Bruce Watzman, Senior Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at the National Mining Association (NMA) has highlighted new federal data emphasising the improved safety performance achieved thus far this year by the nation’s mines. “US mining’s annual safety record to date surpasses its record for all previous years at this point,” said Watzman. “Our record for lost time accidents underscores the strong commitment coal and mineral mining companies have made to improving mine safety”. Watzman points at this year’s safety record for coal mining, which, to date, is set to make 2009 the third consecutive year of steadily declining fatalities in the nation’s mines. Through 2008, coal mining’s fatality rate had fallen 40% from the 2000 level.   

Speaking at the 2009 joint meeting of the Pittsburgh Coal Mining Institute and Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Watzman said data collected through the third quarter by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) show total US mining fatalities are fewer than at the comparable period in 2008, the industry’s record year for mine safety. For all US mining, including coal, minerals and metals, federal data show that since 2002 the rate of fatal injuries has declined by 13% and the rate of non-fatal injuries has declined by 26%. 

“US mining has returned to our trend of steadily improving safety performance,” said Watzman.  “We won’t be content until we achieve our ultimate goal of zero fatalities.”