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:
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Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or BackLocation: Heilwood, PennsylvaniaMine Controller: J Clifford Forrest IIIMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Brubaker Mine, PennsylvaniaMine Controller: JAZ Ventures LPMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Swift Creek Mine, FloridaMine Controller: Potash Corp Of SaskatchewanMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Phosphate Rock
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Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or BackLocation: Fletcher Mine and Mill, MissouriMine Controller: Renco GroupMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Lead-Zinc Ore
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Accident Classification: HoistingLocation: Leeville, NevadaMine Controller: Newmont Mining CorpMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Gold Ore
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Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any KindLocation: Knife River Construction Vernalis Plant, CaliforniaMine Controller: MDU Resources Group IncMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: Tilden Plant, TexasMine Controller: O Paul Leonard JrMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Common Clays NEC
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: Highland 9 Mine, KentuckyMine Controller: Patriot Coal CorporationMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: Millersville Quarry, OhioMine Controller: Tim E BellMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: Ottawa Plant, IllinoisMine Controller: USS Holdings IncMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Ground Silica
On November 26, 2014, Daniel Pabian, Leadman with Pabian Enterprises LLC, fell from a ladder. He had reached for a wrench and was climbing the steps of the ladder in an attempt to hand the wrench to a co-worker when he fell and hit his head. He was transported to a hospital, where he died later the same day. The death certificate and autopsy report both indicated that the manner of death was accidental, and the cause of death was a cervical spinal fracture due to a fall from a ladder. Based on the findings of the death certificate, the autopsy report and the MSHA investigation, the committee members concluded that his death should be charged to the mining industry.
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: South Sterling Quarry, PennsylvaniaMine Controller: George F Edwards JrMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Crushed, Broken Sandstone
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Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any KindLocation: Bayer Alumina Plant, TexasMine Controller: Alcoa IncMine Type: FacilityMined Material: Alumina
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: IMI Plymouth Sand & Gravel, IndianaMine Controller: Earl BrinkerMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Construction Sand and GravelAmendments:(Victim died November 27, 2014)
On November 17, 2014, Robert Arnold Fleenor, a 63-year-old truck driver, missed the last step while climbing down the ladder of his haul truck. He hit the tire of the haul truck and then slid down the tire and hit his head on the concrete. Several hours later, he complained of not feeling well, and was subsequently found unresponsive behind the steering wheel of his truck. He was transported to a hospital, where he died on November 27, 2014. The death certificate and autopsy report both indicated that the manner of death was accidental, and the cause of death was a left cerebral infarction due to left subdural hematoma. Based on the findings of the death certificate, the autopsy report, and the MSHA investigation, the committee members concluded that his death should be charged to the mining industry.
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Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or BackLocation: Crawdad No 1 Mine, West VirginiaMine Controller: Kristopher C LillyMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any KindLocation: R&S STONE, INC., VirginiaMine Controller: Terri Reed Smith; Terry Garth ReedMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Crushed, Broken GraniteAmendments:(Victim died January 17, 2015)
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: North Antelope Rochelle Mine, WyomingMine Controller: Peabody EnergyMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: EVANSVILLE PLANT, PennsylvaniaMine Controller: Heidelberg Cement AGMine Type: FacilityMined Material: Cement
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Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or HighwallLocation: Tinsley Branch HWM 61, KentuckyMine Controller: Cox Enterprises; L C ManagementMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: HOCKLEY MINE, TexasMine Controller: Texas United CorpMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Salt
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: West Ridge Mine, UtahMine Controller: Robert E MurrayMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Manchester Mine, AlabamaMine Controller: Roger W Perry; Rance Perry; Leah Perry-HaynieMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: Gardenscape of New York, New YorkMine Controller: David George KasmochMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
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Accident Classification: ElectricalLocation: Buchanan Mine #1, VirginiaMine Controller: CONSOL Energy IncMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any KindLocation: Belzer Pit, MontanaMine Controller: Steve Fossum; Scott Fossum; Carol FossumMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: Brooksville South Cement Plant, FloridaMine Controller: Cemex S AMine Type: FacilityMined Material: Cement
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Accident Classification: ElectricalLocation: Murray Mines Inc., South CarolinaMine Controller: James O Murray JrMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: Spring Creek Coal Company, MontanaMine Controller: Cloud Peak Energy Resources LLCMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Ignition or Explosion of Gas or DustLocation: BREWER SAND, South CarolinaMine Controller: Heidelberg Cement AGMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
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Accident Classification: OtherLocation: Holcim (Texas) LP, TexasMine Controller: Holcim Ltd; Crow HoldingsMine Type: FacilityMined Material: Cement
On June 17, 2014, a fatal accident occurred at Holcim Texas LP. On, September 3, 2014, MSHA referred the accident to the Chargeability Review Committee. On February 2, 2015, the Chargeability Review Committee determined that this death should be charged to the mining industry. The autopsy report indicated that the manner of death was accidental and that the cause of death was asthma exacerbated by environmental dust exposure.
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: Chalk Hills Quarry, UtahMine Controller: Karen PalmerMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Gypsum
(Victim died July 28, 2014)
On June 14, 2014, Kevin Lee Ames, a 35-year-old laborer, was using a propane torch to shrink-wrap pelletized gypsum when he received serious burns on 35% of his body. He was subsequently discovered by a co-worker and transported to a hospital. He died on July 28, 2014. The death certificate indicated that the cause of death was mucormycosis (fungal infection) due to burns, and that the manner of death was an accident. An autopsy was not performed. Based on the findings of the death certificate and the MSHA investigation, the Fatality Review Committee determined that the death should be charged to the mining industry.