2015 was the safest year ever for American miners. Together, coal mines and metal/non-metal mines last year recorded the fewest fatalities in the history of American mining. Total mine fatalities were at the lowest number since 2009, the previous record year.
The official figures, issued recently by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), show 28 fatalities for all US mining in 2015. US minerals mining last year recorded 17 fatalities, while coal mining recorded 11 fatalities – the fewest ever for US coal mines.
“We’re very gratified by this continued progress because it confirms the result of our commitment to make American mines the world’s safest,” said National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Hal Quinn. “The record confirms the value of our safety initiatives and our on-going determination to return every miner home safely after every shift.”
One such initiative that has been especially successful in driving safety progress is NMA’s own CORESafety® framework, which aims to eliminate fatalities and reduce injury by 50% in five years (0:50:5). CORESafety offers a management system approach to mine safety, offering not a “top-down-one-size-fits-all” model but an adaptable and organic framework for operations of all sizes.
For more information on NMA’s CORESafety program, visit our website at www.coresafety.org. For 2015 mine safety data, visit the Mine Safety and Health Administration website at www.msha.gov.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main recently issued the following statement on the 10-year anniversary of the Sago mine disaster:
“On January 2, 2006, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the Sago coal mine in Tallmansville, West Virginia, exploded with 29 miners underground. Although 16 successfully escaped, 12 miners lost their lives and one was seriously injured.
“Two other disasters followed that year – the January 19 Aracoma Alma mine fire in West Virginia that killed two miners, and the Darby mine explosion in Kentucky on May 20 that killed five miners. All three of these fatalities were pivotal in the passage of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006.
“Among its provisions, the MINER Act called for the establishment of emergency response plans by every mine operator, better trained and more readily available mine rescue teams, enhanced technology to facilitate two-way communication between surface and underground personnel, and stronger seals between active and abandoned areas. It also added post-mine emergency protections for miners, such as oxygen devices that are more accessible, refuge shelters and lifelines.
“While the legislation put into place increased protections for miners, we know that our work is not done and more actions are needed. MSHA has been working hard to address the lessons learned from Sago and other mining tragedies to ensure that all miners can put in their shift and return home to their loved ones safe and healthy. We will never forget our fallen miners, and on this 10th anniversary of the Sago mine disaster, we pledge our continued efforts to eliminate these needless tragedies.”