Miner was in the process of removing wedges on right side of tracked Jaw Feeder. During removal of the last wedge, the panel suddenly fell trapping the miner between the counterweight on excavator and the panel. The weight and force of the panel caused blunt force trauma to the chest and head.
Mining Incidents in Washington
Every reportable accident on file with MSHA at a Washington mine. Operators below are ranked by recorded fatality count in this state.
- Fatalities recorded
- 12
- Total incidents
- 2,529
- Years on record
- 2000–2026
Year-over-year fatalities
- 20001
- 20051
- 20101
- 20161
- 20201
Top operators in Washington by fatality count
- 01Cadman (Rock) Inc1fatal21 total
- 02CalPortland Company1fatal31 total
- 03Crown Resources-Corporation1fatal11 total
- 04Shawnee Rock Inc1fatal2 total
- 05Chilton Logging Inc.1fatal1 total
Recent fatalities in Washington
Truck driver was hauling gold ore to the plant. While descending the roadway from the mine, the victim lost control of truck. Went up embankment & over an appox drop 20' drop landing back in the roadway. The victim was transported to the hospital & died of injuries several days later.
Maintenance was being performed on 10 wheel truck. It appears that the chain slipped causing the truck to fall striking the victim. The victim died from possible internal injuries. Still awaiting Coroner's and MSHA's finding to complete the investigation.
Still under investigation. Fall of ground occurred during bolting cycle in which two employees were involved. One was struck by slab/ground fall, and resulted in fatality.
Contractor (electrician) was working in building. It is unknown just what happened. The electrician contacted energized conductors while installing an electrical circuit.
Employee was standing on a temporary platform just below a jaw crusher attempting to remove two toggle seat wedges from the pitman. Shortly after removing the two bolts holding the wedges in place, the pitman unexpectedly moved fatally crushing the employee.
BOOM TRUCK OPERATOR APPARENTLY SWUNG LOAD NEAR POWERLINE. EMPLOYEE LENDING A HAND TO UNHOOK LOAD WAS ELECTROCUTED.
EE WENT UP TO TOP OF CONVEYOR TO ATTACH CHAINS TO MOVE CONVEYOR. CO-WORKER MANUVERED BORROWED EXCAVATOR - WHEN HE HIT SWITCH TO LOCK OUT MACHINE THE BOOM CAME DOWN PINNING EE BETWEEN BUCKET AN D FRAME OF CONVEYOR.
EMPLOYEE WAS FEEDING THE SAND HOPPER AT THE WASHPLANT USING A JOHN DEERE THE OTHER LOADER OBSERVED THE LOADER PARKED AT THE SAND HOPPER WITH ITS BUCKET IN THE AIR WITHOUT AN OPERATOR IN THE CA B. THE OTHER LOADER OPERATOR OBSERVED EE'S LEGS STICKING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF SAND HOPPER ON THE CONVEYER BELT AND SHUT POWER OFF, RADIOED FOR HELP.
WEATHER AND GROUND CONDITION WAS GOOD. UNDER CONVEYOR WAS WELL GUARDED. VICTIM WAS FOUND BETWEEN RETURN ROLLER AND CONVEYOR BELT UNDER SCREEN CONVEYOR. NO ONE SAW ACCIDENT.
CONCRETE BLOCK WALL FELL ON VICTIM. ACCIDENT WAS FATAL.