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Mine Safety and Health Administration
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Fatality Reports

Lapse in Appropriations

For workplace safety and health, please call 800-321-6742; for mine safety and health, please call 800-746-1553; for Job Corps, please call 800-733-5627 and for Wage and Hour, please call 1-866-487-9243 (1 866-4-US-WAGE).  This website is currently not being updated due to the suspension of Federal government services. The last update to the site was 10/1/2025.  Updates to the site will start again when the Federal government resumes operations.

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:

July 26, 2025 Fatality

Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Stillwater Mine - Stillwater, Montana
Mine Controller: Sibanye Stillwater Limited
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Platinum Group Ore
Preliminary Report for 7/26/2025
Fatality Alert for 7/26/2025

November 13, 2023 Fatality

Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Stillwater Mine - Stillwater, Montana
Mine Controller: Sibanye Stillwater Limited
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Platinum Group Ore
Preliminary Report for 11/13/2023
Fatality Alert for 11/13/2023
Final Report for 11/13/2023

June 9, 2021 Fatalities

Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Stillwater Mine - Stillwater, Montana
Mine Controller: Sibanye Stillwater Limited
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Platinum Group Ore
Preliminary Report for 6/9/2021
Fatality Alert for 6/9/2021
Final Report for 6/9/2021

Fatality #12 - October 19, 2018

Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: MCGREGOR - Flathead County, MT
Mine Controller: Brad Mercord; Bill Carter
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Dimension Stone NEC
Preliminary Report for 10/19/2018
Fatality Alert for 10/19/2018
Final Report for 10/19/2018
Public Notice for 10/19/2018

Fatality #6 - May 6, 2017

Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Rosebud Mine&Crusher/Conveyor - Montana
Mine Controller: Westmoreland Coal Company
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Preliminary Report for 5/6/2017
Fatality Alert for 5/6/2017
Final Report for 5/6/2017
Public Notice for 5/6/2017

Fatality #17 - August 2, 2014

Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Belzer Pit - Montana
Mine Controller: Steve Fossum; Scott Fossum; Carol Fossum
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Preliminary Report for 8/2/2014
Fatality Alert for 8/2/2014
Final Report for 8/2/2014
Public Notice for 8/2/2014

Fatality #8 - June 23, 2014

Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Spring Creek Coal Company - Montana
Mine Controller: Cloud Peak Energy Resources LLC
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Preliminary Report for 6/23/2014
Fatality Alert for 6/23/2014
Final Report for 6/23/2014
Public Notice for 6/23/2014

Fatality #10 - July 26, 2012

Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Portable Crushing Plant #1 - Montana
Mine Controller: James R Bradshaw
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Preliminary Report for 7/26/2012
Fatality Alert for 7/26/2012
Final Report for 7/26/2012
Public Notice for 7/26/2012

Fatality #4 - March 20, 2012

Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Vortex Mine - Montana
Mine Controller: Laurie L Roberts
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Gemstones
Preliminary Report for 3/20/2012
Fatality Alert for 3/20/2012
Final Report for 3/20/2012
Public Notice for 3/20/2012

Fatality #12 - October 31, 2011

Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: STILLWATER MINE - Montana
Mine Controller: Stillwater Mining Company
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Platinum Group Ore
Preliminary Report for 10/31/2011
Fatality Alert for 10/31/2011
Final Report for 10/31/2011
Public Notice for 10/31/2011

Fatality #1 - January 2, 2010

Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Bull Mountains Mine No 1 - Montana
Mine Controller: Global Mining Group LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Fatality Alert for 1/2/2010
Final Report for 1/2/2010

Fatality #17 - March 19, 2009

Accident Classification: Other

(Determined Chargeable 01/26/2010)