Mining Incidents

Mining Incidents in Montana

Montana has 43 recorded mining fatalities on file with MSHA, across 9,060 reportable incidents (1984–2025).

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

Track this? Follow the Montana fatality RSS feed to get every new MSHA fatality in your reader as soon as it's filed.

Abandoned and historical mine features in Montana →

Fatalities recorded
43
Total incidents
9,060
Fatal rate
0.5%
Years on record
1984–2025

Year-over-year fatalities

  1. 1984 2
  2. 1986 1
  3. 1987 4
  4. 1988 2
  5. 1989 2
  6. 1990 1
  7. 1991 6
  8. 1992 4
  9. 1995 2
  10. 1996 1
  11. 2000 1
  12. 2001 3
  13. 2005 1
  14. 2006 1
  15. 2007 1
  16. 2010 1
  17. 2011 1
  18. 2012 1
  19. 2014 2
  20. 2017 1
  21. 2018 1
  22. 2021 2
  23. 2023 1
  24. 2025 1

Top mines in Montana by fatality count

  1. 01 STILLWATER MINE 16fatal
  2. 02 Spring Creek Mine 4fatal
  3. 03 Golden Sunlight Mines Inc 3fatal
  4. 04 Continental Mine 2fatal
  5. 05 Troy Mine 2fatal

Mines in Montana by county

every county with a mine on MSHA's register; each county page lists its mines

County Mines Active Fatalities
Madison County 131 5 1
Flathead County 114 7 1
Lewis and Clark County 93 2 0
Sanders County 91 3 0
Missoula County 85 0 0
Lincoln County 69 2 2
Broadwater County 62 2 0
Jefferson County 61 3 4
Cascade County 61 2 0
Beaverhead County 57 4 0
Yellowstone County 50 2 0
Fergus County 49 1 0
Granite County 49 1 0
Silver Bow County 46 1 3
Powell County 45 0 2
Ravalli County 44 1 0
Gallatin County 43 7 1
Park County 31 1 1
Lake County 27 4 0
Carbon County 23 1 0
Big Horn County 22 4 5
Deer Lodge County 20 0 0
Stillwater County 18 2 16
Musselshell County 18 1 1
Golden Valley County 18 1 0
Meagher County 18 0 0
Richland County 18 1 0
Hill County 17 0 0
Mineral County 16 0 0
Wheatland County 15 2 0
Phillips County 14 0 2
Judith Basin County 14 0 1
Dawson County 13 1 0
Roosevelt County 13 2 0
Sweet Grass County 12 1 0
Valley County 11 0 1
Custer County 11 0 0
Fallon County 10 0 0
Rosebud County 9 2 2
Pondera County 8 0 0
Sheridan County 8 0 0
Toole County 8 0 0
Blaine County 7 0 0
Chouteau County 7 0 0
Liberty County 6 0 0
Powder River County 6 0 0
Carter County 5 0 0
Glacier County 4 0 0
Teton County 3 0 0
Treasure County 2 0 0
Daniels County 1 0 0

Top operators by fatality count

  1. 01 Stillwater Mining Company 10fatal
  2. 02 Stillwater Mining Company 6fatal
  3. 03 Golden Sunlight Mines Inc 3fatal
  4. 04 Cominco American Inc 2fatal
  5. 05 Montana Resources, LLC 2fatal
  6. 06 Spring Creek Coal Company 2fatal
  7. 07 Spring Creek Coal LLC 2fatal
  8. 08 Asarco Inc 1fatal
  9. 09 Beal Mountain Mining Inc 1fatal
  10. 10 Blue Ice Sapphire Mining, Inc. 1fatal

Recent fatalities

July 26, 2025 MT · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Stillwater Mining Company · Contact with electrical current

The employee was performing routine preventative maintenance on a transformer when EE was fatally electrocuted.

November 13, 2023 MT · Metal/Non-Metal miner, nec Fatality · MACHINERY
Stillwater Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Tangled in drill steel while installing ground support.

June 9, 2021 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck against a moving object

On June 9th, 2021 at 2:00 pm the operator was made aware of a collision underground between a locomotive and a UTV resulting in a fatal incident.

