Coal deaths surged in 2017, one year after record low

Coal mining deaths surged to 15 deaths in 2017, after a historical low of eight deaths in 2016. Eight of this year's deaths were in West Virginia, two were in Kentucky, and one each occurred in Alabama, Colorado, Montana, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. West Virginia has had the most coal mining deaths of any state in six of the past eight years, including 2010, when 29 miners died in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine.

"Eight coal mining deaths this year involved hauling vehicles, and two others involved machinery. None were attributed to an explosion of gas or dust, which was to blame for the Upper Big Branch disaster," the Associated Press reports. And according to data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, "seven of the eight U.S. coal mining fatalities in the first half of 2017 involved miners with one year or less experience at the mine, and six involved miners with one year or less experience on the job. In June, MSHA announced an initiative focusing on less experienced miners, including improved mine operators' training programs."

But as retired miner Gary Bentley pointed out, the initiative may have limited impact because some mines may be deliberately encouraging unsafe practices to save money, and MSHA officials sent to observe and train new miners can't cite mines for safety violations they see.

Overall coal mining fatalities are far below where they used to be, clocking in under 20 for the fourth straight year. That's compared to 1966, when there were 233 deaths, and 100 years ago when there were 2,226 deaths. The MHSA says the lower numbers are due to the far fewer coal mining jobs available and tougher mining safety rule enforcement. It's possible that the uptick in deaths could be related to the temporary bump in coal production in 2017.

"According to the Energy Information Administration's weekly estimates, U.S. coal output increased 8.9 percent in the 52 weeks ending Dec. 23, the latest available. Production in West Virginia rose 16 percent, including 25 percent in coal-rich southern West Virginia. Wyoming, the top coal-producing state, saw a 10.7 percent increase," The AP reports. "The U.S. had about 92,000 working miners in 2011, compared with about 52,000 in 2016, the lowest figure since the EIA began collecting data in 1978. The 2017 numbers aren't yet available."