More than seven months have passed since Alaska’s last mine fatality.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration recently announced that a total of 10 U.S. miners died working in the nation’s mines in the first quarter of 2012 — six coal miners and four hard rock miners. The total fatalities are 12 to date.
Five fatal accidents occurred on five consecutive weekends in the first three months of the year, according to Mine Safety’s mine fatality update. Three of the five involved mine supervisors.
Mine Safety reports the accidents were caused by “exploding vessels under pressure, drowning, handling materials, rib fall, machinery, electrical … powered haulage, a fall from an elevated walkway and, in two separate incidents, fall of material.”
“Fatalities are preventable,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of Labor for mine safety and health. “Workplace examinations for hazards — pre-shift and on-shift, every shift — can identify and eliminate hazards that kill and injure miners.”
Main advises effective and appropriate training to prevent fatalities.
For an MSHA summary of U.S. mining fatalities in the first three months of 2012 visit 1.usa.gov/JKg8vw.
For more detailed information visit 1.usa.gov/IRc3Xb for metal and non-metal mine fatalities, or 1.usa.gov/IC9FWY for coal mine fatalities.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (5)
Add commentWe live in the Pacific Ring
We live in the Pacific Ring of Fire its an earthquake zone.
Its only a matter of time before an earthquake happens here.
Not only do I worry about the people working underground but what about the millions of gallons of toxic sludge in holding ponds?
Metals prices are high now so our state is having an influx of Mining Corporations coming into our state to quickly enrich themselves and their shareholders, are they prepared to deal with earthquakes and how will they restore our fisheries when all that sludge breaks free?
My life took a different
My life took a different path. But, I wish everyone would pray for those that have their lifes work toiling in a dark hole in the ground!
Can't remember one...
...mining fatality or mining disaster caused by an earthquake. I've been around rock bursts that registered on the Richter scale. But those were quakes caused by mining. I think some folks' fears are misplaced.
AGREED
been underground for 15 years. plenty of earthquakes while underground, never bothered us.
?
Three of the five involved mine supervisors. Possibly more than just an accident, otherwise they better start doing a better job selecting their supervision. I must be missing something, after reading this news article it made me feel like it is acceptable for there to be fatalities in that profession on a regular basis, I can tell you it is not acceptable to me. I lost a brother to a job related accident many years ago, I've have had to accept the fact, the pain is never going to go away.