MSHA News Release: [01/06/2014]
Contact:   Amy Louviere
Phone:    (202) 693-9423
Release Number 14-9-NAT

MSHA releases preliminary fatality and injury data for 2013
Mining deaths sharply higher in 4th quarter, following record low fatality rates

ARLINGTON, Va. — According to preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration, 42 miners died in work-related accidents at the nation's mines in 2013, an increase from the 36 miners who died in 2012. While mining fatalities occurred at a record low rate for the first three quarters of 2013, during the fourth quarter of 2013, six coal miners and nine metal/nonmetal miners died in mining accidents, a significant increase from the same period in 2012, when four coal miners and two metal/nonmetal miners died.

“Mining deaths are preventable, and those that occurred in 2013 are no exception,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “While we have made a number of improvements and have been moving mine safety in the right direction, the increased number of metal/nonmetal deaths makes clear we need to do more to protect our nation’s miners.

“It takes the entire mining community to continue to reach new milestones in health and safety,” he added. “Miners need the reassurance that they will return home safe and healthy after every shift.”

Last year, there were 20 coal mining and 22 metal/nonmetal mining fatalities, compared with 20 and 16, respectively, in 2012. Four mining deaths in 2013 involved contractors (two each in coal and metal/nonmetal), marking the fewest number of contractor deaths since MSHA began maintaining contractor data in 1983. Fourteen of the coal mining deaths occurred underground and six occurred at surface operations. In metal/nonmetal mining, five deaths occurred underground, and 17 occurred at surface operations. The most common causes of mining accidents in 2013 involved machinery and powered haulage equipment. West Virginia had the most coal mining deaths, with six, and Kentucky had the most metal/nonmetal mining deaths, with four.

Preliminary fatality and injury rate data for the first three quarters of 2013 were .0112 and 2.45, respectively, below the rates for the same period in 2012, which marked the lowest such rates recorded in a calendar year in mining history. [Note: Rates are determined by the number of fatalities or injuries per 200,000 hours worked. Rates for calendar year 2013, which are calculated using operator-reported employment hours, are not yet available.]

For fiscal year 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2013), preliminary data indicate a record-low fatality rate of .0104 and injury rate of 2.42, as well as the fewest number of mining deaths at 33.

Main stressed that, to prevent deaths, mine operators must: maintain effective safety and health management programs that are constantly evaluated, continue find-and-fix programs to identify and eliminate mine hazards, and provide training for all mining personnel. Among the measures MSHA has undertaken to prevent mining deaths are: increasing surveillance and strategic enforcement through impact inspections at mines with troubling compliance histories; enhancing pattern of violations actions; implementing special initiatives, such as “Rules to Live By,” which focuses attention on the most common causes of mining deaths; and engaging in outreach efforts with the mining community.

 

 

据美国矿山安全健康局网站消息，2014年1月6日，美国矿山安全健康局公布了2013年美国矿山伤亡事故的初步统计结果。该结果显示，2013年美国共有42名矿工在事故中死亡，与2012年36名矿工死亡相比有所增加。2013年前三季度，美国采矿业的死亡事故发生率一直保持在有记录以来的较低水平。2013年第四季度，6名煤矿工人和9名金属、非金属矿工在采矿事故中死亡，与2012年同期只有4名煤矿工人死亡和2名金属、非金属矿工死亡相比，矿工死亡人数明显增加。

 

        2013年，美国共有20名煤矿工人和22名金属、非金属矿山工人死亡。2012年，美国则有20名煤矿工人和16名金属、非金属矿山工人死亡。在2013年的 采矿事故中，有4名承包商死亡（煤矿和金属、非金属矿山各2人），2013年是自1983年美国矿山安全健康局记录承包商数据以来，承包商死亡数量最少的一年。在煤矿事故中，14名煤矿工人在井工煤矿事故中死亡，6名煤矿工人在露天煤矿事故中死亡。在金属、非金属矿山事故中，5名矿工在地下矿山事故中死亡，17名矿工在露天矿山事故中死亡。2013年美国最常见的采矿事故类型为：机械和动力牵引设备事故。按地区统计，西弗吉尼亚州发生的煤矿事故最多，导致6名矿工死亡。肯塔基州发生的金属、非金属矿山事故最多，导致4名矿工死亡。

 

        2013年前三季度美国煤矿每20万工时的死亡率为0.0112，受伤率为2.45，与2012年同期相比较低，也是美国采矿业有记录以来最低的一个时期。2013年财年（2012年10月1日至2013年9月30日），美国采矿业每20万工时的死亡率为0.0104，受伤率为2.42，为有记录以来的最低水平。同期的采矿业矿工死亡数量为33人，也是有记录以来矿工死亡数量最少的时期。

 

        负责矿山安全健康工作的美国劳工部助理部长约瑟夫·梅恩（Joseph A. Main）说：“采矿死亡事故本来是可以预防的，2013年发生的致命性事故也不例外。为了预防采矿业死亡事故，矿山经营者必须：维持有效的安全健康管理计划，并对计划不断地进行评估和改进，以辨识和消除矿山中的隐患。同时，为所有采矿人员进行培训。美国矿山安全健康局已经采取的措施有：根据矿山的不良安全记录，开展定期检查，以对其加强监测和执法；纠正违规行为；采取特别措施，如针对采矿业死亡事故的常见原因，开展“遵守规则活动”；在矿区开展宣传活动。”

【宁丙文译】