Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government.

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: Machinery
Location: Chilton Inc - Cowlitz, Washington
Mine Controller: Chilton Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Sand & Gravel
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Centralia Coal Mine - Centralia, Lewis County, WA
Mine Controller: Trans Alta Corp
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Buckhorn Mine - Washington
Mine Controller: Kinross Gold Corp
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Gold Ore
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Portable Crusher - Washington
Mine Controller: Mark Cochran
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Stone NEC
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Pend Oreille Mine - Washington
Mine Controller: Teck Resources Limited
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Zinc