Skillings Mining Review Mine Deaths Down in 2015 JANUARY 2016

Mine Deaths Down in 2015 At the beginning of January, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration released preliminary data that stated 28 miners died in 2015 in work‐related accidents at the nation’s mines. This number has significantly decreased from 45 deaths that were recorded in 2014. In fact, 2015 had the lowest number of mining deaths ever recorded.

Eleven out of the 28 deaths took place in coal mines. Six of these deaths were the result of powered haulage and machinery accidents. The remaining 17 deaths occurred in metal and nonmetal mining. The primary cause of death in these mines were machinery accidents, followed by falling materials.

Joseph A. Main, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health stated that the decrease was due to multiple coal mine closures and increased safety measures. Specifically, he credited the agency’s use of strategic enforcement tools. These include special impact inspections that are able to address issues in problem mines much quicker than old methods. He also talked about changes to the Pattern of Violations procedure. Main also cited compliance assistance, training and outreach efforts to the mining industry.

The agency has been making numerous changes in the metal and nonmetal mining industry since 2013. A number of high profile mining accidents that year led to several reforms and increased regulation. These reforms are cited as the leading reason behind the decrease in the number of reported deaths in 2015.