Mining Fatalities

Coal Fatality – 5/31/24

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Note: This alert was posted as a Safety Alert for Unsupported Roof on 6/18/24 and didn’t come up on my radar as a specific Fatal Alert. Sorry for the delay in posting to this site. – Randy

On May 31, 2024, a 27-year-old coal miner suffered fatal injuries from a roof fall when he traveled under unsupported roof. In May 2021, a 32-year-old continuous mining machine operator was killed by a roof fall when he was working under unsupported roof.

Best Practices

Mine Management:

  • Prohibit work or travel under unsupported roof.
  • Train all miners and supervisors on the hazards of working and traveling into areas
    of unsupported roof.
  • Identify and correct unsafe work practices.

Roof Control Plans should include:

  • Identifying the next to last full row of permanent roof supports with highly visible
    markers at all approaches.
  • Installing and maintaining adequately designed roof/ground control where miners
    work or travel.
  • Guidance ensuring miners are safely positioned while setting temporary support.
    Installing temporary supports under the direct supervision of a certified foreman

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

Coal Fatality – 7/12/24

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On July 12, 2024, a rock truck operator was seriously injured after being struck by the bucket of a front-end loader.  While walking to her parked truck, the rock truck operator passed under the raised front-end loader bucket as it was being lowered to the ground during maintenance.  On July 23, 2024, the rock truck operator died from her injuries.

Best Practices

  • Provide adequate illumination for miners performing maintenance.
  • Ensure the work area is clear and barricade equipment before performing maintenance.
  • Communicate your intended movements with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence before traveling near mobile equipment.  
  • Stay clear of raised equipment or machinery until it has been lowered or securely blocked against motion.  
  • Wear reflective clothing when working in dark conditions.

Additional Information

This is the tenth fatality reported in 2024, and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

Coal Fatality – 5/16/24

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On May 16, 2024, a miner died when the excavator he was operating traveled over a 200-foot highwall. 

Best Practices

  • Reduce fall hazard exposure by limiting the distance equipment can safely operate near the edge of highwalls. 
  • Examine benches to identify hazards related to insufficient bench width, locations of other equipment, loose material, etc.
  • Discuss highwall hazards with miners and train miners to recognize these hazards.
  • Address hazards in the mine’s Surface Mobile Equipment Safety Program.  Include safe work practices for weather conditions (fog, heavy rain, or snow) that could reduce visibility.

Additional Information

This is the seventh fatality reported in 2024, and the second classified as “Machinery.”

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

MNM Fatality – 5/9/24

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On May 9, 2024, a miner died when he was pinned between the personnel lift that he was operating and the roof of a structure.  The miner was tramming the personnel lift from the basket to conduct a roller repair on an elevated belt conveyor.

Best Practices

  • Ensure miners maintain control of personnel lifts while in operation.
  • Use a spotter when moving mobile equipment in congested areas and around structures.
  • Monitor miners routinely to ensure miners follow safe work procedures while operating personnel lifts. 
  • Ensure miners are aware of their location in relation to nearby structures.
  • Conduct workplace examinations to identify and eliminate hazards before beginning work in an area.
  • Train miners in the safe performance of their tasks in accordance with the manufacturer’s manual.

Additional Information

This is the sixth fatality reported in 2024, and the fourth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 5/8/24

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On May 8, 2024, a miner was electrocuted while unloading a roll of belt from a trailer.  The miner was performing rigging duties when the crane boom contacted an overhead high-voltage powerline.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that booms or masts of equipment are not operated within 10 feet of any energized overhead powerline.
  • Designate one person on the ground, located in a safe location, to give signals to the crane operator and watch placement and proximity of the boom.
  • Use non-conducting tag lines to steady loads when operating cranes where overhead power lines are present.
  • Post warning signs at all approaches to overhead powerlines; install barricades where necessary.

Additional Information

This is the fifth fatality reported in 2024, and the first classified as “Electrical.”

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

MNM Fatality 4/15/24

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On April 15, 2024, a miner died when the tail section of a collapsible belt conveyor fell and pinned him between the tail section and middle section.  The miner was working as part of a crew to tear down the conveyor in preparation to be moved.

Best Practices

  • Block all equipment against hazardous motion before beginning work.
  • Stay clear of suspended loads.
  • Never enter or work in pinch points or Red Zones around equipment.
  • Identify hazards associated with the task, review those hazards with all miners involved, and implement measures to protect miners.
  • Train all miners in the safe performance of tasks.

Additional Information

This is the fourth fatality reported in 2024, and the third classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 2/6/23

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This fatality never had an alert posted individually by MSHA but was mentioned in this Electrical Saety Alert. The following text is from the Final Report.

On February 6, 2023, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Javier Regalado-Cano (Regalado), a 61 year-old haul truck driver with over a year of mining experience, was fatally injured when he received an electrical shock. While Regalado was operating a haul truck, he raised the bed of the haul truck into the energized 13,800-volt phase-to-phase power lines (power lines). Regalado exited the haul truck and extinguished a fire on the haul truck’s left rear dual tires. Regalado received an electrical shock when he contacted the energized haul truck while reentering it. 

The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) install warning devices for the power lines, and 2) de-energize or take other precautionary measures when mobile equipment was operating near energized power lines. 

Additional Information

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

MNM Fatality – 4/25/22

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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.

On April 25, 2022, co-workers found a maintenance worker lying face down in a pool of water.  The maintenance worker was using a water hose to wash out fine material that had gathered under a tail pulley.

Best Practices

  • Maintain workplaces in a clean and dry condition when possible. 
  • Where wet processes are used, maintain drainage platforms, mats, or other dry standing places.
  • Ensure that miners have communication systems available when assigned to work alone.
  • Routinely check in on miners working alone.
  • Conduct workplace examinations before work begins in an area.

Additional Information

This is the 30th fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Drowning.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 7/26/23

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On July 26, 2023, a miner suffered serious injuries when he lost control of the pickup truck as it ascended a haul road. The victim died several months later from his injuries.

Best Practices

  • Perform pre-operational examinations of mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • After repair and maintenance, ensure mobile equipment is safe to operate.
  • Always wear a seatbelt and remain in the cab with your seatbelt on while operating mobile equipment. Never attempt to exit or jump from an out-of-control vehicle.

Additional Information

This is the 40th fatality reported in 2023, and the tenth classified as “Powered Haulage”.

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

Customer Truck Driver – Safety Alert

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Since 2021, customer truck drivers have been involved in six fatal accidents.

Best Practices

  • Provide site-specific hazard awareness training to customers, including commercial over-the-road truck drivers. 
  • Alert customer truck drivers to changes in traffic procedures, patterns, or road conditions.
  • Provide fall protection or safe means of access to customers who need to gain access to containers or tankers on their vehicles if there is danger of falling. 
  • Provide and maintain a safe location for drivers to tarp their loads.
  • Ensure customers follow proper loading and dumping procedures.

Click here for MSHA Alert (pdf).