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: Machinery
Location: R J Valente Grafton Quarry - Rensselaer, New York
Mine Controller: Roderick J Valente
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Limestone NEC
Accident Classification: Engulfment
Location: Spanish Springs - Washoe, Nevada
Mine Controller: Teichert Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Drowning
Location: Barry Industrial Sand, Inc. - Orange, Texas
Mine Controller: Ivan D Barry
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Coalburg Tunnel Mine - Kanawha, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Seven Energy AG
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: El Segundo - Mckinley, NEW MEXICO
Mine Controller: Peabody Energy
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Tunnel Ridge Mine - Ohio, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Wooten Sand & Gravel, Inc. - Miller, Arkansas
Mine Controller: Jimmy Wooten
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Giant Cement Company - Dorchester, South Carolina
Mine Controller: Cementos Portland Valderrivas S A
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Cement
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Kimballton Plant #1 - Giles, Virginia
Mine Controller: Lhoist Group
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Lime
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: 3 M Little Rock Industrial Mineral Prod - Pulaski, Arkansas
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Granite
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Jackson Quarry - Jackson, Georgia
Mine Controller: Vulcan Materials Company
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Granite
Accident Classification: Drowning
Location: Columbus Quarry LLC - Muscogee, Georgia
Mine Controller: Frank Foley
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Granite
On April 25, 2022, MSHA was informed of a miner’s death. MSHA’s initial findings indicated medical-related issues as the cause of death. Because of the circumstances surrounding the accident, MSHA referred the accident to the Agency’s Chargeability Review Committee (Committee). On March 28, 2024, the Committee determined that this death should be charged to the mining industry.
Accident Classification: Drowning
Location: AMI Silica LLC - Jackson, Wisconsin
Mine Controller: Athabasca Minerals Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Sand industrial NEC
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: D-29 Darby Fork - Harlan, Kentucky
Mine Controller: Industrial Minerals Group LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Brunswick Canyon Materials LLC - Carson City, Nevada
Mine Controller: Jeremy Page; Tim Rasich; Zack Doane
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Maple Springs Mine - Somerset Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: JAZ Ventures LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Berwind Deep Mine - Mcdowell, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Ramaco Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Cortez District-Underground - Lander, Nevada
Mine Controller: Nevada Gold Mines LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Gold Ore
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Freeport-McMoRan Morenci Inc - Greenley Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Ouachita Rock Potable - Polk, Arkansas
Mine Controller: Danny Hansbrough
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Ohio County Mine - Marshall, West Virginia
Mine Controller: ACNR Holdings Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: Colmar - Bell, Kentucky
Mine Controller: Thomas R Hamilton
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: 1366 Laurel - Fayette, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Arcosa Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Limestone NEC
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Oaktown Fuels Mine No. 1 - Knox, Indiana
Mine Controller: Hallador Energy Company
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Liberty Ranch - Liberty, Texas
Mine Controller: Norvarem S A U
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Sand Common
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Whitestone Mine #4 - Pickens, Georgia
Mine Controller: Imerys S A
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Marble
Accident Classification: Confined Space
Location: Palm Beach Aggragates LLC - Palm Beach, Florida
Mine Controller: PBA Holdings Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Limestone NEC
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: River View Mine - Union, Kentucky
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Brooksville Quarry - Hernando, Florida
Mine Controller: Cemex S A
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Crushed Broken Limestone NEC
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: East Coast Mines Ltd - Suffolk, New York
Mine Controller: John B Tintle
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel