“Coal mining deaths dropped from 20 in 2013 to 16 in 2014, the lowest annual number of coal mining deaths ever recorded in the United States,” the US Department of Labour’s Mine Safety and Health Administration said.
“The previous record low was 18 in 2009. While the numbers of coal mines and miners have recently declined, the number of deaths in 2014 is about half what the industry experienced in the early 2000s, when the numbers of working coal miners were at comparable levels.”
Most of last year’s US mining accidents involved powered haulage and machinery, with five coal mine fatalities in this grouping.
“Mining deaths are preventable and those that occurred in 2014 are no exception,” assistant secretary of labour for mine safety and health Joseph Main said.
“While MSHA and the mining industry have made a number of improvements and have been moving mine safety in the right direction, these deaths, particularly those in the metal and nonmetal industry, makes clear the need to do more to protect our nation’s miners.”
