2022 MSHA Fatalities

MSHA Stakeholder Meeting

June 28, 2022

Marcus Smith

Chief, Accident Investigations

MSHA Enforcement

1
Accident Classifications

2

Machinery

5

Powered Haulage

3

Fall of Roof/Rib

3

Slip or Fall of Person

2

Falling, Rolling, or Sliding 

Rock or Material

1

Drowning

1
Age

25 or younger

1

31-40

5

41-50

5

51-60

4

3
Number of Mine Employees

19 or less

4

20-49

1

50 or more

10

4
Experience at the Mine

5

1 Yr or Less

8

>1 to 2 Yrs

1

>2 to 4 Yrs, 2

>4 Yrs

4
Experience at the Activity

6

1 Yr or Less

7

>1 to 2 Yrs

1

>2 to 4 Yrs

3

>4 Yrs

4
Mine Employees and Contractors

7

Mine Employees

10

Contractors

5
1366 Laurel

Fayette, Pennsylvania

January 7, 2022

A front-end loader operator died 

when a large rock fell from the 

mine roof, crushing the cab of 

the front-end loader. When the 

accident occurred, the victim 

was loading material from a 

recently blasted shot. 

8
Best Practices

• Conduct examinations of the back, face, and ribs where miners work 

and travel.

• Scale the back and ribs before performing work in an area.

• Install suitable ground support where conditions warrant.

9
Oaktown Fuels Mine No. 1

Knox, Indiana

January 7, 2022

A continuous mining machine 

(CMM) operator was fatally 

injured when he was pinned 

between the remote controlled 

CMM and the coal rib.

10
Best Practices

• Operate equipment from a safe location. Stay out of “Red Zone” areas including 

pinch points, the CMM turning radius, and areas close to the ribs.

• Maintain proximity detection systems (PDS) in approved operating condition.

11
Colmar

Bell, Kentucky

January 11, 2022

A blaster died when a tree fell 

from the highwall adjacent to the 

mine road and struck the cab of 

the pickup truck that he was 

driving.

12
Best Practices

• Examine highwalls frequently. Look for signs of instability such as cracks, 

sloughing, loose ground, and for fall of material hazards such as large trees and 

rocks.

• Train all miners to recognize hazardous highwall conditions.

• Clear loose or potentially hazardous material from near the edge of highwalls and 

slopes, especially when persons will work or travel below.

13
Ohio County Mine

Marshall, West Virginia

January 14, 2022

A contract laborer received fatal 

injuries when he fell 27 feet to a 

concrete surface. At the time of 

the accident, the contractor was 

on a belt conveyor in a 

preparation plant, working to 

replace a belt conveyor roller. 

14
Best Practices

• Train miners to use fall protection when a fall hazard exists.

• Ensure fall protection is available and properly maintained.

• Provide identifiable and secure anchor points to attach lanyards and 

lifelines.

15
Ouachita Rock Portable

Polk, Arkansas

January 26, 2022

A dump truck rolled backward 

onto a miner while the miner 

was attempting to troubleshoot 

a brake issue. The dump truck 

operator was unaware that the 

miner was under the truck when 

he released the parking brake, 

causing the dump truck to roll 

backward. 

16
Best Practices

• Block machinery or equipment against hazardous motion before 

performing repairs or maintenance.

• Mine operators should assure that mobile equipment operators 

communicate with miners around them before moving the 

equipment. 

17
Freeport-McMoRan Morenci Inc

Greenlee, Arizona

January 28, 2022

While driving downhill, the driver 

of a concrete mixer truck was 

fatally injured after he lost 

control of the truck. The truck 

overturned and the driver was 

ejected from the truck. Another 

miner, who was in the truck, was 

also ejected and suffered serious 

injuries.

18
Best Practices

• Each shift, inspect equipment before placing it into operation. 

Correct defects that pose a hazard to miners. Tag out mobile 

equipment that can’t be corrected.

• Always wear seat belts when operating equipment.

• Maintain control of equipment and drive at safe speeds.

19
Cortez District-Underground

Lander, Nevada

February 14, 2022

A maintenance technician died 

while driving a lube truck 

underground. The truck backed 

over the edge of a stope and fell 

approximately 60 feet.

20
Best Practices

• Provide berms, bumper blocks, or similar impeding devices at 

dumping locations where there is a hazard of overtravel.

• Examine working places before work begins for conditions that may 

adversely affect safety and health.

21
Berwind Deep Mine

McDowell, West Virginia

February 28, 2022

A contract miner died when he 

was crushed between the rib and 

a single boom face drill. The 

victim was alongside the drill 

using the onboard tram lever 

controls when the accident 

occurred.

22
Best Practices

• Maintain equipment in safe operating condition. Immediately 

remove mobile equipment in unsafe condition from service.

• Determine the proper working position to avoid pinch points and

“Red Zone” areas.

23
Maple Springs Mine

Somerset Pennsylvania

March 2, 2022

A miner was fatally injured when 

an overhang along the mine rib 

fell, striking the miner. 

24
Best Practices

• Examine the roof, face, and ribs immediately before starting work in 

an area where people work and travel, including sound and vibration 

testing, where applicable.

• Remove overhangs with the continuous mining machine.

• Scale loose roof and ribs from a safe location. Prevent access to 

hazardous areas until corrective action is taken.

25
Brunswick Canyon Materials LLC

Carson City, Nevada

March 4, 2022

A bulldozer operator died when 

the bulldozer he was operating 

went over the edge of the 

highwall.

26
Best Practices

• Maintain control of mobile equipment while it is in operation.

• Perform ground condition and workplace examinations.

27
D-29 Darby Fork

Harlan, Kentucky

March 20, 2022

A miner died when he was struck 

by a roof fall outby the retreat 

mining section. The roof fall was 

approximately 40 feet long, 18 

feet wide, and five feet thick. 

28
Best Practices

• Be alert to changing roof conditions, especially during retreat mining.

• Train miners on how to identify hazardous roof and rib conditions.

29
AMI Silica LLC

Jackson, Wisconsin

March 22, 2022

A 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. 

30
Best Practices

• Design and use floating platforms in accordance with the 

manufacturer’s specifications.

• 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 workplace examinations. 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.

31
Jackson Quarry

Jackson, Georgia

June 17, 2022

A contract miner died when the 

compactor he was operating 

overturned.

32
Best Practices

• Wear seat belts at all times when operating mobile equipment.

• Train miners to perform tasks safely, and to recognize potential hazards.

33
3 M Little Rock Industrial Mineral Prod

Little Rock, Arkansas

June 20, 2022

A contract driller was 

working outside of his drill 

when he fell over a 25-foot 

highwall.

34
Best Practices

• Wear fall protection where there is a danger of falling.

• Train all personnel to recognize potential hazards from falls and 

understand procedures to safely perform tasks.

35
Kimballton Plant #1 

Ripplemead, Virginia

June 20, 2022

A miner was operating a Caterpillar 

336 excavator underground when the 

excavator slid over an embankment 

and was engulfed by lime dust.

36
Best Practices

• Perform adequate workplace examinations and promptly correct 

hazardous conditions that adversely affect safety and health. 

• Train all personnel to recognize potential hazards and understand 

procedures to safely perform tasks.

37