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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: Ignition or Explosion of Gas or Dust
Location: South Carolina
Mine Controller: Heidelberg Cement AG
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Other
Location: Texas
Mine Controller: Holcim Ltd; Crow Holdings
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Cement

On June 17, 2014, a fatal accident occurred at Holcim Texas LP. On, September 3, 2014, MSHA referred the accident to the Chargeability Review Committee. On February 2, 2015, the Chargeability Review Committee determined that this death should be charged to the mining industry. The autopsy report indicated that the manner of death was accidental and that the cause of death was asthma exacerbated by environmental dust exposure.

Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Utah
Mine Controller: Karen Palmer
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Gypsum

(Victim died July 28, 2014)

On June 14, 2014, Kevin Lee Ames, a 35-year-old laborer, was using a propane torch to shrink-wrap pelletized gypsum when he received serious burns on 35% of his body. He was subsequently discovered by a co-worker and transported to a hospital. He died on July 28, 2014. The death certificate indicated that the cause of death was mucormycosis (fungal infection) due to burns, and that the manner of death was an accident. An autopsy was not performed. Based on the findings of the death certificate and the MSHA investigation, the Fatality Review Committee determined that the death should be charged to the mining industry.

Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Wyoming
Mine Controller: Peabody Energy
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Hoisting
Location: Idaho
Mine Controller: Sunshine Silver Mines Corp
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Silver Ore
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Illinois
Mine Controller: Coalfield Transport Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Thomas Short; Linda Short
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel

On May 13, 2014, a 67-year-old mechanic was standing on the motor drive belt guard of the cone crusher and was knocked off of the crusher by an excavator bucket. The mechanic fell approximately 11 feet to the ground. The victim was severely injured in the fall and taken to a local hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to stabilize him. The victim was moved to a rehab facility and died on May 26, 2015. Based on the findings of an onsite MSHA investigation and an extensive review of medical documentation, the chargeability review committee concluded that his death should be charged to the mining industry.

(Victim died May 26, 2015)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: West Virginia
Mine Controller: Patriot Coal Corporation
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Texas
Mine Controller: Cemtech International Inc; Synergy Materials Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Sand, Industrial NEC
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Nevada
Mine Controller: Paul R Gianoli
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Gypsum
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Nevada
Mine Controller: Klondex Mines Ltd
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Gold Ore
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Louisiana
Mine Controller: CRH PLC
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Fire Clay
Accident Classification: Other
Location: West Virginia
Mine Controller: L W Hamilton; Warren Hylton
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
The date of the accident was April 18th, 2014. This case was determined to be a mining fatality on December 22, 2014.
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Kansas
Mine Controller: Donald P Hafenstine
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Missouri
Mine Controller: Margaret J Heckman
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Lime
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Virginia
Mine Controller: John M Baillio
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Indiana
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: New York
Mine Controller: John B Tintle
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Iowa
Mine Controller: Martin Marietta Materials Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Mine No. 30, Virginia
Mine Controller: SunCoke Energy Incorporated
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Kentucky
Mine Controller: Cemex S A
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Cement
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Utah
Mine Controller: Steve L Gilbert
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Iron Ore
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: West Virginia
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Georgia
Mine Controller: Brown Brothers Sand Company
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Sand, Industrial NEC
Accident Classification: Other
Location: Kentucky
Mine Controller: HMT Holdings, Inc.
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Other
Based on MSHA's investigation and the finding of the death certificate, MSHA concluded that the miner died from natural causes and that the fatality is not chargeable.
Accident Classification: Explosives and Breaking Agents
Location: Kansas
Mine Controller: Bayer Construction Company Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Ohio
Mine Controller: Robert E Murray
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Kentucky
Mine Controller: W Scott McGeorge
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
(Victim Died November 22, 2013)
Accident Classification: Explosives and Breaking Agents
Location: Colorado
Mine Controller: Fortune Minerals Limited
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Silver Ore