Eleven Miners Killed in First Quarter, According to MSHA
Since the beginning of the year, there have been 11 fatalities in U.S. mines, including eight in coal mines.
Eleven miners have died in workplace accidents from the beginning of the year to the end of March, according to the Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration.
These first-quarter deaths occurred in various ways. Eight of the 11 were killed in coal mines and the remaining fatalities occurred in metal/nonmetal mines. Six coal miners died on the job in less than a month. Four of these miners were in West Virginia, causing MSHA to increase safety enforcement.
Machinery accidents were the cause of two miners' deaths. An exploding vessel was the cause of another death.
MSHA's special initiatives include "Rules to Live By," which focuses on common causes of deaths in mines, along with increased surveillance and impact inspections at mines with previous violation issues. These have contributed to the lowest fatality and injury rates in MSHA's history.
The full report can be found on the MSHA website.