Mining Incidents

Kentucky mining incidents

Every reportable accident on file with MSHA at a Kentucky mine. Operators below are ranked by recorded fatality count in this state alone.

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Fatalities recorded
143
Total incidents
28,708
Most recent fatality
2023

Top operators in Kentucky by fatality count

  1. 01Martin Co. Coal Corp1fatal
  2. 02Lexington Quarry Company1fatal
  3. 03Sterling Materials1fatal
  4. 04McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corp1fatal
  5. 05Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC1fatal

Recent fatalities in Kentucky

Fall from machine

Employee evacuated truck on mine ramp and hit head on ramp floor causing serious head injury. *EE died on 3/19/2024.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While assisting in the offloading of a tank from the RGN trailer, the equipment being used to crane the tank struck JD's Custom Transport employee, causing EE's death.

Struck against a moving object

OUR EMPLOYEE WORKING AT MOUNTAIN AGGREGATES QUARRY MINE SITE WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE OPERATING A DOZER ON AN ACCESS RD IN WHICH THE EQUIPMENT LEFT THE ACCESS RD AND ROLLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT.

Struck by falling object

The employee and co-workers were in the No.8 entry at x-cut No.47 on the 3 South Mains preparing to remove a permanent stopping. The injured employee was in the process of walking outby to turn off a water valve, when the roof collapsed resulting in a fatality. MSHA was notified. The injured employee was pronounced dead by the coroner on at 10:48pm on 3/21/2022.

Struck by falling object

Employee was driving on work site when a tree fell off the High Wall into the cab of employee's pickup.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee placed self on the bumper of the miner below the unsupported conveyor tail boom with the machine still energized. EE apparently was trying to trouble shoot issues with the stab jack by utilizing the remote control functions and in the process inadvertently lowered the tail onto self resulting in fatal crushing injuries.

Struck by falling object

Changing the rear tire on a 992D Loader. Jack kicked out and and loader fell down crushing employee.

Struck by powered moving object

The victim was fatally injured when struck by a battery powered scoop which had trammed through a line curtain in the #6 Entry of the #5 Unit (MMU 009-0) outby the working place where the continuous mining machine was being operated.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was on Hydro seeder and changed barrels on the gun and pointed the gun at self and engaged the clutch. The pressure knocked employee back against the rails on the truck. CPR was provided but had no effect.

Struck by rolling or sliding object

While employee was working on the ride a piece of rock rolled off coal rib, striking them in the back. Pinning them against the personal ride.

Struck by powered moving object

The victim was fatally injured when EE was struck by a battery powered scoop which had trammed through a translucent line curtain in the #3 Entry of the #6 Unit (MMU 005) just outby the working place where the continuous mining machine was being operated. Co-workers observed the victim in a sitting position stretching EE's legs prior to the accident.

Struck by concussion

FMC employees were attempting to seal the hoist shaft at the Bremen Portal at Ken American Paradise Mine No. 9. Steel beams were welded in place metal decking was secured covering the shaft. Methane accumulated in the shaft and caused a series of two explosions 4-5 seconds apart. The second explosion killed FMC employee. No other fatalities or injuries occurred.

Struck by falling object

Rib Rolled onto miner operator.

Struck by powered moving object

While the surveyor was setting up the instrument in #4 belt entry, the other surveyor was getting height measurements down #3 entry. A shuttle car loaded with coal coming from #2 entry tramming to the feeder struck and killed the surveyor near spad 24.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

The belt Foreman & 1 other employee made a belt splice on #7 mainline belt. Belt came on & foreman was dragged approx. 6-7 crosscuts before the belt stopped by a person making belt checks.

Struck by falling object

While changing work cutter head bits on the coal auger machine, ee was struck by a rock approx 4 feet by 5 feet by 30 inches that fell from the bottom section of the highwall. EE was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Death

Struck by falling object

Employee was changing a cable pulley that raised and lowered a load spout. While installing the new pulley, something broke. The cable struck the employee in the head area fatally injuring the employee. The investigation is still ongoing to determine the exact cause.

Struck by rolling or sliding object

While workers were cleaning up material that was removed from a new coal transfer borehole using a continuous miner, a section of rib/brow fell from the inby portion of the entry and continued outby pulling rib bolts. The material rolled down the rib and struck the miner operator causing fatal crushing injuries to chest and abdomen.

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

Employee was in preparation to mine the No. 6 Left Crosscut when EE became pinned between the tail of the machine and the coal rib, resulting in fatal crushing injuries.

Source: US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) accident records, kept current weekly. State assignment uses MSHA's FIPS state code on the accident record.