Mining Incidents

Every mining fatality in Wisconsin

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

2025 1 fatality

August 7, 2025 WI · Metal/Non-Metal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Highpoint Sand and Gravel LLC · Struck against a moving object

UNKNOWN AT TIME OF REPORT. A miner died when the front-end loader EE was operating went over a highwall and fell approximately 70 feet.

2023 1 fatality

November 17, 2023 WI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Eden Stone Co., LLC · Struck by falling object

As a large piece of steel framing structure was being slid out of a cargo container, it tipped over and crushed employee.

2022 1 fatality

March 22, 2022 WI · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · OTHER

A miner was servicing a floating pump. While working, the pump capsized, trapping the miner underwater.

2021 1 fatality

October 1, 2021 WI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Dennis Ovyn Trucking Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

A miner entered a surge bin to free stuck material. The material collapsed and engulfed the miner.

2008 1 fatality

February 25, 2008 WI · Metal/Non-Metal superintendent Fatality · MACHINERY

The victim was using an excavator to free a dragline from an ice-covered pit floor. The excavator traveled over an ice-covered, 10 feet deep ditch and broke through the ice. The victim was ejected and was recovered from the water about 6 hours after accident.

2005 1 fatality

May 23, 2005 WI · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Michels Pipeline Construction Inc · Struck by falling object

(MSHA Report of Investigation: Loading a steel plate (5' wide x 10' long x 3/4" thick; approx. 1,500 lbs.) onto flatbed truck using chain attached to front-end loader. The victim was on bed of the truck steadying & guiding plate onto the truck when the hook (no safety latch) became detached from the plate, and the victim & plate fell to the ground. Plate crushed victim.)

2001 1 fatality

2000 1 fatality

August 30, 2000 WI · Metal/Non-Metal driller operator Fatality · MACHINERY
Wisconsin Industrial Sand Company, LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE INDIVIDUAL WAS DRILLING BLASTHOLES. HE TIED DOWN THE HYDRAULIC LEVER SO IT CONTINUED TO OPRATE (ROTATE) BY-BY PASSING A SAFETY DEVICE. HE THEN WENT IN FRONT OF THE DRILL AND STEPPED OVER THE DRILL AUGER. HE BACAME ENTANGLED WITH SOME PART OF HIS CLOTHING HE GOT PULLED INTO THE DRILL AND BECAME SO ENTANGLED THAT HE COULD NOT BREATH. THIS ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION

1999 1 fatality

August 6, 1999 WI · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Cedar Lake Sand & Gravel Co. Inc. · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

FATALITY- WENT OVER BANKS IN LOADER- ENGULFED IN MATERIAL.

1998 2 fatalities

November 13, 1998 WI · Metal/Non-Metal Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Vulcan Construction Materials, L.P. · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A FOREMAN FOR SELECT ERECTING WAS DISMANTLING A HOPPER. AFTER CUTTING A 42" X 120" SHEET OF 3?16" STEEL FROM THE TOP OF THE HOPPER, HE ATTACHED A SHACKLE AND STEEL CHOKER. HE WAS WORKING FROM AN AERIAL BOOM LIFT. HE THEN DISCONNECTED HIS LANYARD FROM HIS FULL BODY HARNESS AND LEFT THE LIFT BASKET. HE WALKED OUT ON AN I-BEAM AND TURNED TO SIGNAL THE CRANE OPERATOR TO PICK UP THE PIE

May 6, 1998 WI · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Kowalski-Kieler Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ON TOP OF QUARRY CHECKING ON WORK CREW. FELL TO FLOOR OF QUARRY. DEATH OCCURRED.

1996 1 fatality

May 10, 1996 WI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Lannon Stone Products Inc · Fall from machine

EE & 5 OTHER WORKERS IN AN AREA WERE INSTALLING A NEW CRUSHING PLANT. THE OTHER WORKERS WERE NOTIN DIRECT SITE OF INJURED WORKING.

1994 1 fatality

October 6, 1994 WI · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Daanen & Janssen Inc · Struck against a moving object

OPERATOR OF H-100C FRONT END LOADER S/N359-307-UO1578.WHILE DESCENDING A RAMP, NORTH-SOUTH RAMP APPEARS TO HAVE DRIVEN OFF WEST EDGE OF RAMP TAKING BOOM OFF RAMP EDGE WITH BUCKET OF LOADER.

