Drowning

MNM Fatality – 8/22/24 PA

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On August 22, 2024, a contractor was found deceased in a shallow pool of water at the base of a highwall.

Best Practices

  • Conduct workplace examinations to identify conditions that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners.
  • Provide and maintain safe access to all working places. 
  • Ensure that miners have communication systems available when assigned to work alone.
  • Train miners on safe work procedures and to identify hazards associated with their assigned tasks.

Additional Information

This is the 16th fatality reported in 2024, and the first classified as “Drowning.”

Click here for: Preliminary 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)

Coal Fatality – 8/18/23

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On August 18, 2023, a section foreman was installing hose for a dewatering pump.  He was found unresponsive lying in approximately eight inches of water and mud.  MSHA’s initial findings indicated medical related issues as the cause of death.  However, on September 26, 2023, MSHA received the death certificate which states cause of death is drowning.  After further investigation and review, MSHA has decided that this death should be charged to the mining industry.

Best Practices

  • Provide and maintain safe access to all working places.  Remove standing water where miners work and travel.
  • Ensure qualified electricians examine and maintain electrical equipment in safe operating condition; if equipment is defective, correct hazards or remove equipment from service. 
  • Report and correct any slip, trip, or fall hazards.

Additional Information

This is the 34th fatality reported in 2023, and the second classified as “Drowning.”

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

MNM Fatality – 2/25/23

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On February 25, 2023, a miner drowned when his excavator traveled over a berm into a sediment pond.

Best Practices

  • When working near water, install a combination seat belt cutter and window breaker tool in the operator’s cab of equipment.
  • Keep all exits clear in cabs, including alternate and emergency exits, and make sure the doors and windows open freely before beginning work.

Additional Information

This is the eighth fatality reported in 2023, and the first classified as “Drowning.”

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

Coal Fatality – 10/22/22

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On October 22, 2022, a mine examiner drowned in an underground sump.  The mine examiner was assigned to start pumps in the area.  The float switch box was found open with exposed electrical conductors inside the box.

Best Practices

  • Make sure miners de-energize, lock out, and tag out equipment before entering an area to perform repairs or maintenance.
  • Make sure miners have communication systems available when assigned to work alone.
  • Operators must conduct required examinations from safe locations to identify hazards, correct hazards, notify miners, and record hazards.

Additional Information

This is the 26th fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Drowning.”

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

MNM Fatality – 9/9/22

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On September 9, 2022, a dredge operator drowned while working in a dredge pond.

Best Practices: 

  • Make sure a competent person conducts workplace examinations before miners begin work to identify conditions that may adversely affect safety.
  • Make sure miners wear life jackets or belts where there is danger of falling into water.
  • Make sure miners maintain communication when working alone.

Additional Information: 

This is the 21st fatality reported in 2022, and the second classified as “Drowning.”

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

MNM Fatality – 3/22/22

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On March 22, 2022, a 44 year-old heavy equipment operator drowned after the floating pump station he was standing on capsized.  At the time of the accident, the miner was assisting a co-worker in connecting a water discharge line.  

Best Practices: 

  • Design and use floating platforms in a manner that complies with the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations.
  • Before working on a floating platform:
    • implement safe work procedures that take into account potential hazards from rain, ice, freezing temperatures, and other environmental conditions.
    • perform adequate work place examinations, especially on floating platforms that are infrequently used.  Check parts that are subject to rust, sun damage, water damage, etc. over long periods of time.
  • Wear life jackets where there is danger from falling into water.

Additional Information: 

This is the twelfth fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Drowning.”

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

Fatality #22 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2013

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ftl2013m22On December 10, 2013, a 27-year old deck hand with 4 years and 8 months of experience drowned at a dredge operation. He was working on a dredge that had a barge attached to it. The victim stepped on the barge and fell into the water.

Best Practices

  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and ensure they understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards before beginning work.
  • Always wear a life jacket where there is a danger of falling into the water.
  • Remove snow and ice from work areas.
  • Ensure safe access is provided where persons are required to work or travel. Maintain three points of contact.
  • Install and use lifeline tie-off runs and fall protection.
  • Provide communication devices and establish procedures requiring persons to alert coworkers when they are outside the dredge’s handrails.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #14 for Coal Mining 2013

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ftl2013c14On July 3, 2013, an 87-year-old contract employee was mowing an impoundment embankment with a skid steer machine equipped with a front-mounted brush mower. The victim was mowing the 40 degree embankment in a vertical direction when the machine traveled into the impounded water, submerging the machine, and drowning the operator.

Best Practices

  • Conduct a risk assessment prior to performing work and ensure that miners use proper equipment, tools, and procedures to eliminate hazards.
  • Provide hazard training to all personnel working on or near an impoundment for recognition of hazards associated with the impoundment.
  • Set up a communications protocol when persons are working alone.
  • Wear properly fitted personal floatation devices (PFD) when working around bodies of water.
  • Never assume an employee is knowledgeable in the task they are being assigned.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).