Mining Incidents

Mining Incidents in North Carolina

North Carolina has 32 recorded mining fatalities on file with MSHA, across 5,969 reportable incidents (1983–2025).

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

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Abandoned and historical mine features in North Carolina →

Fatalities recorded
32
Total incidents
5,969
Fatal rate
0.5%
Years on record
1983–2025

Year-over-year fatalities

  1. 1983 2
  2. 1984 4
  3. 1985 2
  4. 1986 2
  5. 1989 1
  6. 1991 1
  7. 1993 1
  8. 1994 1
  9. 1996 2
  10. 1997 1
  11. 1998 1
  12. 1999 2
  13. 2000 2
  14. 2001 2
  15. 2003 1
  16. 2004 1
  17. 2007 1
  18. 2011 1
  19. 2012 1
  20. 2016 1
  21. 2017 1
  22. 2025 1

Top mines in North Carolina by fatality count

  1. 01 Mt Airy Mine And Mill 3fatal
  2. 02 Lee Creek Mine 2fatal
  3. 03 NEVERSON QUARRY 2fatal
  4. 04 ARROWOOD 2fatal
  5. 05 BESSEMER CITY QUARRY 2fatal

Mines in North Carolina by county

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

County Mines Active Fatalities
Mitchell County 41 8 3
McDowell County 40 6 1
Cumberland County 31 1 0
Rowan County 30 5 2
Pitt County 30 3 0
Macon County 28 1 0
Cleveland County 27 5 1
Lenoir County 25 4 0
Yancey County 25 4 0
Moore County 24 6 0
Montgomery County 23 4 1
Johnston County 23 5 0
Craven County 22 3 1
Harnett County 22 5 1
Wayne County 22 3 0
Cabarrus County 21 4 1
Chatham County 19 5 1
Brunswick County 18 1 0
Edgecombe County 18 3 0
Richmond County 17 5 1
Guilford County 16 4 1
Alamance County 16 3 0
Buncombe County 15 3 0
Cherokee County 15 1 0
Lee County 15 2 0
Wake County 15 8 0
Currituck County 14 3 0
Jackson County 14 1 0
Surry County 13 4 3
Rutherford County 13 2 0
Stanly County 13 2 0
Watauga County 13 4 0
Gaston County 12 1 2
Avery County 12 1 1
Franklin County 12 2 0
New Hanover County 12 3 0
Mecklenburg County 11 7 3
Davidson County 11 1 0
Northampton County 11 1 0
Pender County 11 1 0
Rockingham County 11 2 0
Forsyth County 10 3 1
Bertie County 10 1 0
Caldwell County 10 3 0
Duplin County 10 0 0
Iredell County 10 2 0
Beaufort County 9 1 2
Wilson County 9 3 2
Henderson County 9 3 1
Camden County 9 1 0
Catawba County 9 2 0
Davie County 9 3 0
Robeson County 9 1 0
Stokes County 9 1 0
Wilkes County 9 2 0
Anson County 8 3 1
Burke County 7 2 0
Columbus County 7 0 0
Hertford County 7 0 0
Onslow County 7 2 0
Orange County 7 2 0
Sampson County 7 1 0
Haywood County 6 1 1
Clay County 6 1 0
Durham County 6 1 0
Pasquotank County 6 0 0
Scotland County 6 1 0
Alexander County 5 0 0
Ashe County 5 2 0
Greene County 5 0 0
Halifax County 5 0 0
Lincoln County 5 2 0
Bladen County 4 1 0
Dare County 4 0 0
Granville County 4 1 0
Jones County 4 0 0
Polk County 4 1 0
Randolph County 4 2 0
Vance County 4 2 0
Yadkin County 4 0 0
Union County 3 1 1
Carteret County 3 0 0
Hoke County 3 1 0
Nash County 3 1 0
Swain County 3 1 0
Transylvania County 3 2 0
Chowan County 2 0 0
Gates County 2 0 0
Martin County 2 0 0
Person County 2 1 0
Tyrrell County 2 0 0
Washington County 2 0 0
Alleghany County 1 1 0
Caswell County 1 1 0
Graham County 1 0 0
Hyde County 1 0 0
Madison County 1 1 0
Pamlico County 1 0 0
Perquimans County 1 0 0

