Laborer

Employee was performing cleaning and maintenance. They began work around 7 pm and was discovered by coworkers on the ground below the area of work. It is believed they fell.

On October 16, 2025, between 6:56 p.m. and 7:25 p.m., James Hayes, a 34-year-old production laborer with over 1 year of mining experience, died when he fell approximately 30 feet from an elevated work platform located at the No. 1 Silo. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) design the chute installation to provide a safe location for miners manually actuating the manual diverter switch lever (lever), and 2) correct defects to the lever that affected the safety of the miners.

1. The mine operator did not design the chute installation to provide a safe location for miners manually actuating the lever.

   Corrective action: The mine operator removed the emergency material chute on the No. 1 Silo side of the elevated platform and relocated the lever to the No. 1 Silo side of the elevated platform.

2. The mine operator did not correct defects to the lever that affected the safety of the miners.Corrective Actions: The lever was relocated to the No. 1 Silo side, providing safe access and body position when manually actuating the lever.

Read the full report (PDF)

Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.

Activity at time of incident

Unknown

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

Source of injury

GROUND

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

1 year

Experience at this mine

1 year

Experience in this job

1 year

Degree of injury

FATALITY