During
the first half of 2014, 22 miners
were killed in accidents across the country, representing an increase in the
mid-year fatality count, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health
Administration announced July 28.
Machinery
and powered haulage accidents were the most common cause of mining deaths, at
seven and five, respectively. Four of the miners killed were contractors, and
five were supervisors.
In
the metal and nonmetal mining sector, 14 miners died in the first half of the
year. Eight coal miners died: four in machinery accidents, two in powered
haulage accidents, and two in a coal outburst.
Of
the coal mining fatalities reported this year, three occurred in West Virginia : one at Mountain View Mine in Tucker County
on Jan. 16, and two at Brody Mine No. 1 in Boone County
“Mining
fatalities are preventable, and they are a reminder that much more needs to be
done to protect the nation’s miners,” Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of
labor for mine safety and health, said in a statement. “These deaths should
serve as a wake-up call for all of us to keep safety at the forefront at all times.”
The
day following the announcement, the MSHA proposed to amend its civil penalty
regulation to place a greater emphasis on more serious safety and health
conditions, thus providing improved safety and health for miners, according to
the release.
The
proposed rule would also simplify penalty criteria used in writing citations
and orders, which the administration said would reduce the number of decisions
made by the inspectors, promote consistency, objectivity and efficiency, and
result in fewer areas of dispute and earlier resolution of enforcement issues.
The
existing minimum penalty of $112 and the maximum penalty of $70,000 for
non-flagrant violations would be unchanged. However, minimum penalties for
unwarrantable failure violations would increase to provide a greater deterrent
for operators who allow these violations to occur, according to the
announcement.
The
MSHA is seeking comment on three alternatives that would address the scope of
the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission’s review of the proposed
penalties. The comment period for the proposed rule is 60 days from the date of
the publication in the Federal Register.
