U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government.

Mine Safety and Health Administration
Contact Us FAQ Site Map
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 1/31/2026.  Updates to the site will start again when the Federal government resumes operations.

November 8, 2025 Fatality - Fatality Alert

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

PDF Version

MINE FATALITY – On November 8, 2025, a section foreman died after a mine was inundated with water from an adjacent abandoned mine. The foreman was found on November 13, 2025.

Accident scene

Best Practices

  • Determine the location of abandoned mine workings using signed maps and local sources. Abandoned mines are a major flood hazard.
  • Provide sufficient barrier pillars. Evaluate interburden thickness and compare mine surveys from a common baseline.
  • Use directional, long-hole drilling to ensure adequate barriers around mining areas.
  • If necessary, submit permits for "operations under water."

Additional Information

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as "Inundation".