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: Acosta Deep Mine - Somerset, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Quintana Capital Group GP Ltd
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: American Asphalt - Chase Quarry - Luzerne, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Bernard C (aka Jr) Banks
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Sandstone
Accident Classification: Drowning
Location: Paguay Stone Quarries - Susquehanna, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Luis A Paguay
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Dimension Limestone
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Hazleton Shaft - Luzerne, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: American Anthracite SPV I, LLC
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Ellangowan Bank #45 - Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Maria Cantwell; Bonnie R Ryan; Brian R Rich
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Maple Springs Mine - Somerset Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: JAZ Ventures LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Sewickley Mine - Indiana, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Clyde Holding Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Stone NEC
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Acosta Deep Mine - Somerset, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Quintana Capital Group GP Ltd
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Maple Springs Mine - Somerset Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: JAZ Ventures LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: 1366 Laurel - Fayette, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Arcosa Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Limestone NEC
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Hercules Cement LP - Northmpton Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Buzzi Unicem S P A
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Cement
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Kocjancic - Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: J Clifford Forrest III
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Williamstown Mine #1 - Dauphin, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Scott B Kimmel
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
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: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Enlow Fork Mine - Consol Pennsylvannia
Mine Controller: CONSOL Energy Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Scrubgrass Fuel Handling Facility - Venango County, PA
Mine Controller: Falcon Power LLC; Aspen Scrubgrass Participant LLC
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: North Fork - Somerset County, PA
Mine Controller: AK Steel Holding Corporation
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: W M P I - Gilberton, Schuylkill County, PA
Mine Controller: John W Rich Jr
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Kocjancic - Jefferson County, PA
Mine Controller: J Clifford Forrest III
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Haines & Kibblehouse Inc. - Berks County, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: John B Haines IV; John R Kibblehouse
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Traprock
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: New St. Nicholas Breaker - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: John W Rich
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: 4 West Mine - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: GenPower Holdings LP;James L Laurita Jr
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: 4 West Mine - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Mepco Intermediate Holdings, LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Kane's Quarry - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Daniel E Acker
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Dimension Stone NEC
Amendments
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Heilwood - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: J Clifford Forrest III
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Brubaker Mine - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: JAZ Ventures LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: South Sterling Quarry - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: George F Edwards Jr
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Sandstone
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: EVANSVILLE PLANT - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Heidelberg Cement AG
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Cement
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Northrup Quarry - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Jan M God
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Dimension Slate
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Amerikohl Strips - Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: John M Stilley
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)