Mining Incidents

Every mining fatality in Minnesota

MSHA's accident file records 32 fatalities at mines in Minnesota since 1983, listed by year. Each links to its incident record.

2023 1 fatality

August 24, 2023 MN · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · MACHINERY
Cemstone Products Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

While attempting to lower feed box on wash plant employee was trapped between feed box and hand railing causing fatal injuries to employee.

2019 1 fatality

November 5, 2019 MN · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Cleveland-Cliffs Minorca Mine Inc. · Struck against a moving object

Employee was driving Service truck SR136 on the main haul road heading east towards the pit. For unknown reasons at this time it appears the truck hit the berm on the south side of the road causing it to tip sideways ending up on the drivers side. EE was found outside of the vehicle.

2012 1 fatality

July 26, 2012 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Strata Corporation · Fall from machine

Full details are not yet known. Employee was lubricating a conveyor and the conveyor was started. Injuries are either from being thrown from the conveyor or being trapped in machinery.

2011 2 fatalities

December 8, 2011 MN · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Knife River North Central · Struck by falling object

Employee was placing removable legs on a transfer conveyor. Conveyor was held in place by a loader. Removable leg fell and struck employee in the face, fatally injuring the employee.

August 9, 2011 MN · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
4 J's Gravel Crushing · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

A miner' s arm was caught in the components of a conveyor head pulley and conveyor scraper blade assembly, resulting in fatal injury.

2010 1 fatality

June 12, 2010 MN · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Unimin Minnesota Corporation · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

Incident is still under investigation. Cause of death is unknown, awaiting autopsy report. The victim was working from an elevated location that was provided with handrails. He was using an 8 foot stepladder. While preparing to weld on an overhead vent pipe, he fell going over the handrail and landed on a railroad track 47 feet below.

2007 2 fatalities

June 8, 2007 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · MACHINERY
Cleveland-Cliffs Minorca Mine Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The deceased was fatally injured when a P&H Omega 20 ton mobile crane tipped on top of him while he attempted to exit the crane. The crane was attempting to postion a de-watering pipe when the accident occured. This accident is still under investigation by MSHA and Hazmat and United Steelworkers.

April 18, 2007 MN · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator Fatality · MACHINERY
United Taconite LLC · Fall from machine

Employee fell from cab of drill when drill tipped over. Employee fell approximately 40 feet from the dab to the next lower bench. Fall resulted in fatal injuries.

2006 3 fatalities

November 10, 2006 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Seppi Brothers Concrete Products Corp · Struck by falling object

Employee was in the process of moving a stacking conveyor, hooking chains to the axle frame to be connected to a loader. Conveyor buckled in half landing on him in his attempt to run from the falling conveyor.

October 12, 2006 MN · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
United Taconite LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Electrical explosion.

October 4, 2006 MN · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Cemstone Products Co · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Worker was preparing to remove a transmission from a machine. The operator's cab had to be removed prior to removal of transmission. Some or all of the fastners holding the cab were removed. Cab tipped pinning worker between cab, lower deck and hand rail.

2005 1 fatality

October 28, 2005 MN · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Tri-City Paving, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Two employees were repositioning a conveyor. One was on the loader which was pulling the conveyor. The victim was directing and somehow got caught under the conveyor tire, crushing him.

2001 1 fatality

October 2, 2001 MN · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Unimin Minnesota Corporation · Contact with electrical current

INDIVIDUAL CAME INTO CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD POWERLINE CAUSING DEATH BY ELECTRICUTION.

2000 2 fatalities

October 13, 2000 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FIRE
Hibbing Taconite Company · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A CRAWLER TRACTOR ON THE #1039 STOCKPILE IN THE MINE PIT. A FLASH FIRE OCCURRED. THE OPERATOR EXPERIENCED EXTENSIVE BURNS AS HE EXITED THE OPERATOR'S CAB. INVESTIGATION CONTINUES. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 2 1/2 WEEKS IN THE BURN UNIT. ON NOVEMBER 2, 2000, MSHA WAS NOTIFIED THAT HE EXPIRED AT HOME.

