As part of the effort, MSHA officials began blanketing the nation's coal mines to speak directly to miners and operators about ways to create a more safe work environment.

 

"The past two years have been the safest in history in terms of mining fatalities, however the trend of recent fatalities in coal mining are of great concern to us,” MSHA assistant secretary Dave Lauriski said.

 

In a recent 24-day period, seven coal miners were killed in accidents, bringing the total number of fatalities nationwide this year in coal mining to 21 as of July 25, compared with 16 at the same time last year. Four of those seven fatalities occurred in Kentucky.

 

Also of concern to agency officials is the fact that three of the fatalities involved supervisors and three others involved employees doing maintenance work.

 

MSHA has dispatched over 600 enforcement personnel to the more than 1,500 active coal mines in the nation over the next two weeks to speak directly with miners, mine operators and contractors urging them to use safe work procedures and focus on potential hazards.

 

Agency officials will tailor safety information based on the nature of work and conditions at each mining site.

 

In addition to the coal mine sweep, top MSHA officials will conduct a conference call with interested mine operators and other mining industry personnel concerning miner safety issues at their operations.

 

The National Mining Association applauded the move by MSHA and said it was welcomed by all in the mining industry.