Mining Incidents

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Every injury and fatality MSHA has on file. Filter by state, year, sector, classification, experience, or any keyword from the investigator's narrative.

Total incidents
273,095
Of which fatal
1,202
Years on record
2000–2026
Classifications
20
Filters 2 active
Time period
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The record

74 matching records

Showing 50 of 74
May 1, 2025 TX · Metal/Non-Metal rotary bucket excavator operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
SP Silica of Atascosa, LLC · Struck by rolling or sliding object

EE was operating an excavator in Pit 2 at SPS Atascosa. Pit 2 is located between two tailings ponds. 9:18 AM one of the tailings ponds breached causing tailings mixture to flow into the work site. Tailings mixture tipped over the excavator EE was operating cab side down. The front window broke, tailings mixture engulfed the cab & 75% of the vehicle. Employee could not escape.

January 3, 2025 TX · Metal/Non-Metal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
WES AGG, LLC · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Trench was dug to repair drain pipe. No sloping or shoring protection system was in place. Trench was approximately 10 foot deep and 8 foot wide. Side wall collapsed and crushed worker.

August 5, 2023 GA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Savannah Valley Quarries, LLC · Struck by falling object

The crew had drilled a chain hole and connected a chain to lift the block a short distance to break away from the ledge. When this occurred, grout rock remaining on the ledge above to miners broke loose and fell striking both of them, fatally injuring one and seriously injuring the second miner. The grout rock was left from the previous day, and was examined and determined safe.

May 16, 2023 TX · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
NACG Texas, Inc. · Struck by rolling or sliding object

While SC0539 Bulldozer was traveling on 1B Ramp, a large volume of material entered the road and contacted the bulldozer.

September 14, 2021 ID · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Higher ground resources · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

A visitor to the mine site was in a unauthorized area running a sluice box in a unstable trench when it collapsed and buried them. The trench was tapered and made safe to remove their body.

July 28, 2021 GA · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Echols Mill Quarries LLC · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE is believed to have been either chipping away several inches of top layer of brownish colored granite or drilling a chain hole through the granite near end of the block on the open face so block could be lifted using a chain. Granite block being worked on was approx. 5'x12'x30'. Additional submitted details on file.

August 18, 2020 CA · Metal/Non-Metal crusher attendant/operator, pan feeder operator/worker Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Hi-Grade Materials Co. · Struck by rolling or sliding object

Employee clearing crusher, rock came down chute and entrapped employee in crusher.

June 19, 2020 KS · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Harshman Construction L L C · Struck by rolling or sliding object

An individual was standing in the vicinity of a stockpile when material sloughed off from the stockpile and engulfed them.

October 11, 2018 VA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Georgia Stone Industries · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was in the process of opening a 6' thick slab. Water bags were installed at the top of the slab. EE was not wearing a safety harness and was about 20' high. Slab broke and fell down & hit EE and crushed him.

September 20, 2017 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Quikrete Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by falling object

Rope access technician was performing inspection of downcomer duct. Around 11:30a.m.the technician became unresponsive by radio. Upon rescue and removal from downcomer duct, technician was alert and responsive with apparent head and leg injuries. Technician was transported to the hospital where they passed away on 9/21/2017.

August 3, 2017 CO · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Blue Mountain Energy Inc · Struck by falling object

On August 3, 2017 a miner was fatally crushed while ee was dismantling a metal structure used to supply water to tech fine coal filter at the preparation plant.

July 20, 2017 GA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Blue Sky Quarries, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Cracked stone fell and crushed employee. Employee didn't follow procedure. Employee's lanyard wasn't tied off and the employee was using a foot wedge and jackhammer with 1 1/4" bit. Employee should have been using 3/4" plug drill and 5" tether and wedge. The employee was drilling from the base and should have been drilling at the top.

March 14, 2017 TX · Metal/Non-Metal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Arcosa Aggregates, Inc. · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

The decedent, an o/operator, was located behind the truck, behind the raised dump trailer when a load of sand dumped from the trailer. The decedent was buried in the sand. Mgmt became aware of the missing driver at approx. 10:45 am and promptly began a search. EEs began digging in the pile of sand behind the decedent's truck and the decedent was discovered at approx 11:43 am.

