US mining fatalities by year
MSHA has recorded 18 US mining fatalities in 2026 so far (as of July 23, 2026), against 15 at the same point in 2025 and 33 across all of 2025. The full record holds 3,116 mining deaths since 1983; the worst year was 1984, with 206.
Annual counts from the full US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) accident record, refreshed weekly. Official records lag each accident by weeks to months, so the current year's total fills in over time.
2026 so far
- 2026 to date
- 18
- deaths recorded as of July 23, 2026
- Same point 2025
- 15
- through the same date
- 2025 full year
- 33
- final recorded total
- Since 1983
- 3,116
- deaths on file; worst year 1984 (206)
Year-to-date through July 23, 2026: 2026: 18 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 17. Comparing partial years against the same calendar cutoff keeps the running count honest.
The official count above always runs behind. MSHA's live fatality-reports page currently lists 1 open preliminary notice not yet in the dataset; we track those as they are filed, on recent fatalities.
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Every year on record
1983–2026| Year | Deaths | Coal | Metal | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |
|
6 | 12 | 18 |
| 2025 |
|
8 | 25 | 33 |
| 2024 |
|
10 | 18 | 28 |
| 2023 |
|
9 | 31 | 40 |
| 2022 |
|
11 | 19 | 30 |
| 2021 |
|
11 | 27 | 38 |
| 2020 |
|
5 | 24 | 29 |
| 2019 |
|
12 | 15 | 27 |
| 2018 |
|
12 | 16 | 28 |
| 2017 |
|
15 | 13 | 28 |
| 2016 |
|
8 | 17 | 25 |
| 2015 |
|
12 | 17 | 29 |
| 2014 |
|
16 | 30 | 46 |
| 2013 |
|
20 | 22 | 42 |
| 2012 |
|
20 | 16 | 36 |
| 2011 |
|
20 | 16 | 36 |
| 2010 |
|
48 | 24 | 72 |
| 2009 |
|
18 | 17 | 35 |
| 2008 |
|
30 | 23 | 53 |
| 2007 |
|
34 | 33 | 67 |
| 2006 |
|
47 | 26 | 73 |
| 2005 |
|
23 | 35 | 58 |
| 2004 |
|
28 | 27 | 55 |
| 2003 |
|
30 | 26 | 56 |
| 2002 |
|
28 | 42 | 70 |
| 2001 |
|
42 | 30 | 72 |
| 2000 |
|
38 | 47 | 85 |
| 1999 |
|
35 | 55 | 90 |
| 1998 |
|
29 | 51 | 80 |
| 1997 |
|
30 | 61 | 91 |
| 1996 |
|
39 | 47 | 86 |
| 1995 |
|
47 | 53 | 100 |
| 1994 |
|
44 | 40 | 84 |
| 1993 |
|
47 | 51 | 98 |
| 1992 |
|
54 | 43 | 97 |
| 1991 |
|
61 | 53 | 114 |
| 1990 |
|
66 | 56 | 122 |
| 1989 |
|
68 | 48 | 116 |
| 1988 |
|
52 | 49 | 101 |
| 1987 |
|
63 | 67 | 130 |
| 1986 |
|
87 | 49 | 136 |
| 1985 |
|
67 | 57 | 124 |
| 1984 |
|
126 | 80 | 206 |
| 1983 |
|
70 | 62 | 132 |
Each year links to the underlying fatality records. The worst year on record, 1984, includes the Wilberg Mine fire in Orangeville, Utah that December, which killed 27 miners. Major multi-fatality events back to 1907 are indexed under historical disasters.
Latest recorded deaths
All recent fatalitiesRear-end collision involving two haul trucks on a haul road.
At the time of filing it is believed the miner was riding on the back of a railcar when the railcar derailed and pinned the miner between the railcar and a nearby structure. The miner was transported to a medical facility where he died the following day.
Employee was discovered at shield 74. The employee was found caught between the shield resulting in a head crushing injury. Employee was transported to the surface and EMS performed CPR until time of death was called.
Contractor equipment transporter was in process of loading and securing front end loader to trailer for off-site transit. Contractor employee reached under the loader to grad a chain on trailer and was caught between the loader and trailer.
A contract mechanic/welder hired by another contractor was fatally injured when the ammonium nitrate auger EE was attempting to extract from a pipe exploded.
EE and another employee were pulling the engine and removing nose cone on the radiator. EE was on the bottom under the 992g wheel loader. The other employee was on top of the machine. EE was taking the radiator nose off, accidentally took bolts out of counter weights and it fell on EE. Resulting in a fatality.
Employee was setting a post at 24xcut in 7 South #6 track entry, to barricade off an area of concern. While tightening up a post a piece of rock dislodged from the upper portion of the rib and fell striking the employee. The employee suffered fatal injuries as a result of this event.
The employee was tasked with helping fill water tank. EE was found about 30 minutes later laying face down saying EE was hurt and needed help. At this point it appears that the weight of the trailer shifted off the cribbing under the landing gears and caused the trailer to overturn, either striking against or rolling over the miner.
An employee was working on a winch rope on a 650 scoop that was loaded with a shield, this shield was hit by another 650 scoop, causing the employee to be caught between the scoop EE was working on and the shield tip.
Employee was setting timbers for the next retreat mining lift inby spad 21417 when the slab cut entry that was previously cut fell to the roof bolts causing draw rock to strike the employee. Employee was coherent and alert while being transported outside. During transportation to medical facility they suffered a cardiac arrest. Incident remains under investigation.
Break the numbers down
- Trends for the decade rollups and leading causes of death
- National statistics across fatalities, violations, penalties and hours worked
- Fatalities by state and by accident classification
- Fatalgrams with every official MSHA fatality report linked
Counts derive from MSHA accident records under the Part 50 reporting rule. Records from 2000 on come from MSHA's current open datasets; 1983–1999 come from the agency's historical Part 50 archives, decoded to the same fields and verified against NIOSH's published death counts. Coal and metal/nonmetal figures follow MSHA's commodity flag; a small number of early records carry no flag and appear in the total only.
Citing this page: Mining Incidents, “US mining fatalities by year,” MSHA Part 50 accident records 1983–2026, miningincidents.org/fatalities-by-year (retrieved July 23, 2026). Formats and permanence guarantees are on the citation page.