Surface

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)

MNM Fatality – 1/30/25 sand

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On January 30, 2025, a miner died when he became entangled in a log washer.  The victim was starting the log washer when he lost his balance and fell into the log washer. 

Best Practices

  • Ensure equipment and safety devices are maintained in safe working condition.
  • Ensure miners are clear and free from hazards when starting equipment and performing tasks.
  • Always use fall protection equipment, safety belts and lines or personnel lifts when working at heights and near openings where there is a danger of falling.
  • Lock Out and Tag Out machinery against hazardous motion.
  • Maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s means to care for and service equipment.
  • Train miners in the recognition of hazards and safe work procedures.

Additional Information

This is the fourth fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatality – 1/29/25

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On January 29, 2025, a miner died when a piece of rock fell from the highwall and struck the cab of the drill he was operating.

Best Practices

  • Scale highwalls from a safe location to eliminate hazards such as loose, unconsolidated rocks and overhangs.
  • Conduct highwall examinations prior to working or traveling near the highwall and more frequently as ground conditions warrant, especially after periods of rain, freezing, and thawing.
  • Examine highwalls from multiple perspectives (bottom, sides, and top/crest) and look for signs of cracking and other geologic features that could lead to instability.
  • Use auxiliary lighting during low light conditions to conduct highwall examinations and illuminate active work areas.
  • Ensure miners work, travel, and operate equipment at safe distances from highwalls.

Additional Information

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

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 1/3/25

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On January 3, 2025, a miner died when an excavated trench collapsed and engulfed him.  The victim was replacing a 12-inch discharge line in the trench when the wall collapsed.

Best Practices

  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.  Do not enter trenches if the trench walls are not properly supported for the full height or sloped to a safe angle.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.  Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Follow OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety Guidelines.

Additional Information

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

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 11/16/24

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On November 16, 2024, a miner died when he became entangled in a log washer.   The miner was last seen standing on a deck and using a water hose to wash material out of the log washer to clear a blockage. 

Best Practices

  • De-energize machinery and block moving machine parts from hazardous motion before conducting maintenance or repairs. 
  • Ensure miners are in a safe location before moving equipment and components.
  • Identify hazards associated with the task, review those hazards with all miners involved, and implement measures to protect miners.
  • Train all miners in the recognition of hazards and safe performance of tasks.

Additional Information

This is the 27th fatality reported in 2024, and the fourth classified as “Machinery.”

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

MNM Fatality – 11/5/24

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On November 5, 2024, a miner died when the haul truck he was operating over travelled a dump point.  The edge of the dump point failed, causing the haul truck to travel backwards, overturn, and land on the roof of the cab.

Best Practices

  • Always dump material from a stable and safe location. If inspections indicate the ground conditions are not reliable, dump loads at a safe distance and push the material over the edge using a bulldozer.
  • Never load material from the toe of a stockpile directly below an active dump point.  This may lead to an over steepened and unstable slope, resulting in stockpile collapse.
  • Always construct substantial berms as a visual indicator to prevent overtravel or overturning. 
  • Always wear a seatbelt.
  • Train miners to use safe dumping procedures and recognize dumping hazards such as material slides and other unsafe conditions.

Additional Information

This is the 26th fatality reported in 2024, and the 11th classified as “Power Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 4/13/24

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On April 13, 2024, a front-end loader operator drowned, lying face down in a pool of water.  The front-end loader operator was last seen using a water hose to wash material off a concrete pad next to a pool of water.

Best Practices

  • Conduct adequate workplace examinations before work begins in an area.
  • Maintain workplaces in clean and dry condition when possible. 
  • Where wet processes are used, maintain drainage, and ensure safe access.
  • Ensure miners are able to communicate with others when assigned to work alone.
  • Routinely check on miners working alone.

Additional Information

This is the 25th fatality reported in 2024, and the second classified as “Drowning.”

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

MNM Fatality – 9/20/24

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On September 20, 2024, a miner died after he fell approximately six feet from a front-end loader while attempting to replace a bulb on the right front headlight. 

Best Practices

  • Develop and implement a Safety Program for Surface Mobile Equipment that includes actions taken to identify hazards and risks to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities related to surface mobile equipment.
    • Identify hazards and risks.
    • Take corrective actions to eliminate / reduce risks.
  • Provide and maintain safe access to all workplaces and establish safe work procedures.

Additional Information

This is the 22nd fatality reported in 2024, and the third classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”

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