Three miners were killed in US coal miners in Q1 of this year, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, with a further five fatalities in the metal and non-metal mining sector.
Of those killed in coal mines, two were killed in machinery accidents, while the third was killed in a powered haulage accident. However, it is a spike in deaths at non-coal mines that has concerned the MSHA most – a spike that has continued into Q2. Overall, there have been 19 deaths in non-coal mines this year.
“MSHA takes this increase very seriously,” said Joseph Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, saying the administration has called a summit of key metal and non-metal stakeholders to “identify the problem and take actions to reverse it”.
“Mine operators need to re-evaluate the quality of the training miners are receiving and their examinations of the miners’ work places because they appear to be lacking,” continued Main. “MSHA will be paying close attention to these deficiencies, as well as the types of hazards and conditions that have led to these deaths.”
Adapted from press release by Jonathan Rowland