MNM Fatality – 5/1/25

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On May 1, 2025, an excavator operator died after material from a tailings cell engulfed the excavator he was operating. At the time of the accident, the excavator operator was loading dry material into two haul trucks.

Best Practices

  • Establish and follow ground control procedures that are consistent with prudent engineering design for the safe control of all highwalls, pits, spoil banks and any area where miners will be working below a tailings or water storage cell.  
  • Examine highwalls, banks, and other areas that slope into working areas after every rain, freeze, or thaw and before miners begin work in such areas.
  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.  Document and correct unsafe ground conditions in the affected area.
  • Equip excavators with two-way communication systems, high-strength glass, light sticks, cooling packs, and a breathable air device when working on material that has the potential to slide or engulf mobile equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 12th fatality reported in 2025, and the second classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.”

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary information only and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the accident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 3/28/25

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On March 28, 2025, a miner was fatally injured at a surface mine when sand from the highwall engulfed the front-end loader he was operating.  The miner was digging sand from the toe of the highwall.

Best Practices

  • Use mining methods that ensure highwall stability and safe working conditions.
  • Use appropriate equipment to gradually flatten the slope starting at the top of the highwall.
  • Equip front-end loaders with two-way communication systems, high strength glass, and an SCSR for breathable air when working on material that has the potential to slide or engulf mobile equipment.
  • Examine highwalls, spoil banks, and ground that slope into working areas.  Correct unsafe ground conditions in the affected area.  Conduct additional examinations as ground conditions warrant, especially during periods of changing weather conditions.
  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.  Identify and control all hazards associated with the work and the methods to properly protect miners.
  • Train miners to assess risks and hazards and correct or barricade hazards to prevent access before beginning work activities.

Additional Information

This is the 11th fatality reported in 2025, and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 3/5/25 IL

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On March 5, 2025, a miner was fatally injured at a surface mine when flyrock from blasting operations struck him.  The miner was assisting in detonating the explosives. 

Best Practices

  • Remove all persons from the blast area unless using suitable blasting shelters to protect persons from flyrock.  Wait at least 15 seconds after the blast for any flyrock to drop and settle before exiting the shelter.
  • Adjust stemming depth and/or decking to maintain adequate burden on all sections of the blast hole.  Consider geology, face geometry, and surface topography when developing a drill pattern.
  • Determine the actual burden for all face holes along their length and adjust the explosive power factor along the borehole accordingly.
  • Only use approved capacitor discharge or generator blasting machines.

Additional Information

This is the tenth fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Explosives and Breaking Agents.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 3/5/25 NC

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On March 5, 2025, a miner died while clearing strips of old belt rubber from a belt conveyor tail roller. During this process, the belt conveyor started to operate, causing the miner to become entangled in between the fluted tail roller and the belt.

Best Practices

  • De-energize, lock out, tag out, and block belt conveyors against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance.
  • Provide safe access where miners work.
  • Install adequate guarding to prevent any contact between miners and moving parts of a belt conveyor, including rollers and head and tail areas.
  • Establish policies and procedures for conducting maintenance on belt conveyors.
  • Task train miners on safe work practices.

Additional Information

This is the ninth fatality reported in 2025, and the fourth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Safety Alert: Violations, Injuries & Fatalities

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As of April 1, 2025, 2,201 injuries were reported to MSHA since October 1, 2024. Fourteen were fatal injuries. For the remaining injuries, 1,523 were non-fatal and resulted in days lost or restricted duty (NFDL), 27 resulted in a permanent disability, and 637 resulted in no days lost or restricted duty. – MSHA

Click here for: MSHA Alert (pdf)

Safety Alert: 2025 Fatality Increase

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Ten miner fatalities occurred between January 3 and March 5, 2025 – more than triple the number for the same period in 2024.  Accidents classified as Powered Haulage remain the most common with four fatalities, followed by Machinery (two fatalities), and Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall (two fatalities). 

