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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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Accidental deaths at coal mines in the United States fell to a record
low level for the second consecutive year, but metal and nonmetal mining deaths
increased significantly during 1997, according to preliminary data from the
U.S. Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
As of December 31, preliminary figures indicated an all-time low of 30
coal miners died in workplace accidents in 1997, a decrease from the 39 coal
miners killed during 1996, a record low at the time. However, fatalities in the
metal and nonmetal mining industry increased to 60, the highest total since
1987 when 67 miners died on the job. In 1996, there were 47 deaths in metal and
nonmetal mining.
"The coal mining community can take pride in its record low in workplace
deaths, but we are by no means satisfied with the fatality numbers overall in
the mining industry this year," said Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman. "Too
many families still suffer the heart-wrenching loss of loved ones to mining
accidents which can be prevented."
"MSHA will redouble its efforts in 1998 to reduce and, in time,
eliminate accidental deaths from the mining workplace. Significant progress
will demand commitment from mine management, miners and government--from all
sectors of the mining community," said Davitt McAteer, assistant secretary of
labor for mine safety and health.
Of the 30 coal mining fatalities that occurred this year, 12 were the
result of powered haulage accidents, the leading cause of fatal coal mining
accidents. Nine other deaths occurred due to mine roof falls. Eighteen of the
fatal coal mining accidents occurred at underground mines while 12 happened at
surface mines.
The most fatal coal mining accidents occurred in the state of West
Virginia, which had seven deaths, down from 12 in 1996 and 16 in 1995. Kentucky
and Virginia had the next highest number of fatal coal mining accidents with
five fatalities each during 1997. Kentucky's 1997 figure represented a decrease
from 12 coal mining deaths in both 1996 and 1995, while Virginia's marked an
increase from three coal mining deaths in 1996 and one in 1995.
Of the 60 metal and nonmetal mining fatalities during 1997, 24 resulted
from powered haulage accidents, a category that also lead this industry in
fatal accidents. Machinery accidents, the second highest category of fatal
accidents, claimed the lives of 10 miners this year. Fifty of the metal and
nonmetal mining fatalities occurred at surface mines while ten other miners
died at underground mines.
The states of California and Texas had the most metal and nonmetal
mining fatalities tallying six each, up from four and three, respectively in
1996. In 1995, California had five mining deaths and Texas had none.
"When we recognized that fatalities were trending upwards in metal and
nonmetal mining, we met with industry and labor representatives to discuss the
need to reverse the trend," McAteer said. "Steps we took included a mine sweep
in which inspectors visited 9,000 metal and nonmetal mines and talked with more
than 100,000 miners and supervisors about the fatalities; reallocation of
resources; and special programs focusing on concerns such as surface haulage
accidents and drownings. These have not yet succeeded; therefore, we will
redouble our efforts until we find the right formula to drive down the number
of fatalities."
Metal and nonmetal mining deaths in the U.S. averaged 47 annually
between 1992 and 1996. All 1997 fatality figures cited are as of December 31,
1997, and are preliminary; in addition to these figures, two fatalities in the
metal and nonmetal sector and one in the coal sector are under investigation to
determine whether they were mining-related accidents.
MSHA inspects all mining operations in the nation for adherence to
federal safety and health regulations.
NOTE: Two tables of state-by-state data follow for coal mines and for
metal/nonmetal mines
Coal Mining Fatalities by State
1992 - 1997*
| State |
1997* |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
1993 |
1992 |
Total |
| 1992-1997 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Alabama |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
12 |
| Arizona |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Colorado |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
| Illinois |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
| Indiana |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Kentucky |
5 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
19 |
9 |
69 |
| New Mexico |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| North Dakota |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| Ohio |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Pennsylvania |
4 |
3 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
29 |
| Tennessee |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
| Texas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Utah |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
| Virginia |
5 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
25 |
| Washington |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| West Virginia |
7 |
12 |
16 |
10 |
13 |
18 |
76 |
| Wyoming |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
| Total |
30 |
39 |
47 |
45 |
47 |
55 |
263 |
* As of 12/31/97
Metal and Nonmetal Mining Fatalities by State
1992-1997*
*as of 12/31/97
| State |
1997* |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
1993 |
1992 |
Total |
| 1992-1997 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Alabama |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Alaska |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Arizona |
3 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
16 |
| Arkansas |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
| California |
6 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
23 |
| Colorado |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
| Connecticut |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Florida |
5 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
12 |
| Georgia |
3 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
| Idaho |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
| Illinois |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
14 |
| Indiana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Iowa |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
| Kansas |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
| Kentucky |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
| Louisiana |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Maryland |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
| Massachusetts |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Michigan |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
| Minnesota |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Mississippi |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Missouri |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
15 |
| Montana |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
| Nebraska |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Nevada |
5 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
25 |
| New Hampshire |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| New Jersey |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
| New Mexico |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
| New York |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| North Carolina |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
| Ohio |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
| Oklahoma |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
| Oregon |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
| Pennsylvania |
0 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
16 |
| Puerto Rico |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
| South Carolina |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
| South Dakota |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Tennessee |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
| Texas |
6 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
14 |
| Utah |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
| Vermont |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Virginia |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
| Washington |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
| West Virginia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Wisconsin |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
| Wyoming |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
| Total |
60 |
47 |
53 |
40 |
51 |
43 |
294 |
*as of 12/31/97
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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