December 19, 2016 GA · Metal/Non-Metal washer operator, sizing operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Atlanta Sand and Supply Co Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Wash plant operator was operating a front-end loader during the overnight shift as normal. EE exited the loader and entered the hopper filled with sand the EE had just dumped. EE was fatally injured when they were engulfed in the sand, as it vibrated to the bottom of the hopper. EE may have entered the hopper to try to retrieve two pieces of metal inadvertently dumped into hopper.

February 26, 2016 TX · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Vista Proppants and Logistics · Struck by falling object

An All-Terrain Forklift was unloading a trailer of poly pipe. While the All-Terrain Forklift was traversing away from the trailer, a single piece of pipe fell on the driver's side of the truck.

August 19, 2015 IL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Hamilton County Coal, LLC · Struck by falling object

Was putting screw jacks in to hold a pony boom up, supports dislodged and the pony boom came down hitting shoulders knocking EE to the ground. *On October 1, 2015, the injured miner died. On October 13, 2016, MSHA's Fatality Review Committee determined the death to be mining related and chargeable to the mining industry.

August 3, 2015 VA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Luck Stone Corporation · Struck by rolling or sliding object

Associate backed the haul truck under the conveyor to load Mineral filler. Preliminary findings indicate that the associate climbed to first level platform under the silo hopper. While standing on the platform, the upper section of the hopper detached from the silo. The entire hopper, along with contents, then collapsed onto the platform, engulfing the associate.

August 3, 2015 ND · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Pinky's Aggregates Inc · Struck by rolling or sliding object

There were no witnesses to the accident. The operator was found outside of his loader buried under gravel that had sloughed off of the stock pile he was loading from. Fellow employees were attempting to remove the gravel from on top of him when officials showed up. Officials declared him dead at the scene.

June 30, 2015 MA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
P A Landers Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

The mine slope collapsed trapping our miner in his machine. The recovery effort was not successful and the employee expired at the mine site.

June 27, 2015 PA · Coal scoop tram operator, load/haul/dump operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Dana Mining Company of Pennsylvania LLC · Struck by falling object

When airlock door located at 63 to 64 break on 10 right #4 heading struck victim causing fatal injury. When the scoop car operator closed the set of airlock doors at the No.63.5 crosscut, the doors fell towards the scoop operator pinning him under the metal airlock door.

November 18, 2014 TX · Metal/Non-Metal superintendent Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Alcoa World Alumina LLC · Struck by falling object

A crew of 5 workers were installing an 8'x10' process door when the lifting lug on the door became detached. This resulted in the door free falling approximately 22" to the ground and ultimately falling over onto one of the crew members.

November 10, 2014 VA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
R&S STONE, INC. · Struck by falling object

EE shut down crushing plant to remove a drill bit stuck in the jaw crusher. He was using a torch to cut off drill bit when the bit flew up into his chest & face. He was hospitalized and died on 1/17/15.

August 2, 2014 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Fossum Ready Mix · Struck by falling object

Miner was apparently adding oil to hoist of truck. Box was loaded with rock and not properly blocked. The weight of the loaded box split block and the box came down unexpectedly crushing miner between the truck frame and dump box. Although no damage was done to equipment, miner was killed.

December 13, 2013 GA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Brown Brothers Sand Company · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Employee was standing on a ditch bank when it collapsed. He fell into the ditch and was covered/crushed by falling material

September 18, 2013 KY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Gaddie-Shamrock LLC · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

victim entered a hopper without power locked and tagged out and without fall protection

April 16, 2013 LA · Metal/Non-Metal shaftcrew, shaft repair, skip tender, station tender Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Compass Minerals America Inc. · Struck by falling object

The incident is still under investigation. The individual was struck by an unknown object when replacing guide rope bushings on the north skip in the loading pocket at the bottom of the 16 foot shaft. The victim was working on top of a skip, performing maintenance with 2 coworkers, when a piece of salt fell and struck him.

April 4, 2013 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Freeport-McMoRan Bagdad Inc · Struck by falling object

The crew was attempting to align a section of pipe, which is 40 feet long, when the 2 pipes disconnected and 1 end of the pipe that the crew was trying to install slipped out of the joint and struck the employee. An excavator was being used to position a 36" pipe diameter by 40' long section pipe to connect it to another section of pipe.

