Scoop Tram Operator

The victim was fatally injured when ejected from the operator's compartment of a diesel scoop after the scoop was struck by a locomotive that had lost control of a trip of supplies along the 41 Butt track haulage.

On November 6, 2025, at 1:30 a.m., Joseph Mitchell, Jr. a 25-year-old scoop operator with 3 years of mining experience, died when the scoop he was operating was struck by an out-of-control supply train. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) follow the established safeguard in place to ensure haulage clearance is obtained when mobile equipment is in use at this mine; 2) establish a policy or procedure to ensure that operators maintain control of diesel powered equipment; and 3) establish a procedure to ensure the sanding devices on the locomotives were maintained.

1. The mine operator did not ensure that the established policy and procedures included in the safeguard were followed.

   Corrective action: The mine operator re-trained all miners in the provisions of safeguard No. 9121435 informing miners of the requirements to obtain clearance from the dispatcher prior to moving mobile equipment on the track haulage.

2. The mine operator did not have a policy or procedure in place to ensure miners could maintain control of the diesel-powered locomotives.

   Corrective action: The mine operator has installed derails, warning signs, and a block light system at the beginning of all steep grades and developed procedures in their use. All miners were trained in the procedures.

3. The mine operator did not have a policy or procedure in place to ensure proper function of the machine-mounted sanding devices on the Brookville 30-ton locomotives.

   Corrective action: A safeguard was issued to require sanding devices to be maintained on all locomotives. Additionally, the sanding devices on all operating locomotives were examined and repaired.

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

INTERSECTION

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Struck by powered moving object

Source of injury

NARO G RAIL CR,MTR-UG EQP

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

4 years

Experience at this mine

4 years

Experience in this job

2 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY