Mining Incidents

TENSLEEP MINEMetal/Nonmetal

Tensleep, Washakie County, WY · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4800954
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
21
Years on record
2000–2026
Latest incident
Feb 2026
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

21 on file

2026 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

EE said the scraper seat was loose all day and jostled EE as EE drove it during EE's entire shift. EE complained of lower back pain.

2023 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

Haul Truck operator was hauling dirt to the dump site, when they got too close to the edge of the haul road and ran up on the berm, flipping the bed of the haul truck over onto the road.

2022 · 2 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee stepped on the hitch of a fuel tank and hit EE's tailbone on the jack when stepping down. Reported to supervisor and kept working until 6/20/22. Went to Doctor on 6/20/22 and was excused from work for one week after a follow up appointment.

Struck against a moving object

Employee had improperly adjusted their seat belt, and was driving over rough terrain in the mine site while operating a 627G Scraper. The jarring resulted in the employee bouncing up and striking the right side of their head against the climate controls. The employee suffered a cut on the right side of their head and received stitches at the Medical Center.

2021 · 3 incidents

Struck against a moving object

Employee was stripping topsoil in a Cat 627G scraper when they over travelled the cut area and drove onto a steeper incline, lower in the pit and the scraper tipped over. Initial 2 visits to doctor cleared the employee for work. Different clinic diagnosed EE with a mild concussion and prescribed a steroid on 11/11/21. Employee will be able to return to work on 11/18/2021.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was attempting to bolt a tire back on a tractor and was stabilizing the tire with left arm, when the tire shifted and jarred shoulder.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was exiting scraper, when the wind caught the door & slammed it on EE's rt hand. Hand was caught between door & door jam. EE continued to work, & on 2/11/21, informed supervisor they wanted to get hand x-rayed. Hand was put in cast & EE given full work release. After working till 2/15/21 EE went back to dr & instructed to stay home till 3/4/21 when injury will be re-evaluated.

2020 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

Scraper operator was push pulling, and upon disconnecting from the front scraper, ran over a rock and jarred their back.

2017 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

The miner was pounding a pin out on a bulldozer, when they felt a pain in the left thigh, though there was minor bleeding the employee disregarded it as a scratch, and continued working. On 7/19/2018 the employee went to the doctor and had an x-ray performed, which revealed a sliver of metal embedded in the thigh that had to be surgically removed.

2015 · 1 incident

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee pinched his hand while performing maintenance on a tractor used for field drying. He had his hand in between a pin and a hammer he was using to fix the machinery with. He needed 3 stitches in his hand!

2014 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

EE drove scraper too close to edge of pile which caused it to slide down angle of repose for about 60 feet then roll completely over and land upright. The supervisor witnessed the event. The operator who was belted in was taken to the hospital for a full set of diagnostics and was released at about 10:30 with no suspected problems. He has not missed any work.

2011 · 2 incidents

Fall from machine

EE was exiting Cat 627G scraper when he missed his footing and fell to the ground, injuring his left shoulder, back and hip. He was taken to hospital for observation via company vehicle. His injuries were primarily bruising.

Struck against a moving object

Two scrapers were engaged in push-pull operation when lead machine hit a rock, causing it to stop before rear machine could hook-up. Rear machine then ran into back of lead machine. Operator of rear machine strained back muscles.

2010 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee had the hood on his semi pulled. While leaning into the engine compartment the wind came up. It caused the hood to close and the employee was struck in the back of the head. His head was pushed forward, knocking out his front teeth and causing all but three to be loose. All but three teeth were removed at a dental appointment.

2007 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

Employee was running dozer in reverse, resting right arm on rest when a rock fell in behind track, causing jolt to right shoulder as machine raised then came down hard. He thought shoulder would get better, waited a couple of weeks, a torn rotator cuff was verified-requiring surgery on July 9, 2007.

2006 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

When leaving pit, employee thought he had hit button for cushion hitch, but scraper began to bounce uncontrollably. He hit his head on the left side window, twisted his back and had the wind knocked out of him. Back discomfort caused him to miss days at work. Seatbelt was being worn.

2005 · 2 incidents

Struck against a moving object

While running a push-pull scraper operation in pit, the operator of the pull scraper pulled up a rock that the push scraper hit, causing the operator of the push scraper to be bounced, hitting his head on the roof of the machine.

Fall from machine

Employee was climbing onto a dozer tractor when the hand-hold he was using broke, causing him to fall back down to the ground on his already troubled left hip. An MRI revealed a fractured pelvic region. He will miss the remainder of the drying season, about mid September.

2004 · 1 incident

Fall onto or against objects

When dismounting D8R dozer the operator lost his balance and grabbed a hold of area beneath the step; which had sharp metal, causing him to slice left pinky finger. It required about four stitches to close. This accident did not require any missed time from work.

2002 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE REMOVING A HYDRAULIC LINE FROM BENEATH THE FLOOR BOARD OF THE D8R DOZER, EE WAS LYING ON HIS STOMACH. HE REACHED UP TO GRAB A RAG AND HAVING TO TWIST A LITTLE TO HIS LEFT, HE PINCHED A N ERVE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS NECK.

2000 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE BENT OVER TO PICK UP A CULVERT TO PUT INTO TRUCK. AS HE BEGAN TO LIFT, A SUDDEN PAIN OCCURRED IN HIS LOWER BACK, CAUSING HIM TO DROP IT TO THE GROUND.