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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: Powered Haulage
Location: Greenley Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Confined Space
Location: Morenci, Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
Mine Controller: Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
Mine Controller: Gary Curtis
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Grupo Mexico S A
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
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: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Capstone Mining Corp
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Peabody Energy Corporation
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Grupo Mexico S A
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Gila County , AZ
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Arizona
Mine Controller: Grupo Mexico S A
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC