Mining Incidents
Trainer view Print or save as PDF from your browser (⌘P / Ctrl+P).
← Standard view
Case study · MSHA Record #219952960001

Coal/Ore Shovel Operator fatality

October 18, 1995 at 11:30 AM
River Hill Coal Co., Inc. · River Hill Coal Company Inc · Clearfield County, PA
Investigator narrative
A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE 3500 HITACHI SHOVEL CAUSED THE VALVE SPOOL TO BE THROWN THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE CAB RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THE EMPLOYEE
Record details
Classification
MACHINERY
Accident type
Struck by flying object
Activity at time
Power Shovel, Dragline
Subunit / location
STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT
Source of injury
METAL,NEC(PIPE,WIRE,NAIL)
Nature of injury
MULTIPLE INJURIES
Body part affected
HEAD,NEC
Total mining experience
16 years
Experience at this mine
16 years
Experience in this job
5 years
Mine type
Surface
Sector
Coal
Similar incidents in MSHA records · same classification: MACHINERY
  • May 20, 2026 · Pine Branch Mining LLC · KY · Maintenance Man

    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.

  • March 12, 2026 · Kennecott Utah Copper LLC · UT · Maintenance Man

    At approximately 05.12am on the 12th March 2026, a mechanic was struck by a drill boom in a surface workshop, causing fatal injuries.

  • March 5, 2026 · Patton Mining LLC · IL · Continuous Miner Operator

    The IE was moving the miner to the face in entry #3 when we found the IE pinned between the miner tail and the solid rib.