June 9, 2021 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck against a moving object

On June 9th, 2021 at 2:00 pm the operator was made aware of a collision underground between a locomotive and a UTV resulting in a Fatal incident.

October 19, 2018 MT · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Montana Rockworks Inc. · Struck against a moving object

Employee was in an articulating haul truck, was traveling down the haul road at the Quarry. The victim was moving the haul truck down a steep grade, around a turn, when the haul truck traveled through a berm and off a short drop-off. The victim was found hours later by the owner of the company, the victim was not wearing a seat belt.

May 6, 2017 MT · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Westmoreland Rosebud Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

On May 6, 2017 at approximately 16:55 a haul truck operator backed up to a berm to dump, the berm breeched and the haul truck and berm slid down the highwall approximately 150 ft. There were no witness to the incident.

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.

June 23, 2014 MT · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Spring Creek Coal LLC · Struck against a moving object

An empty haul truck traveled in a forward direction through a dump berm and came to rest at the bottom of the angle of repose dump fatally injuring the operator.

March 20, 2012 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Blue Ice Sapphire Mining, Inc. · Struck by falling object

This accident has already been investigated by MSHA. The victim was found approximately 250 feet inside the mine. He was working alone and had been struck by a fall of rib.

October 31, 2011 MT · Metal/Non-Metal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck against stationary object

Employee was operating a 4 yd mucker, MU452, on the 38W Level & was found fatally injured. Investigation is currently in progress.

January 2, 2010 MT · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Signal Peak Energy LLC · Struck by falling object

1ton dodge truck was up on jack stands with front wheels off ground,employee was under front of truck bleeding the power steering system,he asked another employee to get in truck and start the engine. The truck was started and the employees foot slipped off the clutch and the truck fell off the jack stands falling to the floor crushing the employee under truck.

July 30, 2007 MT · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Troy Mine Inc. · Struck by falling object

A fall of ground occurred in ME-163V crosscut. A mechanic was parked in the crosscut with pickup TP-74 when the fall of ground occurred, resulting in a fatality. After the fall of ground covered the TP-74, the vehicle caught fire, promting evacuation of the mine.

November 28, 2006 MT · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Spring Creek Coal LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The Haul Truck operator that had called in a problem with his park brake was found shortly thereafter pinned under his left rear tires. He had sustained fatal crushing injuries.

April 28, 2005 MT · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · MACHINERY
Stillwater Mining Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

An employee was attempting to repair air lock doors when he received a fatal crushing injury.

June 14, 2001 MT · Metal/Non-Metal miner, nec Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck by powered moving object

THE EE WAS ON ONE KNEE MAKING AN AIR HOSE CONNECTION. A OPERATOR, OPERATING A 3.5 YD SCOOP ENTERED THE WORK AREA STRIKING THE EE WITH THE BUCKETCAUSING FATAL INJURIES.

June 4, 2001 MT · Metal/Non-Metal stoper miner Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

THE MINER WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN HE STEPPED OFF THE MUCKER HE WAS OPERATING. THE MINER PARKED THE LHD ON A 15% GRADE ON THE 66W RAMP. WHEN HE REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE OPERATORS COMPARTMENT THE LHD BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE RAMP. THE MINER WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BUCKET & THE RIB.

March 20, 2001 MT · Metal/Non-Metal miner, nec Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck by falling object

THE EE FINISHED DRILLING THE LEFT RIB, WAS STILLBOLTING WHEN HE LEFT HIS JACKLEG,HE WAS MOVING AWAY FROM HIS JACKLEG WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK CAME OUT OF THE RIGHT RIB, STRIKING EE & KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND. HE SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED HIP & A FRACTURED PELVIS. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TREATMENT OF HIS INJURIES.

March 13, 2000 MT · Metal/Non-Metal motorman, motor person, swamper, switchman, locomotive operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE WORKING ON THE 5000W RAIL HAULAGE LEVEL. HE WAS PINNED UNDER A RAIL CAR. ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

October 9, 1996 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
S T S Gravel · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT ARE UNKNOWN.

Every fatality in Montana, by year

Related states