Kentucky Low Mining Deaths in 2007 Credited to New Laws
Kentucky, the state with the most coal mines in the nation, made history with only two mine fatalities in 2007, neither underground, in the nationwide total of 33 miners who died on the job during the year, reported by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
Kentucky’s record is no small achievement, state officials said. The state has the second largest mining work force in the nation and ranks as the third largest coal producer. They credit new mining laws for the low-toll feat, laws prompted by the Sago disaster that killed 12 West Virginia miners in 2006, and later the Kentucky Darby explosion in which five miners died.
"This is a positive indication that the new mine safety laws, including Kentucky’s new drug testing program, are having the desired effect," said the State Natural Resources Commissioner Susan Bush. She referred to the first testing program of the kind in the nation for miners, which has led to the suspension of 443 Kentucky miners since the program was enacted in July 2006. Notwithstanding the achievement of low mine deaths, Bush said, "We cannot let down our guard or lessen our effort to ensure that every miner returns home safely every day. The goal remains zero fatalities."