Coal industry on track for record low in mining deaths

The U.S. coal industry is nearing a record low in the number of on-the-job mining deaths.

Eleven deaths have been recorded in 2015 – below the record low of 16 set in 2014 – with three of those occurring in Pennsylvania.

A spokesman for the National Mining Association said a heightened focus on safety and a decrease in mining employment factor into the lower fatality count.

Coal mining employment dropped 11 percent from 72,700 workers in November 2014 to 64,700 last month, according to The Associated Press.

Read more from The Associated Press.