August 30, 2000 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Mark Sand & Gravel Acquisition Company · Contact with electrical current

WHILE CUTTING WITH ARCH WELDER, INDIVIDUAL WAS ELECTROCUTED.

1998 1 fatality

August 23, 1998 MN · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor Fatality · EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE

THE SHIFT MANAGER TURNED THE VALVE ON THE PIPE PLUG WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO AN AIR COMPRESSOR ON THE BANK TO INFLATE THE PLUG. WHEN HE FELT THERE WAS ENOUGH AIR IN THE PIPE PLUG, HE SHUT THE VA LVE AND STATED OUT LOUD, "I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH AIR IN THE BLADDER, BUT THERE IS STILL SEEPAGE BETWEEN THE BLADDER AND THE PIPE." THE DECEASED BENT OVER THE PIPE AND TURNED THE AIR VALVE ON

1994 1 fatality

February 10, 1994 MN · Metal/Non-Metal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Oglebay Norton Taconite Company · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEES WERE ATTEMPTING TO FREE BUILT UP SLAG AND DEBRIS FROM WEST WALL OF #2 GRATE PREHEAT AREA. EMPLOYEE INVOLVED WAS ON BACK END OF JACKHAMMER AND BEFORE STARTING, MATERIAL FELL FROM ABOV E, CAUSING ABOVE STATED FATALITY.

1992 1 fatality

April 9, 1992 MN · Metal/Non-Metal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Meridian Aggregates Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

OPERATOR OF PICK UP TRUCK WAS CRUSHED BETWEEN HIS TRUCK AND ANOTHER TRUCK THEN TRUCK RAN OVER OPERATOR

1991 1 fatality

July 27, 1991 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Morical Brothers Inc. · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

VICTIM ENTERED THE TAIL PULLEY AREA AND BECAME INTAGNLED IN TAIL PULLEY. RESULTS WERE FATAL INJURY.

1990 2 fatalities

July 6, 1990 MN · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Ltv Steel Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

INJURED WAS CHANGING FLAT OUTSIDE DUAL TIRE ON HAULAGE TRUCK. WAS STRUCK BY INSIDE TIRE & OR MOUNTING HARDWARE WHEN LOCK RIM BASE WELD SEPARATED & TIRE EXPLODED.

April 25, 1990 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · MACHINERY
Philip Hill Construction · Struck by flying object

VICTIM ADJUSTING CLUTCH CEDAR RAPIDS PORTABLE CRUSHER WHEN PRY BAR CAME FLYING OUT OF CLUTCH AREA STRIKING VICTIM IN CHEST AND PENETRATING JUST ABOVE HEART AREA

1989 3 fatalities

August 1, 1989 MN · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Holst Excavating Inc · Struck against a moving object

I NAME WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN HIS LOADER OVERTURNED OFF THE RAMP

February 17, 1989 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · MACHINERY

ON FEB 17,1989 A D-10 CRAWLER TRACTOR WENT OFF THE EDGE OF A DUMP THRU ICE INTO APPROX. 25' OF WATER. ALL EFFORTS TO LOCATE THE OPERATOR HAVE TO DATE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.

January 26, 1989 MN · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Hibbing Taconite Company · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

EMP HAD BEEN WORKING ON STOCK PILE WITH CRAWLER TRACTOR. WHEN SIGNALED TO C OME DOWN BY SUPERVISOR, HE ACKNOWLEDGED, AND JPROCEEDED TO BACK UP ALONG A ROAD ON THE SOUTH SIDE CLOSE TO THE TOP, AS HE APPROACHED THE CONE(VOID) OF #9 MILL FEEDER WATCHING THE OUTSIDE TRACK, HE BACKED INTO THE CONE. THE TRACTOR SLID TO THE BOTTOM AND WAS ENGULFED IN COARSE ROCK.

