Mining Incidents

Every mining fatality in Louisiana

MSHA's accident file records 24 fatalities at mines in Louisiana since 1983, listed by year. Each links to its incident record.

2024 1 fatality

August 4, 2024 LA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atalco Gramercy LLC · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

An employee received burn injuries from exposure to hot water and caustic liquid, when they entered an area where the liquids accumulated on the ground. Employee fell into an open sump hole while walking into the work area.

2020 3 fatalities

December 14, 2020 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Cargill Deicing Technology · Struck by falling object

Roof fell at the 700' level at intersection H-13 striking two miners. The miners were fatally injured.

December 14, 2020 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Cargill Deicing Technology · Struck by falling object

Roof fell at the 700' level at intersection H-13 striking two miners. The miners were fatally injured.

February 29, 2020 LA · Metal/Non-Metal master mechanic, foreman, supervisor Fatality · MACHINERY
Newmark Acquisition, LLC · Struck by flying object

Operator was priming Dredge pump with Jet line. When Operator closed the valve on Jet line, 2" Cam Lock broke and struck operator.

2019 1 fatality

August 15, 2019 LA · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Compass Minerals Louisiana Inc. · Contact with electrical current

A contractor died at the operation underground. The cause of death is unknown at the time of this report. MSHA issued a 103(k) order on the area. The information in this report is all we have at this time.

2014 1 fatality

April 24, 2014 LA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · MACHINERY
Big River Industries · Struck against stationary object

Employee had worked an entire day operating a John Deere 750C Dozer along side another experienced dozer operator. At approximately 5:25pm the employee was last seen crossing over a dirt pile. A few minutes later that same employee saw the 750C dozer blade first in a ditch with the tracks still running and employee lying face up behind the machine.

2013 1 fatality

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.

2009 2 fatalities

June 20, 2009 LA · Metal/Non-Metal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Morton Salt Div/Morton International Inc · Struck by falling object

The investigation is not complete, but as of now it appears that the employee had washed the #2 drill and was rolling up the hose when a portion of the mine roof collapsed, striking and covering him with a section of the salt roof.

March 6, 2009 LA · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler Fatality · MACHINERY
Dolet Hills Lignite Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

A dragline oiler had been walking the 1570 dragline. He was last seen near the end of a walkway and was later found between the shoe and the revolving frame. There were no witnesses to the event. The employee was fatally injured.

2007 1 fatality

March 30, 2007 LA · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand Fatality · OTHER

Cause of accident is unknown at this time. Employee was working on a winch on a dredge boat and was found drowned behind the boat some time afterwards.

2006 1 fatality

May 19, 2006 LA · Metal/Non-Metal master electrician Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Kinder Sand Company LLC · Contact with electrical current

A master electrician was fatally injured while trouble-shooting 460 volt electric motor. (question #26: experience at this mine TWO hours.)

2000 2 fatalities

June 14, 2000 LA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Excalibar Minerals Of Louisiana LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

STOCKPILING ORE AT MILL SITE STOCKPILE AREA. DUMP TRUCK DUMPED HIS LOAD ON STOCKPILE AND BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM PILE. WHILE SLOWING PULLING FORWARD AND BEGGINING TO TURN TO THE RIGHT, THE HAU L TRUCK RAN OVER A DOZER OPERATOR WHO WAS IN FRONT OF DUMP TRUCK THE INJURY WAS FATAL.

April 28, 2000 LA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Asbury Advanced Materials · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

CONDITIONS UNKNOWN @ THIS TIME IMPAIRMENT-DEATH.THE VICTIM WAS OPERATING A TRACTOR PULLING A MOWER ALONG THE MILL ENTRANCE ROAD. HE WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN HE FELL FROM AND WAS RAN OVER BY TH E TRACTOR.

1998 1 fatality

November 5, 1998 LA · Metal/Non-Metal Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Cargill Salt · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A GRADALL 554-B TO CLEAN UP SALT ON WEST SIDE OF BELT 143 LOCATED ON THE 900' LEVEL OF MINE. CAUSE OF ACCIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION.

1996 1 fatality

September 13, 1996 LA · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Wood Resources LLC · Drowning

EE WAS NOT WEARING HIS LIFE JACKET WHEN HE WAS FOUND IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. ALL EQUIPMENT WAS MOORED AT THE BANK. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED. CAUSE IS UNCLEAR WHY HE FELL.

1995 1 fatality

October 31, 1995 LA · Metal/Non-Metal driller operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
North American Salt Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

WHILE IN THE MINE. THE INJURED EE WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND A CAT FRONT END LOADER.WHEN IT WENT THRU A VENTILATION CURTAIN. THE CAT BACKED UP AND RAN OVER THE GO CART OPERATOR.

1990 1 fatality

March 19, 1990 LA · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand Fatality · MACHINERY
Txi (A/K/A Texas Industries Inc) · Struck by falling object

EMP FAILED TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURE FOR TURNING PONTOONS FOR SAFE ACCESS TO FIND AND MAKE REPAIRS. INSTEAD PONTOON WAS SUSPENDED ON STEEL CHAIN WRAPPED AROUND TWO BUCKET TEETH OF TRACKHOE. A ND CHAIN SLIPPED OFF OF TEETH CAUSING THE PONTOON TO FALL.

1989 2 fatalities

September 29, 1989 LA · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Red River Mining Company · Fall from machine

STACKING CONVEYOR WAS BEING RUN TO STOCK PILE COAL FOR LOADING STATION TO BE RUN.

June 22, 1989 LA · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Southwest Sand & Gravel-Joint Venture · Contact with electrical current

CRANE OPERATOR WAS MOVING CRANE BOOM. HIT POWER LINE. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO ONLY CUT STEEL FROM STRUCTURE AND NOT TO GET ON CRANE AS IT WAS NOT HIS ASSIGNED MACHINE. NOT KNOWN WHY HE DID MOVE C RANE BOOM.

1987 1 fatality

June 1, 1987 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · NONPOWERED HAULAGE

ATTEMPTING TO A3CHOR DREDGE EMPL LOST BALANCE AND FELL ONTO BACK OF THE WORKBOAT.BOAT TOOK WATER AND SANK.NOT WEARING A LIFE JACKET..STANDING IN BOAT WHEN HE LOST HIS BALANCE.VICTIM COULDNT SW IM. 3

1985 2 fatalities

June 18, 1985 LA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · OTHER
Acadiana Shell & Limestone Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

VICTIM WAS WORKING ON SEPERATOR TOWER & DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.

April 25, 1985 LA · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Domtar Industries Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

I.NAME DIED FROM A SHIFTING PILE OF FINISHED SALT PRODUCT IN A STORAGE AREA AT THE MINE LEVEL.

1984 1 fatality

July 30, 1984 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Morton Salt Division · Fall from ladders

CONTRACTORS EMPL FELL THROUGH SCREENING AND STORAGE BLDG ROOF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT SHEETING ON MONITOR.

1983 1 fatality

March 14, 1983 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · MACHINERY
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE DISREGUARDED SUPERVISOR\S SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AND FELLOW WORKER\S WARNING, CLIMBED OVER OR UNDER A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND GUARD RAIL ENCLOSING V-BELT DRIVE FOR SLURRY PUMP TO PERFORM WORK IN AN UNAUTHORIZED/RESTRICTED AREA. HE WAS CAUGHT IN BELT DRIVE AND WAS FATALLY INJURED.