Mining Incidents
The record by year

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
Coal Metal/nonmetal
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 fatalities
July 6, 2026 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Freeport-McMoRan Morenci Inc. · Struck against a moving object

Rear-end collision involving two haul trucks on a haul road.

July 6, 2026 OK · Metal/Non-Metal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
U.S. Lime Company-St. Clair · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

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.

July 1, 2026 AL · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · MACHINERY
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

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.

June 26, 2026 IA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Le Claire Investments Inc · Struck by powered moving object

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.

May 21, 2026 NV · Metal/Non-Metal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor Fatality · EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Nevada Ready Mix Corporation · Struck by flying object

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.

May 20, 2026 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Pine Branch Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

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.

May 19, 2026 PA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company LLC · Struck by falling object

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.

April 30, 2026 OR · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Seubert Excavators Inc · Fall from machine

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.

April 3, 2026 WV · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Ohio County Coal Resources, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

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.

April 2, 2026 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Marfork Coal Company · Struck by falling object

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

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.