MESSAGE ON MINE SAFETY IN COLORADO
From
Stuart A. Sanderson, President
The mining industry in Colorado is saddened by the recent events at the Sago and
Aracoma mines in West Virginia. Although mining fatalities fell to a record low of 22 in
the United States in 2005 (there have been none in Colorado in more than five years), the
tragedies in West Virginia involving the loss of 14 lives require a reassessment of
technologies, laws and procedures governing mine safety.
To that end, the CMA
supports the formation of a National Mine Safety Technology and Training commission
comprised of experts from academia, labor, industry and government to make
recommendations on how to improve safety in the nation’s coal mines. See the attached
testimony of Bruce Watzman before the Senate Appropriations Committee for details.
At a time when national attention is focused on mine safety, CMA has received
dozens of phone calls from news organizations throughout the state and the country. The
theme is the same: can mining operations be safely conducted in this state? The
information below is designed to inform the public of the efforts by Colorado mining
companies and coal producers to create a safe workplace and reduce the risk of accidents
and fatalities.
Is mining safe?
Based on information provided by the Mine Safety Administration and the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, mining actually has a better safety record than most other industries,
including construction, utilities, transportation, wholesale and retail trade.
Although coal production nationally has increased by more than 83% since 1970,
workplace injuries have declined by 92%. Colorado mirrors this national trend. Since
1995 alone, Colorado coal mines have reduced their total injury rate by 58% (this
includes injuries not resulting in lost time from work). There has not been a fatality at
a Colorado coal mine in more than five years.
Coal mines in Colorado, particularly underground coal mines, have an accident
rate that is well below the national average. The national average for underground coal
mines is 8.42 accidents per 200,000 man hours worked. The average in Colorado is 5.90;
thus, Colorado’s incidence rate is 30% below the national average.
Colorado coal mining operations have reduced workplace injuries by nearly 60
per cent since 1995, while coal production has increased by 54% during the same
period.
Several mines in Colorado have gone for years without a lost-time accident
(where an employee is forced to miss work due to injury). At CMA’s 108th National
Western Mining Conference & Exhibition February 9, several companies will receive
awards for exemplary safety practices, including the following:
Kennecott Energy’s Colowyo Mine worked more than 580,000 man hours
without a lost time injury;
Trapper Mining Inc.’s Trapper Mine worked nearly three years (since April 21,
2003) and 784,000 man hours without a lost time injury.
Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company’s Cresson Mine has worked 24
months (more than 1.3 million man hours) without a lost time injury.
CMA has also recognized other mines for accident reduction and for continuous
safe operations, including Bowie Resources Bowie Mine (424 days without a lost time
accident in 2004).
Two mines (Trapper and Colowyo) have won the nation’s highest safety honor,
the Mine Safety & Health Administration’s Sentinels of Safety Award. This award is
given to the mines posting the best safety record in the United States.
Why is mining a safer industry today?
All mines are subject to strict federal regulation by the Mine Safety and Health
Administration or MSHA; mines are subject to frequent and extensive inspection. In
many cases, inspectors are present around the clock, particularly at underground coal
mines.
Second, the mines provide extensive safety training to their employees.
Although prevention is the best remedy, Colorado also has a unique mine rescue training
program – the Coal Mine Rescue Association - a collaborative effort between the state,
the industry and MSHA. The activities take place at the Edgar experimental mine at the
Colorado School of Mines, where real accidents are staged.
Third, mining technologies have improved greatly since even the 1970s, with the
development of advanced longwall mining technologies which improve production
efficiency while reducing the risk to underground mine workers. This technique is
employed at most of the underground coal mines in the state. Other technologies, such as
the introduction of remote control miners, methane monitors on mining equipment, are
among the advances.
The Mine Safety & Health Administration is also publishing a request for
information on what can be done to improve mine safety and rescue techniques. And, as
mentioned previously, the Mine Safety Commission established by the National Mining
Association, will conduct important inquiries into technologies for mine communication,
tracking miner locations, and the development of both rescue and prevention
technologies.
This effort must be a national in scope, taking advantage of the collective wisdom
and advice of the nation’s experts on health and safety from industry, labor, government
and the public.
Coal is too important to America’s energy security, and the lives and well being
of our nation’s coal mine workers are too important for us not to redouble the
commitment to safety. Coal is our most abundant energy fuel and accounts for nearly
three-fourths of the electricity consumed in Colorado. We can mine coal and other
minerals safely, meeting our future energy and economic needs while providing a safe
workplace for our employees.