Scoop Tram Operator fatality at Young Mine (Nyrstar Tennessee Mines, Strawberry Plains LLC), TN, July 12, 2025

Operator was conducting remoting activities in an area known as the 2025 area when a large rock contacted the cab. Operator was found in the cab out past the designated no-go line and sustained fatal injuries.

On July 12, 2025, at 4:15 a.m., Alan Whitaker, a 36-year-old load haul dump (LHD) loader operator with three years of mining experience, died when the roof collapsed onto the cab of the LHD loader he was operating. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not take down or support the hazardous ground conditions before work and travel occurred in the affected area.

1. The mine operator did not take down or support the hazardous ground conditions before work and travel occurred in the affected area. The LHD loader was operated manually beyond the established cab line.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed, implemented, and trained miners on the following written procedures:

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Load-Haul-Dump (Ug)

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Conventional Stoping

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

CAVING ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

HEAD, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

3 years

Experience at this mine

3 years

Experience in this job

1 year

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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