Officials from the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced a decline in total mine deaths for the first six months of 2012, but they say there is much more to be done.
Ten coal miners died as the result of slips or falls while two fell victim to rib falls. Others died from accidents in materials handling, exploding vessels under pressure, drowning and machinery and electrical accidents.
Five of the fatalities occurred on five consecutive weekends.
While 2012 marks the second lowest number of deaths recorded mid-year, Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, said the 19 deaths were preventable.
"Many mines operate every shift of every day, year in and year out, without a fatality or a lost-time injury," Main said. "Mining workplaces can and must be made safe for all miners."
According to an MSHA news release, the agency has taken a number of initiatives to reduce injury, primarily through workplace education and increased workplace hazard examinations.
"We believe these actions, along with initiatives by the mining industry, can make a positive difference," said Main.
A review and summary of each of the incidents can be found on MSHA's website: http://www.msha.gov/fatals/summaries/2012/MidYear/072012CoalFatalityUpdate.pdf
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