1988 2 fatalities

December 22, 1988 MN · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
United States Steel Corp-Minnesota Ore Operations · Struck by powered moving object

THE DECEASED WAS WALKING WEST ON THE NORTH EDGE OF AN EMPLOYEE ROAD WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A PRIVATE VEHICLE DRIVEN BY ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WHO WAS TRAVELING WEST TO THE WEST PIT DRY THE ACCIDENT O CCURRED PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SHIFT

July 1, 1988 MN · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Warren Steen Construction Inc · Contact with electrical current

EMPL MOVED STACKER 30' TOO FAR.

1987 1 fatality

August 31, 1987 MN · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Inland Steel Mining Company · Struck by falling object

AS HE WAS WALKI3G NEAR THE UPRIGHT DOOR PANEL, A STRONG GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE DOOR PANEL PUCHING IT OVER ON TOP OF HIM, INNING HIM, AND CAUSING THE INJURIES. THE WIND WAS VERY STRONG AND SW SWIRLING IN MAN2 DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THE FORKLIFT OPERATOR STATED HE FELT A STRONG BLAST OF WIND JUST PRIOR TO THE DOOR PANEL FALLING OVER

1984 2 fatalities

November 5, 1984 MN · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · MACHINERY
Buckley Construction · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

VICTIM WAS STANDING BY THE CRUSHER OPERATOR. VICTIM TURNED AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE CRUSHER OPERATOR. THE CRUSHER OPERATOR NOTICED THE MATERIAL WAS NOT MOVING AND WENT TO THE DISCHARGE END TO FIND OUT WHY. THE CRUSHER OPERATOR DISCOVERD THE VICTIM S ARM WAS CAUGHT IN THE RETURN IDLER OF THE PORTABLE CRUSHING UNIT. IT IS UNKNOWN WHY THE VICTIM WAS AT THE CRUSHING UNIT.

June 14, 1984 MN · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Quarve & Anderson Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

THE LOADER OPERATOR ASKED TAYLOR TO HELP FIND A AIRLEAK ON HIS LOADER. TAYLOR TOLD HIM TO START THE LOADER, BUILD UP AIR PRESSURE AND MOVE THE LOADER TO THE NORTH SIDE OF FIELD SHOP. THE OPERA TOR STARTED HIS MACHINE, BUILT AIR PRESSURE AND STARTED TO MOVE. I,NAME APPARENTLY FOLLOWEDTHE OPERATOR TO THE MACHINE AND AT THE MOVEMENT OF THE MACHINE HAD CLIMBED ON THE REAR PLATFORM OF T

1983 3 fatalities

October 4, 1983 MN · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Tri-City Paving, Inc. · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

GRAVEL BANK CAVED ON LOADER.

June 23, 1983 MN · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Eveleth Mines · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 9159 PRODUCTION TRUCK WHICH WAS LOADED WITH ROCK HE WAS TO DUMP THIS LOAD ON THE ROCK STOCKPILE BEFORE THE DOZER OPERTOR AND LIGHT PLANT ARRIVED INJURED PROCEEDED TO DUMP THE LOAD THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WENT OVER THE EDGE OF THE STOCKPILE AND THE TRUCK ROLLED OVER REAR WHEEL WENT OVER THE EDGE OF THE STOCKPILE AND THE TRUCK ROLLED OVER 360DEG INJURED WAS

February 2, 1983 MN · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Erie Mining Company · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

TWO STAIR TREADS HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM A STAIRWAY TO ALLOW MATERIAL TO BE HOISTED FROM A LOWER FLOOR. THE TOP OF THE STAIRWAY WAS ROPED OFF AND TWO YELLOW WARNING RIBBONS WERE TIED BETWEEN THE HANDRAILS, ONE AT THE TOP OF THE HANDRAIL AND ONEAT THE INTERMEDIATE RAIL LEVEL. AN ADDITIONAL WARNING RIBBON WAS INSTALLED ACROSS THE HANDRAILS HALFWAY BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE STAIRWAY AND TH