U.S. Mine deaths fall to all-time low

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Mine fatalities in the United States in 2008 fell to an all-time low, the Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration said Thursday.

The agency said metal and non-metal mines recorded 51 fatalities last year, the lowest level since statistics were first recorded in 1910. The fatality level in coal mines was the lowest recorded number since 2005, MSHA said in a news release.

"Although these numbers demonstrate continuing improvements at our nation's mines, they also represent significant loss to the families and friends of 51 miners," said Richard Stickler, acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "We must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to bring all miners home safe and healthy at the end of every shift."

Of the 51 fatalities reported last year, 28 of the victims were at surface operations, while 23 miners died in underground mining accidents, MSHA said in a statement.

The mine agency said 15 workers died in accidents involving powered haulage, which was the leading cause of fatal U.S. mining accidents in 2008.

The agency said last year it assessed 198,700 civil penalties for violations of mine safety and health legal requirements, compared with 130,100 in 2007. Meanwhile, 74 flagrant violations were assessed in 2008, compared with 15 in 2007.