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:
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: Security Quarry, MarylandMine Controller: Holcim LtdMine Type: FacilityMined Material: Cement
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Accident Classification: Exploding Vessels Under PressureLocation: Buchanan Mine #1, VirginiaMine Controller: CONSOL Energy IncMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Damascuse 535 Crushing, PennsylvaniaMine Controller: Timothy M SmithMine Type: FacilityMined Material: Crushed and Broken Stone, Not Elsewhere Classified
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: 43491, MinnesotaMine Controller: MDU Resources Group IncMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Crushed, Broken Stone NEC
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Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or HighwallLocation: Fairbanks No. 4, VirginiaMine Controller: Wesley D. BurkeMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Oxford Mining #3, OhioMine Controller: Oxford Resources Partners, LPMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: Lucky Friday, IdahoMine Controller: Hecla Mining CompanyMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Silver Ore
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Anderson Sand & Gravel, IowaMine Controller: Bruce A AndersonMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Crushed, Broken Limestone NEC
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: Mine No 9, KentuckyMine Controller: Harold E Akers; Jim D AkersMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Mill Branch, KentuckyMine Controller: Thomas R HamiltonMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: STILLWATER MINE, MontanaMine Controller: Stillwater Mining CompanyMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Platinum Group Ore
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Accident Classification: OtherLocation: South Area , NevadaMine Controller: Newmont Mining CorpMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Gold Ore
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Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or HighwallLocation: Equality, KentuckyMine Controller: Armstrong Energy Inc.Mine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Shoemaker Mine, West VirginiaMine Controller: CONSOL Energy Inc.Mine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any KindLocation: Mine No 1, KentuckyMine Controller: Curtis LawsMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Bituminous Coal Underground Mining
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: Freedom Pit, New YorkMine Controller: Lafarge S AMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
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Accident Classification: ElectricalLocation: Plant #1, IdahoMine Controller: Eucon CorpMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
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Accident Classification: Explosives and Breaking AgentsLocation: Kensington, AlaskaMine Controller: Coeur Mining, Inc.Mine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Gold Ore
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: North Antelope Rochelle Mine, WyomingMine Controller: Peabody Powder River Operations LLCMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or BackLocation: Mountaineer II Mine, West VirginiaMine Controller: Arch Coal IncMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: 4 J's Gravel Crushing Plant 2, MinnesotaMine Controller: Kevin R PaulMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel
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Accident Classification: MachineryLocation: Century Mine, OhioMine Controller: Robert E MurrayMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: ElectricalLocation: Superior Cleaning Plant, West VirginiaMine Controller: Classic Coal Sales, Inc.Mine Type: FacilityMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: OtherLocation: Navajo Mine, New MexicoMine Controller: P&H Mine Pro Services, IncMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)Amendments:The Operator contested both MSHA's jurisdiction and the substance of the citations in this case. During discovery and the litigation process, MSHA learned that it did not have jurisdiction over the road where the fatal accident occurred. The portion of the road was open to the public and not under the control of the Mine Operator. Based on this, MSHA determined that the fatality should be delisted and should not be charged to the mining industry.
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Accident Classification: Powered HaulageLocation: Voyager #7, KentuckyMine Controller: Alpha Natural Resources Inc.Mine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or HighwallLocation: P-1, KentuckyMine Controller: Benjamin R. BennettMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or HighwallLocation: Eagle #1, West VirginiaMine Controller: Patriot Coal Corporation; Rhino Resource Partners LPMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: West Elk Mine, ColoradoMine Controller: Arch Coal IncMine Type: UndergroundMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
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Accident Classification: OtherLocation: No. 5 Strip, VirginiaMine Controller: William D HumphreysMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Coal (Bituminous)Amendments:Based on MSHA’s investigation and the finding of the death certificate, MSHA concluded that the miner died from natural causes and that the fatality should be de-listed and not charged to the mining industry. The death certificate indicated that the death was natural and was due to a cardiac arrhythmia due to a myocardial infarction which in turn was due to coronary artery atherosclerosis.
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Accident Classification: Slip or Fall of PersonLocation: Fort Knox Mine, AlaskaMine Controller: Kinross Gold CorpMine Type: SurfaceMined Material: Gold Ore