In our opinion: Drop in mine deaths a start

In the aftermath of the Crandall Canyon mine disaster, Richard Stickler, the acting head of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, became a familiar face to Utahns.

As the nation's chief mining regulator, it was abundantly clear that Stickler took a deep, personal interest in mining safety. When nine men died in the Crandall Canyon Mine in 2007, he grieved and prayed with the families. Stickler, who has worked in underground mines as a miner and inspector, vowed to find the cause of the cave-ins that killed six miners and three other men who attempted to rescue them. He kept his word.

So it is no surprise that Stickler wasn't satisfied that mining deaths in the United States in 2008 were at their lowest level since regulators began keeping records. Fifty-one miners perished last year — 29 in coal mines and the rest in copper, stone and other kinds of mines. As Stickler told The Associated Press, "That is unacceptable and disheartening."

True. But the number represents a significant decrease in mining-related deaths from 2006, when 73 miners were killed, and 2007, when 67 died, among them the Crandall Canyon miners. MSHA officials said the sharp reduction in fatalities was due to revamped safety laws and stepped-up enforcement. MSHA added 360 mine inspectors and paid $10 million in overtime to complete mandatory safety reviews at all of the nation's coal mines in 2008. This was the first time in the agency's 31-year history that the required inspections were done within a year.

But, as Stickler laments, there is always room for improvement. United Mine Workers of America officials say while mining deaths in 2008 were down overall, the number of coal-mining deaths in 2008 was higher than the record low, 23 deaths in 2005.

Mining is inherently risky. But strong regulations, enforcement and a company's commitment to safety can help curb risks and improve a company's bottom line. Further reduction of mining deaths should be a priority for the Obama administration. The men and women who labor in the nation's mining industry should work under the safest conditions possible. That will require an ongoing commitment to mine inspections and regulations that enhance the safety of the nation's mining industry.