Federal Mine Safety Officials Say Mining Deaths Are Down In The U.S., With 18 Miners Losing Their Lives In Accidents During The First Six Months Of The Year. MSHA Said That Number Represents A Decrease Of Five Deaths From The Same Time A Year Ago. Of The Coal-Mining Fatalities, Miners Died In Accidents Involving Machinery And From Falling Material Or Roofs, Among Other Ways. Half Of The Deaths At Metal And Nonmetal Mines Were At Operations With Less Than 10 People.