The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released a mid-year summary of mining deaths across the country. During the first half of 2014, 22 miners were killed in accidents in the mining industry. The toll represents an increase in the mid-year fatality count and reverses a decline in fatal accidents seen in recent years. [...]
Machinery and powered haulage accidents were the most common cause of mining deaths, at seven and five, respectively. Four of the miners killed were contractors, and five were supervisors. In the metal and nonmetal mining sector, 14 miners died in the first half of the year. Three were killed in powered haulage accidents, three in machinery accidents, two from falling/sliding material, two from falls, two from a fall of rib, one in a hoisting accident, and one from a gas explosion. Eight coal miners died: four in machinery accidents, two in powered haulage accidents, and two in a coal outburst.