U.S. Mine Fatalities Down Slightly From 2012

Federal mine safety regulators say 18 miners have been killed on the job nationwide so far this year.

That’s down slightly from 19 fatalities through the first half of 2012.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration said Wednesday that this year’s fatalities include nine in coal mining and nine in metal and nonmetal mining accidents. One miner in each industry was a contractor.

MSHA director Joe Main says the fatalities have one recurring element. They were preventable.