Mining Incidents

Mining Incidents in Indiana

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

Fatalities recorded
28
Total incidents
8,485
Years on record
2000–2026

Year-over-year fatalities

  1. 20141
  2. 20231

Top operators in Indiana by fatality count

  1. 01Mulzer Crushed Stone Inc1fatal
  2. 02Gibson County Coal LLC1fatal

Recent fatalities in Indiana

Contact with electrical current

Crane lifting conveyor belt off of trailer using cable rigging employee was guiding rigging crane struck overhead power line employee was electrocuted

Struck against a moving object

Unknown- Truck over traveled dump site through berm. Truck traveled down and resting submerged in pit. Accident under investigation.

Struck by falling object

EE was working outside prep plant on disassembly of vibrating screen. Removed screen from prep plant was on ground, while foreman was checking area, sideboard of screen began to fall. EE tried to avoid injury by moving out of the way but was pinned by sideboard against smaller screen which had been removed from prep plant. EE suffered fatal injuries. Under investigation by MSHA.

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

Injured was found in entry 11, caught between the left rib and the horn of the miner.

Contact with hot objects or substances

The IE was hauling overburden in a Cat 793 end dump to a fill area. The front area on the end dump caught fire. The IE parked the truck on the fill and exited the end dump. The IE sustained multiple burn injuries as a result of the exit. IE passed away on 09/12/18. Ultimate cause of death is pending the coroner's report.

Struck against a moving object

A mine mechanic was operating a diesel mantrip along the M5 Travelway when it appears the vehicle struck the coal rib and rolled on its side. The mechanic was partially ejected from the ride and the canopy fell on ee chest.

Fall from machine

The EE involved arrived 15 minutes before start time and went directly to his haul truck and started the truck. While in the shop the EE reported to another EE that he had slipped and fallen from his truck after it was started. He said he missed the bottom step and fell against the tire. He slid down the tire, striking his head on the concrete. He died on 11/27/2014.

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

The victim was in the process of cutting through the inner left-side side plate. When the cut was completed, the cat frame pivoted upward, pinning the victim between the cat track and frame of the feeder. The side plates connect the hopper jack assembles to the cat frame. The victim was working on n Auxier Welding Inc belt feeder.

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

A shuttle car driver was tramming through a crosscut from Entry # 5 to Entry # 6. The car driver stopped spoke to the victim. The victim proceeded past the car, traveled through a curtain into the intersection of Entry # 6. The victim told the car driver he was clear. The car proceeded through the curtain and struck the victim between the shuttle car and the left rib.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was helping to pour concrete in the shaft, the hose is directed to the shaft walls as needed. The hose was over loaded with material when the concrete came out of the bucket too fast, this caused the hose to surge and knock employee and his co-workers off their feet, resulting a fracture to employee's left ankle.

Struck against a moving object

At approx 5:20 pm a 40 ton articulating truck was traveling along a haulage road impacting a 63"" high berm. The truck traveled across the berm and fell 72 feet to the mine floor below. The victim was extracted from the truck by EMS and airlifted to the Hospital.

Struck by falling object

Employee was installing the second roof bolt on the right when a large rock fell from the roof (10' x 5' x 8""-10"") pinning him to the roof bolter. An MSHA investigation is ongoing.

Struck by flying object

Employee was working on a crusher. A bucket tooth was wedged in the crusher. The crusher was jacked up. The jack kicked out and employee was struck in the head by an unknown object and knocked him into the bed of the truck where he struck his head on an unknown object. Employee received head trauma.

Fall down raise, shaft or manway

While being lowered in sinking bucket, a strap and clevis engaged with shaft door upsetting the sinking bucket exposing three individuals to a fall hazard resulting in three fatalities.

Fall down raise, shaft or manway

While being lowered in sinking bucket, a strap and clevis engaged with shaft door upsetting the sinking bucket exposing three individuals to a fall hazard resulting in three fatalities.

Fall down raise, shaft or manway

While being lowered in sinking bucket, a strap and clevis engaged with shaft door upsetting the sinking bucket exposing three individuals to a fall hazard resulting in three fatalities.

Struck by falling object

Two men were drilling bottom line when a seam in the next cut back gave way. The piece of stone that broke loose was large enough to crush both men. One man was fatally crushed and the other is in critical condition.

Contact with hot objects or substances

The injured person, an employee of Service Transport, was delivering diesel to the quarry fuel tank. The driver was the only person at the tank when a hose separated from the truck and he was burned by the hot diesel fuel. He was taken to the hospital with burns - described as non life threatening. Driver later died from what is believed to be complications from the injury.

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

Ee had gone to face area to service face equip as part of idle shift on unit #4. It appears from acc.site that ee was moving continuous miner from face of #3 entry outby about 1 & 1/2 crosscuts to service it. A coworker said ee had been alone for about 5 min, when coworker found ee pinched between tail of miner & coal rib about 15 ft outby intersection for crosscut #29, entry #3.

Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING ON THE 4TH FLOOR OF SCREEN TOWER. A GUARD RAIL WAS REMOVED TO LOWER A PIECEOF SCRAP TO THE GROUND. AFTER SCRAP WAS LOWERED,EMPLOYEE WAS BELIEVED TO BE THROWING ANOTHER PIE CE TO THE GROUND WHEN HE FELL FROM THE OPENING TO THE GROUND 56 FEET BELOW. FALL PROTECTION WAS PROVIDED BUT NOT USED.

Related states

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.