Coal news and updates

Fatal coal-mining accidents hit a historic low across the nation in 2014, dropping from 20 in 2013 to 16 in 2014, according to a count released this week by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.

 

That's a significant improvement from the 48 coal mine-related deaths in 2010, when an explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia killed 29 men.

 

In the years since, more aggressive federal inspections, including targeting mines with a pattern of violations, along with increased industry safety efforts, have reduced deadly accidents, said Joseph Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.Despite recent declines in coal mines and miners, the number of deaths last year was about half of those seen in the early 2000s, when there was a similar number of working miners, he said.

 

Despite the improvements, such deaths are still considered preventable and "make clear the need to do more to protect our nation's miners," Main said.

 

West Virginia, which had 119 coal mine-related deaths since 2004, recorded five deaths last year. Kentucky, which saw the second-highest total since 2004 at 69 deaths, recorded two fatalities last year. For Kentucky, that's a low reached only two other times since 2004 including last year.

 

Federal officials said the number of coal mines with a pattern of violations it targeted after the Massey Energy-owned Upper Big Branch explosion fell from 42 in 2010 to six mines last year.

 

Phil Smith, a spokesman for the United Mine Workers of America, agreed that stepped up enforcement and better practices by mine owners were behind the improved safety record.

 

"You need three things to operate a mine safely: A company willing to follow the law, a government willing to enforce it and a workforce" able to speak up about problems, he said.

 

For all types of mines, including non-coal mines and facilities, fatal accidents in 2014 declined to 40 from 42 in 2013, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration's preliminary count.

 

In coal mining, the most common causes involved powered coal haulers and machinery, the agency said. Incidents occurred in both surface and underground mines.

 

According to preliminary federal accident reports, one Kentucky coal miner was killed in October at the Tinsley Branch mine owned by Cox Enterprises and LLC Management near Pineville, Ky., when he was struck by a rock while retrieving a machine part.

 

A second died in December at the Patriot Coal Corp's Highland mine near Waverly Union, Ky., after he was hit by a coal hauler vehicle. Final reports in the incidents are still pending.

 

The drop in coal-mining fatalities comes amid falling coal production, particularly in Appalachia. According to MSHA, total working U.S. coal mines fell from 2,129 in 2008 to 1,701 in 2013. In Kentucky, the number of underground mines fell from 189 in 2010 to 118 in 2014.

 

 

Source: USA TODAY