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: Wheeler Rock Quarry - Kansas
Mine Controller: Ralph H Wheeler
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Dimension Stone NEC
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Kansas Mine - Alabama
Mine Controller: National Coal of Alabama
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Freelandville Underground - Indiana
Mine Controller: James River Coal Company
Mine Type: Surface of Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Drowning
Location: Southwestern State Sand - Oklahoma
Mine Controller: Evans & Associates Enterprises
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Meikle Mine - Nevada
Mine Controller: Barrick Gold Corp
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Gold Ore
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Loveridge #22 - West Virginia
Mine Controller: Consolidation Coal Company
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Willow Lake Portal - Illinois
Mine Controller: Peabody Midwest Operations LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Pocahontas Mine - West Virginia
Mine Controller: Massey Energy Company
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: No. 68 - Kentucky
Mine Controller: James River Coal Company
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Ray - Arizona
Mine Controller: Grupo Mexico S A
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Galena - Idaho
Mine Controller: U S Silver & Gold
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Silver Ore
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Clover Fork No 1 - Kentucky
Mine Controller: Arch Coal Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: OTTAWA PIT & PLANT - Minnesota
Mine Controller: S C R-Sibelco Nv
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Sandstone
Accident Classification: Ignition or Explosion of Gas or Dust
Location: Choctaw Mine - Alabama
Mine Controller: Walters Minerals, Inc.
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Explosives and Breaking Agents
Location: Discovery Day Mine - California
Mine Controller: Trinity Alps Resources Inc.
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Gold Ore
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Pandora Complex - Utah
Mine Controller: International Uranium Corp
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Uranium Ore
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: U.S. Lime Company-St. Clair - Oklahoma
Mine Controller: United States Lime & Minerals Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Lime
Accident Classification: Exploding Vessels Under Pressure
Location: Knoxville Cement Plant Cemex Inc - Tennessee
Mine Controller: Cemex S A
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Cement
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Brierfield Quarry - Alabama
Mine Controller: Lhoist Group
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Ruby Energy - West Virginia
Mine Controller: Massey Energy Company
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Dotiki Mine - Kentucky
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Beckley Pocahontas Mine - West Virginia
Mine Controller: International Coal Group, Inc.
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: MC#1 Mine - Illinois
Mine Controller: Coalfield Transport Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Ignition or Explosion of Gas or Dust
Location: Upper Big Branch Mine-South - West Virginia
Mine Controller: Massey Energy Company
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Cayuga Mine - New York
Mine Controller: Cargill Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Salt
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Tehachapi Plant - California
Mine Controller: Heidelberg Cement AG
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Cement
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Abner Branch Rider - Kentucky
Mine Controller: James River Coal Company
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Freeport McMoRan Miami Inc - Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Other
On April 15, 2010, MSHA SOL made a determination that the fatality that occurred on March 22, 2010 (MNM #3 - American Colloid Company - Yellowtail Mine - Lovell, WY) is not under MSHA jurisdiction, and therefore, not chargeable to the industry.
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Bull Mountains Mine No 1 - Montana
Mine Controller: Global Mining Group LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)