MSHA releases preliminary fatality data for 3rd quarter of 2015, includes Webster Co. coal mine fatality

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration has released its preliminary fatality data for the third quarter of 2015 which shows seven fatalities, including a fatality at a Webster County mine, that occurred in from July 1st through September 30, 2015. In the first nine months of 2015, officials report 25 fatalities occurred, eight fewer than in the same time period in 2014.

On a fiscal year basis, MSHA officials say preliminary data indicates that 14 miners died on the job at coal miners in FY 2015, which ended September 30th – down from 18 deaths in Fiscal year 2014 – representing the fewest number of coal mining deaths in a fiscal year in coal mining history. In metal and nonmetal mining, 23 miners died in Fiscal Year 2015, six fewer than during the previous fiscal year.

Of the seven miners who died in the third quarter, two were victims of coal mining accidents and five perished in metal and nonmetal mining accidents.

On September 16th, WMSK News reported that 29 year old Ricky Thorpe of Dawson Springs died that morning around 2:20 at the Sebree Mine in Webster County when the continuous miner head he was repairing fell, crushing him.

The Sebee Mine is an underground mine operated by Alliance Coal.

MSHA officials indicate the other mining deaths occurred in a Alabama mine, a Nevada gold mine, an Ohio sand and gravel dredging operation, a Virginia granite mine, a North Dakota sand and gravel operation and a Georgia kaolin processing plant.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main says in a release, “These deaths remind us why we must continue our vigilance and ensure the effective safety and health programs are at work throughout the industry.” He added that the hard-working men and women of the mining industry deserve no less.

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