# Another Coal Mining Diasaster, and... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-coal-mining-diasaster-and/357545 "2006-05-20T17:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-coal-mining-diasaster-and/357545/1 "2006-05-20T17:42:47Z")
Another SD Question. When was the last time the USA’s mining industry has experienced so many accidents? Is this the worst in modern times? [http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2006/05/20/396151.html&cvqh=itn\_mineblast](http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2006/05/20/396151.html&cvqh=itn_mineblast) ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-coal-mining-diasaster-and/357545/2 "2006-05-20T17:56:54Z")
You sure it’s just the U.S.? For some reason (not just more reporting IMHO), I’ve noticed many more stories about mining accidents from all over these past few months. There was that fire trapping [72 men underground in in Esterhazy](http://www.cbc.ca/sask/story/mine-expert060209.html), Saskatchewan (which turned out astoundingly well considering the outcomes of the previous two accidents in the 'States), those [two Australians trapped for two weeks](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4752427.stm) this month, and just last week four people died at a [decommisioned mine in Kimberly B.C.](http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060518/minedeaths_folo_060518/20060518?hub=CTVNewsAt11). ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-coal-mining-diasaster-and/357545/3 "2006-05-20T18:16:53Z")
My completely unsupported, WAG is that the frequency of mine accidents has not changed, they’re just being reported more prominently because of the publicity surrounding the one in Sago. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-coal-mining-diasaster-and/357545/4 "2006-05-20T19:59:24Z")
[Injury Trends in Mining](http://www.msha.gov/MSHAINFO/FactSheets/MSHAFCT2.HTM) ```auto Fatalities and Injuries for All Mining (Coal & Noncoal) Year Ave Annual Deaths Ave Annual Injuries 1936-1940 1,546 81,342 1941-1945 1,592 82,825 1946-1950 1,054 63,367 1951-1955 690 38,510 1956-1960 550 28,805 1961-1965 449 23,204 1966-1970 426 22,435 1971-1975 322 33,963 1976-1980 254 41,220 1981-1985 174 24,290 1986-1990 122 27,524 1991-1999 93 21,351 ``` ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-coal-mining-diasaster-and/357545/5 "2006-05-20T20:01:11Z")
Just thank god you are not a Chinese miner, they are currently losing just under 100 a week. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-coal-mining-diasaster-and/357545/6 "2006-05-20T20:03:24Z")
[Mine deaths on track for record low in Kentucky, nation](http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2004/12/30/news/regional/5f348d7d690922e587256f7a0077379a.txt) > [@](#): > > **2004** > The number of miners killed on the job in the United States is on track to set a record low of 51 this year. > > Preliminary figures from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration show 25 of the deaths occurred in coal mines and 26 in stone, copper and other types of mines. Wyoming, the nation’s leading producer of coal, reported no coal mine deaths and one death in a trona mine, according to preliminary figures.