Underground

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)

Coal Fatality – 1/10/25

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On January 10, 2025, a mobile bridge carrier pinned the operator against the coal rib, causing fatal injuries.

Best Practices

  • Stay out of pinch points and “Red Zone” areas.
  • Install and maintain person-in-position switches on mobile bridge carriers to require the miner to stay in the operator’s compartment while in motion.
  • Stay in the operator’s compartment when operating equipment.
  • Activate the emergency de-energization device or “panic bar” before exiting the operator’s compartment in the event of a hazardous situation.
  • Communicate your presence and intended movements when working around mobile equipment and wait for acknowledgment before moving. 

Additional Information

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

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 11/27/24

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On November 27, 2024, an electrician died when a Load Haul Dump (LHD) loader struck him.  The electrician was outside of his mine utility vehicle and was struck by the LHD loader tire.

Best Practices

  • Communicate your intended movements to mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence before you travel near mobile equipment.
  • Use reflective clothing and/or strobe light devices to increase your visibility.
  • Be aware of your location in relation to movement of equipment and stay clear of their normal paths of travel.

Additional Information

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2024, and the 12th classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatality – 9/28/24

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On September 28, 2024, a 34 year-old miner with 14 years of mining experience was injured when the hook and strap assembly broke while attached to two longwall shields. The miner died from his injuries on October 5, 2024.

Best Practices

  • Use blocking material under the shields or a properly sized mechanical device to help them stay level and together. Inspect equipment for abnormal wear and damage.
  • Follow the roof control plan.
  • Always remain a safe distance from any chains or slings that are under tension.

Additional Information

This is the 24th fatality reported in 2024, and the third classified as “Machinery”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatality – 9/25/24

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On September 25, 2024, a continuous mining machine operator died after being struck by a rock from a roof fall, while traveling under unsupported roof to extend a ventilation tube. 

Best Practices

  • Miners should never go under unsupported roof. 
  • Identify and correct unsafe work practices if miners attempt to travel under unsupported roof. 
  • Train miners and supervisors on the hazards of working and traveling into areas of unsupported roof.
  • Roof Control Plans should require mine operators to:
    • Identify the next to last full row of permanent roof supports with highly visible markers at all approaches.
    • Install and maintain adequately designed roof/ground control where miners work or travel.
    • Ensure that miners position themselves safely under supported roof during the mining cycle and while performing maintenance on equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 23rd fatality reported in 2024, and the third classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.” 

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatality – 9/6/24

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On September 6, 2024, a continuous mining machine operator died after a rock from a roof fall struck him while he was under unsupported roof.

Best Practices

  • Never go under unsupported roof.
  • Correct unsafe work practices if miners attempt to travel in unsupported areas. 
  • Train miners and supervisors on the hazards of working and traveling into areas of unsupported roof.
  • Roof Control Plans–Operators should:
    • Identify the next to last full row of permanent roof supports with highly visible markers at all approaches.
    • Install and maintain adequately designed roof/ground control where miners work or travel.
    • Include guidance that miners position themselves safely under supported roof during the mining cycle and while performing maintenance on equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 19th fatality reported in 2024, and the second classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.”

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

Coal Fatality – 8/11/24

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On August 11, 2024, a miner died while clearing spillage around a belt conveyor head roller. During this process, the belt conveyor moved forward causing the miner to fall 37 feet down a transfer chute, onto a belt conveyor, where he landed on the top of a stacker tube and fell approximately 60 feet onto a coal stockpile.

Best Practices

  • Lock out, tag out, and block belt conveyors against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance. 
  • Evaluate for possible stored energy and other hazards before beginning work. 
  • Provide safe access where miners work. 
  • Task train miners on safe work practices. 

Additional Information

This is the 13th fatality reported in 2024, and the eighth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

Coal Fatality – 8/5/24

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On August 5, 2024, a miner was seriously injured when an air lifting bag he was using to rerail the conveyance that was carrying the longwall electrical power center suddenly dislodged.  The miner died from his injuries on August 7, 2024.

Best Practices

  • Block or secure equipment against hazardous motion.
  • Provide miners with proper tools for rerailing track equipment.
  • Train miners on safe work procedures and to identify hazards associated with their assigned tasks.

Additional Information

This is the 12th fatality reported in 2024, and the seventh classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

Coal Fatality – 7/25/24

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On July 25, 2024, a miner died when he was engulfed in material against the stacker belt conveyor’s feed chute.  The miner was kneeling and shoveling on the stacker belt conveyor when the belt conveyor unexpectedly rolled back.

Best Practices

  • Evaluate for possible stored energy and other hazards before beginning work.
  • Use proper devices and tools to block machinery against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance.
  • Task train miners on safe work practices.

Additional Information

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

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

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).