On July 9th, a coal miner was killed in a southern Illinois underground mine accident. The accident occurred when 61-year old Thomas Brown was hit by a 20-ton loaded shuttle car at the Willow Lake mine.
Brown's death makes the U.S. mining death toll 41 so far this year. As coal extraction rates have increased in the recent years, so have mining related deaths. The Willow Lake mine alone employs 400 workers and operates year round, seven days a week. Since 2008, Willow Lake has been cited at least 12 times by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration for violations of workplace safety in life-threatening conditions. MSHA records show Willow Lake has had 34 accidents injuring workers so far this year, and 62 since last July 2009.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Brown's family and friends.