August 17, 2012 FL · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Titan Florida LLC · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Employee was atop of cement silo when the roof collapsed engulfing him.

April 11, 2012 NC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
G S Materials Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Miners were removing a counterweight from an excavator, standing side-by-side, when the counter-weight dropped unexpectedly to the ground.The victim stumbled backwards,fell landed on the back of his head on the shop floor. He was unresponsive during CPR. The autopsy report concludes the proximate cause of death as"commotio cerebri"noting also cardiac arrest.

October 7, 2011 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Owlco Energy LLC · Struck by falling object

Miner was repairing broke conveyor chain on 94L bridge position himself under the bridge when it fell striking him in the chest area.

March 2, 2011 NC · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
PCS Phosphate Company Inc · Struck by falling object

Victim was part of a crew that was welding hdpe pipe using a McElroy fusion machine. While attempting to position pipe in to fusion machine, using an excavator, the pipe struck the victim in the head.

December 29, 2010 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Unknown operator · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was changing right lift cylinder on the Gehl skid steer loader. Employee is believed to have been entering the cab when the fork dropped to the ground. The employee had his head caught between the frame of the skid steer and the arm to raise the forks.

December 23, 2010 FL · Metal/Non-Metal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
MID Coast Aggregates LLC · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

The senior blaster received fatal injuries when he was conducting a post-blast examination. The accident occurred when the ground on which he was walking caved in. The circumstances surrounding the accident and the cause of the accident are still under investigation.

November 30, 2010 WA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Shawnee Rock Inc · Struck by falling object

Maintenance was being performed on 10 wheel truck. It appears that the chain slipped causing the truck to fall striking the victim. The victim died from possible internal injuries. Still awaiting Coroner's and MSHA's finding to complete the investigation.

August 12, 2010 NV · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc · Struck by falling object

Initial investigation indicates that a 2 ft diameter pipe that carries aggregate to the mine backfill plant broke loose and struck the hoist cage.

August 12, 2010 NV · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc · Struck by falling object

Initial investigation indicates that a 2 ft diameter pipe that carries aggregate to the mine backfill plant broke loose and struck the hoist cage.

March 24, 2010 NY · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Cargill Salt · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Employee was in dump truck waiting to be loaded with bulk salt from under 150 ton bin to transfer it to the stockpile pad on Cargill Deicing property. He was being loaded with salt when the brackets from the bin gave way and landed on the cab of his truck pinning him inside.

January 9, 2010 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Freeport McMoRan Miami Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employees were placing 24" HDPE pipe, when the pipe suddenly shifted and rolled on top of one of the workers. He was treated and stabilized at the scene. He was subsequently transported to a hospital, where he later passed away.

January 17, 2009 KY · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Specialty Rock Products Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Employee entered area of accident by foot deviating from procedure. Was found later in bottom of hopper engulfed by stone.

January 6, 2009 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Matich Corporation · Struck by falling object

The victim was operating a skid steer loader underneath a belt conveyor that was being dismantled. A co-worker was in an elevated manlift & was using a cutting torch to remove a piece of 4" metal tubing attached to the leg supports of the belt conveyor. The tubing fell to the ground, tipped over into the front of the loader & struck the victim. He was hospitalized & died on 1/9/09.

October 29, 2008 UT · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Rio Tinto Kennecott Copper · Struck by falling object

All we know is a call came 10/29/08 about 8:00 a.m. that we had a fatal accident at Kennecott; our driver was killed by a pipe falling off the top of load on trailer. All Bob Orton Trucking does is haul the load (this load from WL Plastics Corp, Cedar City, Utah). We do not load or unload product.

October 9, 2008 NV · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Newmont USA Limited · Struck by falling object

Two employees (welders) were dismantling a large tool rack. The welders were cutting 8'X4"X1/4" plate steel from the frame. The rack became unstable and tipped over on top of the employees. One employee sustained fatal injuries and the other received injuries to his back and legs.

October 7, 2008 PA · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Pennsy Supply Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

The employee was attempting to add a piece of angle iron to the discharge gate to the surge pile feeder. After welding, the gate did not fit properly. He crawled to the gate to investigate. He asked a co-worker for a tape measure. While waiting for the tape measure the material started collapsing around him. As a result the employee was engulfed in the material.

Showing 50 of 74