Help Printing This Page
Summary of First Quarter 2012 Fatal Accidents
During the first quarter of 2012, 10 mining deaths occurred in work-related accidents. Six were in coal and four were in metal/nonmetal.
The six coal mining deaths were in each of the following accident categories: Exploding Vessels Under Pressure, Other (Drowning), Handling Materials, Rib Fall, Machinery, and Electrical. An uncharacteristic trend identified was that five of these fatalities – 3 of them supervisors – occurred on 5 consecutive weekends. This is a particular warning flag for the mining industry.
The four metal/nonmetal mining deaths were in the following accident categories: one in a Powered Haulage accident; two killed in Fall of Face/Rib/Highwall; and one in a Fall of Person accident.
From the Assistant Secretary's Desk Summary of 2012 (1st Quarter) Fatal Accidents at Metal/Nonmetal Mines and Preventative Recommendations Summary of 2012 (1st Quarter) Fatal Accidents at Coal Mines and Preventative Recommendations 2012 (1st Quarter) Fatality Update Year End Stakeholder Letter