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Aggregate industry celebrates no deaths for
first time in Illinois history
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[JAN. 18, 2005]
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Natural
Resources announced Jan. 14 that for the first time in the history
of modern-day coal and aggregate industry, there were no deaths in
Illinois coal mines or rock quarries in 2004. Fatality statistics
have been kept since 1882. Department of Natural Resource safety
experts credit a new strategy, coupled with strong commitment within
the industry to regulation compliance, for the outstanding safety
record.
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"There were four lives lost in the industry in 2003," said Mike
Woods, Illinois Mine Safety and Training Division director
with the Department of Natural Resources. "A year ago, we at DNR
committed ourselves to finding a way to do more to protect the men
and women in the industry." The announcement of the safety success
record was made more than 300 feet below ground at an Illinois coal
mine. It was made in that location to underscore the strategy that
proved successful for the Department of Natural Resources in
improving safety. In past years, mine safety classes were taught in
a classroom. But in 2003, rather than teach workers safety in a
classroom setting, many training programs moved into the mines and
quarries. Mine safety inspectors and trainers went to the job site
to talk with and observe workers on each shift, around the clock,
about accident prevention. This supplemented an aggressive DNR
safety campaign, Next Step to Zero, which began in August of 2001.
"When you’re in a coal mine or working in a quarry, conditions
can change from one minute to the next," said Woods. "An important
aspect of safety is for the men and women on the job to understand
accident prevention at the gut level, so that their response to
danger is instinctive and instantaneous."
Additionally, the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals
emphasis on compliance has led to a higher grade of safety. Owners
of mines adhere to strict safety guidelines, set forth in the
Illinois Coal Mining Act. In the aggregate industry, the DNR
regulates explosives usage and storage.
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"Our goal when we find non-compliance on a job site is to see the
situation rectified," said Mike Falter, Illinois Department of
Natural Resources supervisor of operations. "The companies know that
the reason we are there is to keep their workers safe. Because
safety is part of the equation of success in this industry, our
inspectors have a really good relationship with corporate
management."
Illinois mining and aggregate industry
statistics
- In 2003, in Illinois, three people died in coal mines, one in
the aggregate industry.
- Three other years have been fatality-free in the coal
industry: 1981, 1998 and 2002. There were deaths in the aggregate
industry during those years.
- 8,000 Illinoisans are employed in the coal and aggregate
industries.
- Coal industry payroll: $160,797,000 in 2003 in Illinois
- 33.5 million tons of coal were mined statewide in Illinois in
2004.
- 17 coal mines
- 400 aggregate industry operations (majority: limestone, sand,
gravel, peat, silica)
[Illinois
Department of Natural Resources news release]
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