Top operators by fatality count

  1. 01 Martin Marietta Aggregates 6fatal
  2. 02 The N. C. Granite Corp 4fatal
  3. 03 Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC 3fatal
  4. 04 G S MATERIALS INC 2fatal
  5. 05 Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 2fatal
  6. 06 3M Company 1fatal
  7. 07 B & W Stone Company 1fatal
  8. 08 B V Hedrick Gravel & Sand 1fatal
  9. 09 Fletcher Limestone Company Inc 1fatal
  10. 10 Foote Mineral Company 1fatal

Recent fatalities

March 5, 2025 NC · Metal/Non-Metal welder (non-shop) Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee was found entangled in conveyor 12 tail pulley. Responding authorities pronounced the employee deceased. Incident is still under investigation.

September 5, 2017 NC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
G S MATERIALS INC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

The victim was the Kolberg Plant Operator. Employee may have been trying to perform maintenance on the tail pulley or conveyor belt, when employee became entangled in the conveyor system, causing fatal injuries. The operator is continuing to investigate the root cause(s) of this accident.

September 8, 2016 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was fatally injured when the haul truck employee was operating drove off the haul road and fell into the quarry pit below

April 11, 2012 NC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
G S Materials Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Miners were removing a counterweight from an excavator, standing side-by-side, when the counter-weight dropped unexpectedly to the ground.The victim stumbled backwards,fell landed on the back of his head on the shop floor. He was unresponsive during CPR. The autopsy report concludes the proximate cause of death as"commotio cerebri"noting also cardiac arrest.

March 2, 2011 NC · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
PCS Phosphate Company Inc · Struck by falling object

Victim was part of a crew that was welding hdpe pipe using a McElroy fusion machine. While attempting to position pipe in to fusion machine, using an excavator, the pipe struck the victim in the head.

February 19, 2007 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · NONPOWERED HAULAGE
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. · Caught in, under or between two or more moving objects

An R-35 Euclid Haul truck and a rail car collided.

September 16, 2004 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Southern Products & Silica Company Inc · Struck by falling object

Employee attempted to replace starter on Hyster H50XM forklift, jacked forklift up with a 10 ton hydraulic floor jack. He did not put any blocks or shorwings under forklift to prevent it from falling. He then got under forklift to repair starter and forlift then fell off jack causing major head injuries. Employee died.

May 15, 2003 NC · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) Fatality · MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by falling object

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSEMBLING THE FRAMEWORK OF A SCREEN TOWER. WHEN ONE SIDE FRAME WAS SET WITH A 15 TON BRIDGE CRANE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOME ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED BEFORE THE SIDE FRAME COULD BE BOLTED INTO PLACE. HE ATTEMPTED TO RECONNECT THE SPREADER CHAINS TO ENBLE THE SIDE FRAME TO BE LIFTED. WHILE RAISING CRANE IT FELL ON THE INJURED IN THE BACK.

December 4, 2001 NC · Metal/Non-Metal miner, nec Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
3M Company · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

EMPLOYEE TOOK A "SHORT CUT". EMPLOYEE NEVER USED HIS FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT WHILE TAKING HIS "SHORT CUT", THE RESULT WAS THIS EMPLOYEE FALLING OFF A BEAM. THE EE FELL TO HIS DEATH 46' BELOW . EMPLOYEE HAD ALL HIS FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENTSECURED TO HIS HARNESS AND NEVER ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THEM TO PREVENT THE FALL.

July 4, 2001 NC · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Unimin Corporation · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

AN APPARENT BRAKE MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE VICTIM TO EXIT THE CAB & WAS PULLED UNDER THE REAR WHEELS OR HE PARKED IT & CRAWLED UNDER THE BED TO CHECK A PROBLEM. EITHER SENARIO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER HIS BODY CRUSHING HIM TO DEATH. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK.

