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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: Machinery
Location: Leer Mine - Taylor, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Arch Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Oak Grove Mine - Jefferson, Alabama
Mine Controller: Alabama Kanu Holdings LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Mountaineer II Mine - Logan, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Arch Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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: Leer Mine - Taylor, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Arch Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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: Wyco Surface Mine - Wyoming, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Metinvest B V
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Buchanan Mine #1 - Buchanan, Virginia
Mine Controller: Coronado Coal LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Coal Mountain No 1 Surface - Wyoming, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Scott Kiscaden
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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)