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
Related Fatality Information
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: West Elk Mine - Gunnison, Colorado
Mine Controller: Arch Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Riverbend Sand and Gravel - Weld, Colorado
Mine Controller: Martin Marietta Materials Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Portable Crusher #2 - Pueblo Colorado
Mine Controller: John Paul Ary
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Swayback Quarry - Larimer, Colorado
Mine Controller: Rick Virgil
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Dimension Sandstone
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Deserado Mine - Colorado
Mine Controller: Deseret Generation & Transmission Co-operative
Mine Type: Surface of Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Explosives and Breaking Agents
Location: Fortune Revenue Silver Mine - Colorado
Mine Controller: Fortune Minerals Limited
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Silver Ore
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Colowyo Mine - Colorado
Mine Controller: Western Fuels Assoc Inc; Tri-State Generation & Transmission Assn Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: West Elk Mine - Colorado
Mine Controller: Arch Coal Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)