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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:

  • February 29, 2020 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: Elite Sand & Aggregates, LLC, Louisiana
    Mine Controller: Beau M Perero Duane J Perero
    Mined Material: Sand Common
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Mike Dunlap, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 214-767-8401

  • February 27, 2020 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Handling Material
    Location: Patterson Road, Allegan MIchigan
    Mine Controller: CRH PLC
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Duane Hongisto​, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 218-720-5448

  • February 27, 2020 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Federal No 2, West Virginia
    Mine Controller: Patriot Coal Corporation
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Joedy Gutta, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 304 -225-6879

  • February 10, 2020 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Brush Valley, Indiana Pennsylvania
    Mine Controller: J Clifford Forest III
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Gary McCormick, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 724-548-5611

  • January 23, 2020 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
    Location: Tehachapi Plant, Kern, California
    Mine Controller: Heidelberg Cement AG
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Cement
  • January 8, 2020 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
    Location: Portable Crushing Dept 415, Clinton County, IA
    Mine Controller: Manaco Corporation
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Crushed Broken Limestone NEC
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Thomas H. Heft, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 218-720-5448

  • December 23, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: Marshall County Mine, Marshall County, WV
    Mine Controller: Robert E Murray
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Louis Bernatowicz, Lead Investigator
    Phone: 304-225-6877

  • December 3, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Hoisting
    Location: Holcim (US) Inc. Holly Hill Facility, Orangeburg County, SC
    Mine Controller: LafargeHolcim Ltd
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Cement
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Stanley Stevenson, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 205-290-7294

  • November 16, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: EP Engineered Clays Corporation, Hinds County, MS
    Mine Controller: USS Holdings Inc
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Clay Ceramic Refractory Mnls
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Gregory P. Sensibaugh , Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 214-767-8401

  • November 5, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: ArcelorMittal Minorca Mine Inc, St Louis County, MN
    Mine Controller: ArcelorMittal USA LLC
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Iron Ore
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Duane L. Hongisto Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 218-720-5448

  • October 18, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
    Location: #1, Floyd, Kentucky
    Mine Controller: Harold E Akers: Jim D Akers
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
  • September 17, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Electrical
    Location: American Eagle Mine, Kanawha County, WV
    Mine Controller: Blackhawk Mining LLC
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Larry Hedrick , Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 304-877-3900 ext. 212

  • September 5, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Cardinal Mine, Hopkins County, KY
    Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Matthew Stone, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 270-213-1720

  • August 29, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
    Location: Enlow Fork Mine, Consol Pennsylvannia
    Mine Controller: CONSOL Energy Inc
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Bernard Caffrey, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 1-724-627-5558, ext. 223

  • August 27, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Other
    Location: Premium Sandstone Quarry, Palo Pinto, Texas
    Mine Controller: Joel Taylor; Michael Ruff
    Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Sandstone
  • August 20, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
    Location: Scrubgrass Fuel Handling Facility, Venango County, PA
    Mine Controller: Falcon Power LLC; Aspen Scrubgrass Participant LLC
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Steven Pentz , Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 1-814-765-9627 ext. 18

  • August 15, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Electrical
    Location: Cote Blanche Mine, Iberia County, LA
    Mine Controller: Compass Minerals International Inc
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Salt
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    O’neal Robertson, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 1-214-767-8401

  • August 7, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Electrical
    Location: South Hollow Prep Plant and Loadout, Kanawha County, WV
    Mine Controller: Blackhawk Mining LLC
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    John Stone, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 304-877-3900 ext. 211

  • August 2, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Smoky Canyon Mine, Park County, WY
    Mine Controller: Scott Simplot
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Phosphate Rock
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Clayton Johnson, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 1-303-231-5465

  • July 31, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Ignition or Explosion of Gas or Dust
    Location: Paradise #9, Muhlenberg County, KY
    Mine Controller: Robert E Murray
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Adam Carlisle, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 270-821-4180, ext 1234

  • July 30, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Home Pit and Mill, Chittenden , Vermont
    Mine Controller: Timothy Casey
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
    Preliminary Report
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Matthew H. Mattison, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 724-772-2334

  • July 17, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: Northeast Aggregate Corporation, Franklin County, VT
    Mine Controller: Marie Charbonneau
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Crushed Broken Stone NEC
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Everett G. Kinser, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 724-772-2334

  • July 15, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
    Location: Tazewell Quarry, Tazewell, Claiborne County, Tennessee
    Mine Controller: Vulcan Materials Company
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Phillip Carter, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 304-415-5858

  • June 24, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: East Sand Plant, Oklahoma County, OK
    Mine Controller: Dolese Brothers Company
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Sand, Common
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Mike Dunlap, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 214-767-8401

  • June 10, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: River Road Quarry, Davidson County, TN
    Mine Controller: Vulcan Materials Company
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

     

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Roy M. Smith​, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 205-290-7601

  • May 22, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
    Location: CVB No 1, Harlan County, KY
    Mine Controller: Joseph T Bennett
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Ricky L. Suffridge, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 606-439-2396

  • May 18, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
    Location: West Amarillo Sand & Gravel , Oldham County, Texas
    Mine Controller: Rogers Group Inc
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Dwight Shields, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 214)-767-8401

  • May 13, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Gold Bar, Eureka County, NV
    Mine Controller: Rob McEwen
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Gold Ore

    Rescission Date:  June 26, 2019

    The Acting Chair of MSHA’s Chargeability Review Committee reviewed the death certificate, autopsy report, and MSHA's accident investigation findings and determined that the miner died from natural causes.  The  fatality is not chargeable to the mining industry.
  • May 13, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: MILLSTONE QUARRY, Oglethorpe County, GA
    Mine Controller: Robert E Paul
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Dimension Granite
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    James M. Hollis, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 859-276-1384

  • March 7, 2019 Fatality
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: South Fork Coal Co LLC HWM 61 , Greenbrier County, West Virginia
    Mine Controller: White Forest Resources Inc
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident. Please provide any information to: 
    Frank Stover, Lead Investigator:  
    Phone: 304-222-6745

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