MSHA update shows increase in mid-year fatality rates

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released a summary of fatalities in the mining industry that indicates an increase in the mid-year fatality count. Twenty-two miners were killed in the first half of 2014, reversing the decline in fatalities in past years.

“Mining fatalities are preventable, and they are a reminder that much more needs to be done to protect the nation’s miners,” says Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “These deaths should serve as a wake-up call for all of us to keep safety at the forefront at all times.”

The most common causes of mining deaths were machinery and power haulage. Fourteen of those who died worked in the metal and nonmetal mining sector, while the remaining eight were coal miners.

In order to prevent deaths, injuries and illnesses, MSHA has increased surveillance and inspections at mines with troubling compliance histories and repeated violations. The administration also has initiated numerous outreach efforts to combat the issue, some of which include providing educational opportunities and training tools for those working at mining facilities.