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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 might 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:

  • Fatality #10 - July 25, 2017
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: New St. Nicholas Breaker, Pennsylvania
    Mine Controller: John W Rich
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
    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:

    Joe Draugelis, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 570-874-8980 x2106

  • Fatality #6 - July 20, 2017
    Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
    Location: Blue Sky Quarry #2, Georgia
    Mine Controller: Massoud Besharat
    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:

    Mike Hollis , Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 205.290.7297

     

  • Fatality #5 - July 14, 2017
    Accident Classification: Electrical
    Location: Celatom Plant, Oregon
    Mine Controller: EP Management Corporation
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Misc. Nonmetallic Mnls. 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:

    Ron Jacobsen , Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 208.334.1835

  • Fatality #9 - June 19, 2017
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Oak Grove Mine, Alabama
    Mine Controller: ERP Compliant Fuels, 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:

    Philip A. Ingram, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 205-424-0247

  • Fatality #8 - June 13, 2017
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: Gateway Eagle Mine, West Virginia
    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:

    Mark Muncy, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 304.732.6410

  • Fatality #4 - June 08, 2017
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Hastie Mine, Illinois
    Mine Controller: Donald D Hastie; Robert L Hastie
    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:

    James A. Hines, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 218-720-5448

     

  • Fatality #7 - May 18, 2017
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Pinnacle Mine, West Virginia
    Mine Controller: ERP Compliant Fuels, 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:

    Steven Campbell, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 304-732-6410

  • 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
    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:

    David Hamilton, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 307-682-1142

  • Fatality #4 - March 30, 2017
    Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
    Location: GHM #51, Kentucky
    Mine Controller: Laird T Orr Jr.
    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:

    David Faulkner, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 606.627.3624

     

  • Fatality #3 - March 24, 2017
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Bonito Pit, New Mexico
    Mine Controller: Kayla Kersey; Dale Armstrong
    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:

    Darwin Bratcher, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 214.767.8401

  • Fatality #2 - March 14, 2017
    Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
    Location: Cottonwood #1204, Texas
    Mine Controller: Trinity Industries 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:

    Homer Pricer, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 214.767.8401

     

  • Fatality #3 - February 27, 2017
    Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
    Location: Bishop Impoundment Area, West Virginia
    Mine Controller: James C Justice II
    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:

    Aaron Cline, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 304.732.6410

  • Fatality #5 - February 23, 2017
    Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
    Location: Mine No. 5, West Virginia
    Mine Controller: Anthony P Cline
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Amendments:
    (Accident occurred on February 23, 2017 and victim died on April 6, 2017)
    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 Runyon, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 304.752.5315

  • Fatality #2 - February 3, 2017
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Elk Lick Tipple, West Virginia
    Mine Controller: Coronado Coal LLC
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Amendments:
    (Accident occurred on February 3, 2017 and victim died on February 10, 2017)
    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:

    Curtiss Vance III, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 304.784.4354

     

  • Fatality #1 - January 26, 2017
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: #2, Kentucky
    Mine Controller: Mark E Daugherty
    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:

    Tony Benton, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 606.335.2429

     

  • Fatality #1 - January 25, 2017
    Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
    Location: Linwood Mine, Iowa
    Mine Controller: Mc Carthy- Bush Corp
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
    Public Notice

    Thomas Heft, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 218.720.5448

  • Fatality #17 - December 21, 2016
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Buckhorn Mine, Washington
    Mine Controller: Kinross Gold Corp
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Gold 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:

    Thomas Rasmussen, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 253.395.9585

     

  • Fatality #15 - December 19, 2016
    Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
    Location: Roberta Mine, Georgia
    Mine Controller: Curt B Jamison
    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:

    Curtis Roth , Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 863.533.5390

     

  • Fatality #9 - December 02, 2016
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: Oak Grove Mine, Alabama
    Mine Controller: ERP Compliant Fuels, LLC
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Preliminary Report
    Fatality Alert
    Final Report
  • Fatality #16 - October 9, 2016
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: McLean/Stover Pit #1, Michigan
    Mine Controller: Andy B McLean
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Sand, Common
    Amendments:
    The Final Report will not be posted
    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 Accident Investigator
    Phone: 218.720.5448

  • Fatality #8 - September 23, 2016
    Accident Classification: Other
    Location: Slip Ridge Cedar Grove Mine, West Virginia
    Mine Controller: Marfork Coal Company LLC
    Mine Type: Underground
    Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
    Amendments:
    Based on a review conducted by MSHA’s Chargeability Review Committee, MSHA determined that this death was unrelated to mine related work activities, mining activities, or mining equipment, and should not be charged to the mining industry. Therefore the total coal fatalities in 2016 are eight instead of nine. On September 23, 2016, a miner was fatally injured in a vehicle accident while a passenger in a coworker’s personally owned vehicle. The miner and his co-worker had concluded their shifts at the mine, changed clothes and were in the vehicle heading away from the mine. They were on the mine’s access road when the coworker lost control of the vehicle after the brakes malfunctioned; the vehicle impacted the berm and rolled over. No hazards or violations associated with the condition or maintenance of the access road were found.
  • Fatality #13 - September 21, 2016
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: Holston River Quarry Inc, Virginia
    Mine Controller: Doug Dalton
    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 J Shilling, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 724.772.2334

  • Fatality #14 - September 26, 2016
    Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
    Location: Premier Magnesia LLC, Nevada
    Mine Controller: John Gehret
    Mine Type: Facility
    Mined Material: Magnesite
    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:

    Ronald Jacobsen, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 707.447.9844

  • Fatality #12 - September 8, 2016
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: NEVERSON QUARRY, North Carolina
    Mine Controller: Heidelberg Cement AG
    Mine Type: Surface
    Mined Material: Crushed, Broken 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:

    Jeff Phillips, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 205.290.7297

  • Fatality #11 - August 09, 2016
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: KOSMOS CEMENT CO., Kentucky
    Mine Controller: Cemex S A
    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:

    James Hollis, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 205.290.7297

     

  • Fatality #7 - July 29, 2016
    Accident Classification: Ignition or Explosion of Gas or Dust
    Location: Road Fork #51 Mine, West Virginia
    Mine Controller: Alpha Natural Resources, 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:

    Josh Bennett, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 304.763.1712

  • Fatality #10 - July 25, 2016
    Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
    Location: Savannah Quarry, 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:

    Rory Smith, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 205.290.7297

     

  • Fatality #9 - June 27, 2016
    Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
    Location: Atlas Qu Pt Crusher #1, Arkansas
    Mine Controller: Atlas Asphalt; White River Bituminous
    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:

    Robert D. Seelke, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 573.364.8282

     

  • Fatality #5 - June 6, 2016
    Accident Classification: Machinery
    Location: The American Coal Company New Era Mine, Illinois
    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:

    Brandon Naas, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 618.997.0584

     

  • Fatality #7, #8 - June 03, 2016
    Accident Classification: Inundation
    Location: Harmony Mine & Mill , Mississippi
    Mine Controller: Heyward C Green
    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:

    Christopher Hensler, Lead Accident Investigator
    Phone: 218.720.5448

     

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