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Mine Safety and Health Administration
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December 13, 2021 Fatality - Fatality Alert

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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.

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

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MINE FATALITY – On December 13, 2021, a miner was fatally injured when he became entangled in the drill steel of the roof bolting machine he was operating.   

Accident scene where a miner was fatally injured when he became entangled in the drill steel of the roof bolting machine he was operating.

Best Practices

  • Before performing maintenance and repair work on roof bolting machines or other equipment:
    • Turn off the engine.
    • Securely block equipment against hazardous motion by following manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Never touch or hold the drill steel while it is rotating.
  • Do not wear loose-fitting or bulky clothing when working around any machinery with rotating parts.
  • Train miners to perform their assigned tasks safely.

Additional Information

This is the 36th fatality reported in 2021, and the seventh classified as “Machinery.”