mines. Three of the miners were mechanics, and two of the miners were supervisors.
http://www.msha.gov/fatals/summaries/summaries.asp