1993 4 fatalities

December 1, 1993 WI · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Cold Spring Granite Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS PUTTING DOG HOLES IN STONE HE WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE PLUG DRILL WHICH HE WAS OPERATING & THE COUNTERWEIGHTS ON THE LOADER WHICH WAS BACKING UP CRUSHING HIM TO DEATH

November 23, 1993 WI · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Dons Trucking · Struck against a moving object

APPARENTLY THE FRONT END LOADER GOT TO MUCH SIDEWAYS ON THE GRAVEL HILL AND IT ROLLED OVER AND PINNED VICTIN UNDERNEATH.

November 16, 1993 WI · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
American Materials Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS DRIVING HIS CAR HE HAD JUST LEFT THE TOOL GARAGE IN THE PIT AREA & WAS MAKING ENTRANCE TO A HAUL ROAD WHEN HE CAME IN CONTACT WITH A 25TON VOLVO ARTICULATED TRUCK(S/N5350-5719) DRIVEN B Y EE BOTH VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING FORWARD & THE LEFT SIDE TIRES CRUSHED THE CAR & ITS DRIVER

1991 2 fatalities

November 20, 1991 WI · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Sternweis & Sons Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

VICTIM BECAME ENTANGLED IN AN EXPOSED STUB SHAFT ON THE TAIL PULLEY OF THE CRUSHER DISCHARGE CONVEYOR. THIS RESULTED IN FATAL INJURIES.

May 29, 1991 WI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Jefferson County Highway Commission · Struck by falling object

A PRIMARY CRUSHER OPERATOR WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE BUCKET OF A FRONT-END LOADER. THE VICTIM ENTERED THE CRUSHER FEED HOPPER AND WAS STRUCK BY THE BUCKET WHEN THE LOADER OPERATOR STARTED DUMPING MATERIAL INTO THE HOPPER, NOT KNOWING THE VICTIM WAS IN THE HOPPER. THE VICTIM WAS STRUCK ON HIS LEFT SIDE AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE, FATAL INJURIES TO HIS HIP, BACK, SHO

1990 1 fatality

July 30, 1990 WI · Metal/Non-Metal weighman, scale person Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
C C Linck Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

BACKED OVER BY TRUCK

1989 1 fatality

February 1, 1989 WI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Graymont (WI) LLC · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

EMP SENT TO TOP OF LIME STORAGE BIN TIP FLOOR TO CUT AN INSPECTION HOLE THRU THE TEEL BIN TOP 10 FT AWAY FORMPROPOSED WORK THERE IS AN ACCESS MATCH TO INSIDE OF BIN EXACT CASUE OF ACC IS UNKNO WN 7 FT BELOW HATCHWAY ACCESSA BLE BY LADDER PERMANTLEY MOUNTED TO BIN WALL THERE IS A 5 FT SW STEEL PLATFORM WITH HANDRAIL FOR INSIDE INSPECTION USE OTHER EMP ON THIS PLATFORM INSPECTING UND

1988 1 fatality

August 20, 1988 WI · Metal/Non-Metal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator Fatality · MACHINERY
Milestone Materials Div/Mathy Construction Co · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

VICTIM WENT INTO AREA OF DISCHARGE CONVEYORS TAIL ROLLER UNDERNEATH BREAKER AT PRIMARY CRUSHER.CONVEYOR BELT CAME TO COMPLETE STOP AT WHICH TIME BREAKER OPERATOR AND LOADER OPERATOR PROCEEDED TO INSPECT ABOVE NOTED AREA.DISCOVERED I.NAME ENTANGLED IN HOLD-DOWN ROLLER,TAIL ROLLER AND ON TOP OF CONVEYOR BELT.

1987 1 fatality

April 21, 1987 WI · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
P W Ryan Sons Inc · Struck against a moving object

OPERATOR TURN T2WARDS EDGE OF 45 DEGREE SLOPE,GOT THE 2 LEFT SIDE TIRES ON EDGE,.LOADER THEN ROLLED OVER SIDEWAYS CATCHING AND PINNING OPERATOR UNDER THE LOADER & THUS KILLING HIM...MODEL 988- ROPS WAS FOR 950 MODEL LOADER...11'BANK,NO BERM.

1985 1 fatality

May 15, 1985 WI · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
County Concrete Corp · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

CRAWLED INTO LARGE SAND HOPPER TO REMOVE A STONE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HOPPER. SAND THAT WAS ON THE SIDES OF THE HOPPER COLLAPSED AS HE WAS IN THE HOPPER COVERING HIM.