Four fatalities involved failures of ground or coal rib conditions.  Four fatalities involved improper maintenance or unsafe operation of equipment.  One fatality involved explosives, and another involved not locking and tagging out equipment.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration asks you to remain vigilant every day at our nation’s mines.  Fatalities can be prevented by implementing effective safety and health programs.  Important elements in any safety and health program include workplace examinations, hazard recognition and avoidance, and training.  To prevent serious and fatal accidents, everyone in the mining industry needs to be alert for hazards.

MSHA is urging the mining community to focus on identifying and eliminating safety and health hazards.  When we work together, we can succeed in improving safety and health for miners.

Best Practices

  • Conduct examinations prior to working or traveling near ribs and highwalls.  For highwalls, conduct more frequent examinations after periods of rain, freezing, and thawing.
  • Operate and maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Clear and remove all persons from the blast area unless suitable blasting shelters are provided to protect persons from flyrock.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure tasks are performed safely.
    • Train miners in safe maintenance and repair procedures.  This includes safe access, lock out/tag out, and blocking equipment against hazardous motion.
    • Train miners on how to identify hazards and unsafe work practices and give them the ability to stop unsafe activity.  

– MSHA

Click here for: MSHA Alert (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 2/28/25

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On February 28, 2025, a miner died when a piece of rock fell from an unsupported pillar rib and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Be aware of potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs with rock and partings.  Rock in the rib has been associated with over 80% of rib fall fatalities in the past decade.
  • Conduct thorough pre-shift and on-shift examinations of the roof, face, and ribs and conduct examinations thereafter as conditions warrant.  Scale loose ribs as necessary.
  • Rib support may be necessary when the mining height increases, when rock is present in the rib, or when encountering deeper cover.
  • For the best protection against rib falls, install rib bolts with adequate surface control products during the mining cycle and in a consistent pattern.
  • Train miners to recognize roof and rib hazards and to stop work in the area until the hazards are corrected.

Additional Information

This is the eighth fatality reported in 2025, and the second classified as “Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatalilty – 2/22/25

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On February 22, 2025, a contractor died when the bridge providing access into the kiln shifted, causing the skid steer loader he was operating to fall backwards into the clinker chute. 

Best Practices

  • Provide safe access to all working areas.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions for bridges and ramps.
  • Routinely examine metal structures for indications of structural weakness (corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling beams, braces or columns, loose/missing connectors, broken welds, etc.).
  • Train miners on their assigned tasks, including how to identify, report, and correct hazards.
  • Examine work areas at the beginning and throughout the day for changing conditions that may affect safety.

Additional Information

This is the seventh fatality reported in 2025, and the third classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatality – 2/12/25

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On February 12, 2025, a miner died when the ground beneath the drilling rig he was operating failed, causing it to overturn and fall off the highwall.

Best Practices

  • Examine highwalls and correct hazardous conditions before beginning work and as ground conditions warrant.
  • Be aware of changes from the freeze and thaw cycles affecting the condition of the highwall.
  • Operate mobile drills perpendicular to the edge of the highwall.
  • Monitor work activities to ensure miners follow safe work procedures.
  • Train equipment operators to identify hazardous highwall conditions.

Additional Information

This is the sixth fatality reported in 2025, and the second classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 1/30/25 dimension

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On January 30, 2025, a miner died when a front-end loader operator unknowingly lowered a pallet of stone onto him.

Best Practices

  • Develop traffic rules for mobile equipment and miners on foot. Ensure the Safety Program for Surface Mobile Equipment includes actions taken to identify hazards and risks to reduce fatalities.
  • Install collision warning technologies and added safety features such as cameras, sensors and radar.
  • Ensure adequate clearance and visibility when operating mobile equipment and be aware of where all persons on foot are located.
  • Wear high visibility clothing and communicate your location and intended movements to mobile equipment operators.  Ensure they acknowledge your presence before you travel near mobile equipment.
  • Train all persons to recognize the limited visibility and blind areas inherent to the operation of self-propelled mobile equipment.

Additional Information

This is the fifth fatality reported in 2025, and the second classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).