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Fatality Reports

MSHA investigates each mining fatality and prepares the following documents to alert the mining community and prevent similar occurrences.

  • Fatality Alert - describes the accident and lists best practices that may have prevented it
  • Preliminary Report - initial report with brief description
  • Final Report - investigative findings, including root causes and enforcement actions

Some deaths on mining property are determined to be unrelated to mining activity and are not included in MSHA’s fatality statistics - See recent “non-chargeable” fatalities:
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: J Clifford Forrest III
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Logan, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)

Chargeback Information:

On January 22, 2021, a miner was injured in a powered haulage accident at Aracoma Coal Company, Davy Branch Mine. The miner died on February 21, 2021. Because of the circumstances surrounding the accident, MSHA referred the accident to the Agency’s Chargeability Review Committee (Committee). On May 11, 2021, the Committee determined that the death should be chargeable to the mining industry. 

Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Kanawha, WV
Mine Controller: Sev.en Energy AG
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Dauphin, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Scott B Kimmel
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Hopkins, Kentucky
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Bell, Kentucky
Mine Controller: Douglas S Warriner; Michael A Blubaugh
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage

Rescission Date:  August 5, 2020

MSHA’s Chargeability Review Committee reviewed the death certificate, autopsy report, medical information, and MSHA's accident investigation findings and determined that the miner died from natural causes.  The  fatality is not chargeable to the mine operator.

Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Marshall County, WV
Mine Controller: Robert E Murray
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Floyd, Kentucky
Mine Controller: Harold E Akers: Jim D Akers
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Kanawha County, WV
Mine Controller: Blackhawk Mining LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Hopkins County, KY
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Consol Pennsylvannia
Mine Controller: CONSOL Energy Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Venango County, PA
Mine Controller: Falcon Power LLC; Aspen Scrubgrass Participant LLC
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Kanawha County, WV
Mine Controller: Blackhawk Mining LLC
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Ignition or Explosion of Gas or Dust
Location: Muhlenberg County, KY
Mine Controller: Robert E Murray
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Harlan County, KY
Mine Controller: Joseph T Bennett
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Mine Controller: White Forest Resources Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Bell County, KY
Mine Controller: Jack Stump; Micheal Runyon
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Hamilton County, IL
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Centralia, Lewis County, WA
Mine Controller: Trans Alta Corp
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Somerset County, PA
Mine Controller: AK Steel Holding Corporation
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Walker County, AL
Mine Controller: Freddy Hunt; Michael T Costello
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Gilberton, Schuylkill County, PA
Mine Controller: John W Rich Jr
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Greenbrier County, WV
Mine Controller: Frederick J Taylor
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Jefferson County, PA
Mine Controller: J Clifford Forrest III
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fire
Location: Sullivan County, IN
Mine Controller: Peabody Energy
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Randolph County, WV
Mine Controller: Metinvest B V
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: 29 Porter Hill, P. O. Box 249 Stanville, KY 41659
Mine Controller: Jeffery A Hoops
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: 1183 East Canvasback Drive Terre Haute, IN 47802
Mine Controller: Brent K Bilsland
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)