2021 MSHA Fatalities

10/1/21 – 12/13/21

MSHA Stakeholder Meeting

December 14, 2021

Marcus Smith

Chief, Accident Investigations

MSHA Enforcement
Accident Classifications

1

Powered Haulage

5 Machinery

3

Handling Material

1

Confined Space

1
Age

2

25 or younger

2

31-40

1

41-50

3

51-60

1

Over 60

1
Number of Employees

3

19 or less

4

50 or more

4
Experience at the Mine

4

1 yr or less

1

>1 to 2 yrs

3

>2 to 4 yrs

1

>4 to 6 yrs

1

>10 yrs

2
5

Experience at the Activity

1 yr or less

1

>1 to 2 yrs

2

>2 to 4 yrs

1

>4 to 6 yrs

1

>10 yrs

3
Ovyn #1 Pit

Withee, Wisconsin

October 1, 2021

6

A 25 year-old plant operator was 

fatally injured when he entered a 

surge bin used as a feed hopper and 

was engulfed by material. The 

hopper was operating when the 

victim entered the surge bin.
Best Practices

7

• Design surge bins and feed hoppers to prevent blockages. Equip bins and hoppers with 

mechanical devices or other effective means of freeing material, so miners are not required to 

enter or work inside bins and hoppers.

• Lock-out and tag-out the power before performing work on equipment.

• Provide a safe means of access that allows miners to conduct tasks, such as removing large 

rocks and other material, safely. 

• Ensure handrails and gates are substantially constructed, properly secured, and free of 

defects.

• Don't stand on material stored in bins. Material stored in a bin can bridge over, creating a 

hidden void beneath the material’s surface.
Buckingham Mine

Glouster, Ohio

October 19, 2021

8

A 58 year-old mechanic was fatally 

injured when an articulated haul 

truck bed collapsed on him while he 

performed maintenance on the 

truck.
Best Practices

9

• Securely block from motion machinery or equipment that has been raised, and 

properly use mechanical blocking devices. Ensure that blocking material is 

substantial and adequate to support the load.

• Position yourself in a safe location. Observe and follow all warning labels and 

signs on equipment. •

• Never work under a load that is unsupported or inadequately supported, and 

never depend on hydraulics to support a load. 

• Develop and follow safe work procedures.

• Always consult and follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work 

procedures for the maintenance task.
Wegenhoft Plant

Richmond, Texas

October 20, 2021

10

A 50 year-old maintenance welder 

was fatally injured when he was 

struck by the bucket of an excavator. 

The welder was assisting while a 

hopper was being repositioned.
Best Practices

11

• Never position yourself between mobile equipment and a stationary object.

• Do not work in pinch points where inadvertent movement could cause injury.

• Carefully inspect and secure the pins in an excavator’s bucket before each use.

• Before beginning work, analyze all tasks, establish safe work procedures, train miners, 

and eliminate hazards.

• Identify and apply methods to protect miners from hazards associated with the work 

performed.

• Monitor miners to ensure safe work procedures, including safe positioning, are followed.
Mountaineer II Mine

Sharples, West Virginia

November 1, 2021

12

A 49 year-old assistant chief electrician 

was fatally injured while traveling 

down a mine slope in a four-passenger 

rubber-tired personnel carrier. He lost 

control of the personnel carrier. The 

vehicle crashed, turned over at the 

bottom of the slope, pinning the 

victim underneath.
Best Practices

13

• Immediately remove equipment from service when defects affecting safety are found.

• Conduct preoperational checks and weekly examinations of mobile electrical 

equipment. Correct any defects affecting safety before operating equipment.

• Maintain control and stay alert when operating equipment.

• Maintain roadways free of excessive water, mud, and other conditions that impact an 

equipment operator’s ability to control mobile equipment.

• Operate equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, grades, 

clearance, and visibility.
East Coast Mines Ltd

East Hampton, New York

November 17, 2021

14

An 18 year-old customer truck driver was 

electrocuted after the tarping mechanism on 

the trailer contacted a high-voltage overhead 

power line. While exiting the cab of the 

truck, the victim contacted the energized 

truck and was shocked. When he tried to 

reenter the cab of the truck, he was 

electrocuted.
Best Practices

15

• Construct roadways to provide adequate clearance between mobile 

equipment and energized high-voltage power lines. Evaluate clearances 

periodically to account for changing physical and environmental conditions.

• Provide and maintain a safe location for truck drivers to tarp their loads; 

complete tarping procedure before exiting mine.

• If your vehicle contacts an energized power line:

o Stay in your vehicle.

o Immediately call for help on a mobile phone or radio.

o If staying in the vehicle is unsafe, jump away from the vehicle without 

contacting the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Once on the ground, 

stay at least 40 feet from any power line.

• Post readily visible warning signs or signals when overhead hazards exist.
Brooksville Quarry

Brooksville, Florida

December 3, 2021

16

A 62 year-old mechanic was cleaning 

underneath a portable crusher when he 

became entangled in a belt conveyor. 

The mechanic entered the small area 

below the portable crusher without 

locking and tagging out. 
Best Practices

17

• Ensure that persons assigned to clean belt conveyors have received adequate 

training and verify that safe belt conveyor work practices are followed.

• Stay clear of moving equipment and do not reach into any part of a moving conveyor.

• Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing when working around moving conveyor belt 

components.

• Prior to working on belt conveyors, lock-out and tag-out the power.

• Provide and maintain safe access to elevated areas where routine maintenance is 

performed.
River View Mine

Waverly, Kentucky

December 4, 2021

18

A 48 year-old mechanic was 

performing maintenance duties on a 

continuous mining machine (CMM) 

when the raised CMM tail boom 

lowered resulting in fatal crushing 

injuries. 
Best Practices

19

• Securely block equipment and components against hazardous motion at all times while 

performing work.

• Ensure that blocking material is substantial and adequate to support the load.

• Require all persons to be positioned where they will not be exposed to hazards. Do not 

work in pinch points where inadvertent movement could cause injury.

• Before beginning work, analyze all tasks, establish safe work procedures, train miners, 

and eliminate hazards.
Palm Beach Aggregates, LLC

Loxahatchee, Florida

December 6, 2021

20

A 39 year-old maintenance lead person 

entered a pan feeder to remove a piece of 

angle iron. The angle iron prevented a 

gate, that was in a chute, from 

closing. Material from a surge pile above 

the chute fell through the open gate, into 

the pan feeder, and engulfed him.
Best Practices

21

• Do not allow miners to enter confined spaces until all potential hazards are 

properly addressed and safe work practices and controls are implemented.

• Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.

• Examine work areas and equipment. Report hazards and do not work in 

unsafe conditions.

• Train miners to assess risks and hazards before beginning work activities.
Whitestone Mine #4

Pickens, Georgia

December 13, 2021

22

On December 13, 2021, a miner was 

fatally injured when he became 

entangled in the drill steel of the roof 

bolting machine he was operating. 
Best Practices

23

• Lock-out and tag-out the power, and block machinery or equipment 

against hazardous motion before repairs or maintenance are 

performed.

• Never hold the drill steel or place hands on the rotating drill.

• Identify and control all hazards. Train miners to recognize potential 

hazards and understand safe job procedures to eliminate hazards before 

beginning work.

• Examine work areas and equipment. Report defects and do not work 

in unsafe conditions.
SCC - 2

Liberty, Texas

December 13, 2021

24

On December 13, 2021, a customer truck driver was standing in front 

of his haul truck. His haul truck rolled forward and ran over him.