June 24, 2000 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by falling object

EE WAS CUTTING A TREE, WHEN THE TRACKHOE OPERATOR INADVERTENTLY PLACED A SMALL TREE IN THE AREA IN WHICH HE WAS WORKING SERIOUSLY INJURING EE. EE WAS AIRLIFTED TO MISSION/ST JOESPH'S HOSPITAL IN ASHEVILLE, N.C.

June 11, 2000 NC · Metal/Non-Metal stone finishing and sizing personnel, stone/rock cut/polish/saw operator, splitter, cutter, trimmer Fatality · MACHINERY
The N. C. Granite Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

THE OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO PLACE A WEDGE BETWEEN THE TWO BLOCKS THAT HAD BEEN SAWN, A ROUGH BACK FELL PINNING THE OPERATOR AGAINST THE OTHER BLOCK.

September 7, 1999 NC · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Contact with electrical current

HE WAS MAKING SURE THE WIRE WAS NOT CROSSED IN PREPARATION TO CONNECTING CONDUCTOR TO HANDLINE BEFORE PULLING TO POLE PLACEMENT.

May 10, 1999 NC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
The N. C. Granite Corp · Struck by falling object

EE WAS PART OF LEDGE CREW REMOVING BLOCKS AT NORTH STATE LEDGE. A SEAM IN THE WALL WAS NOTICED BESIDE THE NEXT TWO BLOCKS TO BE QUARRIED. THE ENTIRE CREW WAS TOLD TO STAY BACK WHILE THE FORKLI FTS REMOVE THE STONE. EE STEPED IN TO PICK UP A METAL BAR WHILE THE BLOCK WAS BEING REMOVED. THE SEAM OPENED UP AND A COLUMN OF STONE HIT EE.

August 15, 1998 NC · Metal/Non-Metal Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

STRUCK ON LEFT SIDE OF CHEST BY LEFT FRONT TIRE OF CHEVROLET WHTE 1500 TRUCK, CAUSING BROKEN RIBS.

July 8, 1997 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Hanson Aggregates Carolina Inc · Struck against a moving object

DRIVER FATALLY INJURED WHEN TRUCK WAS STRUCK BY TRAIN AT RR CROSSING.

October 9, 1996 NC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
The N. C. Granite Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE HELPED UNLOAD 14 TON QUARRY BLOCK FROM FLAT BED TRUCK. THE OVERHEAD CRANE AT SAW SHED WAS USED TO LIFT THE STOVE WIRE TOPE WAS USED. THE EE AND CRANE OPEROTOR PLACED THE BLOCK ON TOP OF ANO THER BLOCK. IN A ROW OF BLOCKS STOCKED TOO HIGH THE CABLE WAS SLACKED TO SEE IF BLOCK WAS GOING TO SIT FINE. AFTER TWO MINE. THE CABLE WAS UNHOOKED. AS EE WALKED AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE OF B

May 28, 1996 NC · Metal/Non-Metal assistant mine foreman, assistant mine manager Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
B & W Stone Company · Struck by falling object

A ROCK FELL APROX. 15 TO 20 FT FROM A HIGH WALL STRIKING VICTIM IN THE HEAD, CAUSING A FATAL SKKULL FRACTURE.

November 15, 1994 NC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · MACHINERY
Harrison Construction Co Div/APAC-Tennessee Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A MOTOR GRADER IN REVERSE AND HIT THE BERM AND ROLLED PINNING THE VICTIM UNDERNEATH. THE VICTIM WAS NOT WEARING A SAFETY BELT.

July 24, 1993 NC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING SPOIL FROM AROUND THE AUGER.ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING THE AUGER AND HE WENT TO PULL THE AUGER OUT OF THE HOLE,THE WHIPLINE CABLE BROKE ABOVE THE HEADACHE BALL AND F ELL KNOCKING OFF EMPLOYEE'S HARDHAT STRIKING HIM IN THE HEAD.

Every fatality in North Carolina, by year

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