Review of Fatalities

January 26, 2023 – April 26, 2023

MSHA Stakeholder Meeting

April 26, 2023

Marcus Smith

Chief of Accident Investigations

Office of Enforcement

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Accident Classification

2

Machinery, 5

Electrical, 3

Powered Haulage, 

2

Fall of Roof or 

Back, 2

Slip or Fall of 

Person, 1

Drowning, 1
Job Title

3

Equipment 

Operator, 9

Miner/Laborer, 3

Surveyor, 1

Mechanic, 1
Location of Accident

4

Surface MNM, 9

Surface Coal, 2

Underground Coal, 

2

Underground MNM, 1
Activity Experience

5

2 Years or Less, 8

>2 to 4 Years, 1

>4 to 6 Years, 1

>6 to 8 Years, 1

>10 Years, 3
Experience at the Mine 

6

2 Years or Less, 12

>2 to 4 Years, 1

>4 to 6 Years, 1
Inexperienced Miners 

 9 of the 14 victims had less than one year of 

experience at the mine where the accident occurred. 

 8 of the 14 victims had less than two years of 

experience at the activity they were performing at the 

time of the accident.

 MSHA Requirements:

 New Miner and Newly Hired Experienced Miner Training

 Task Training 

 Site-Specific Hazard Awareness Training 

 Annual Refresher Training 7
Examinations

 In 9 of the 14 fatalities, mine operators either did not 

conduct an examination or conducted an inadequate 

examination. 

 MSHA Requirements:

 Workplace Examinations

 Preshift, On-shift, Supplemental, and Weekly Examinations 

for Coal Mines

 Pre-Operational Inspections of Equipment

 Examinations of Roof/Ground Conditions

 Examinations of Electrical Equipment

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Electrical

On January 27, 2023, two haul truck drivers were electrocuted 

after an overhead power line came in contact with their haul 

trucks. They exited the cabs of their haul trucks and came in 

contact with electrical energy.

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On April 19, 2023, a haul truck bed struck a communication 

wire, pulled forward, and broke the power pole. This caused 

the energized power lines to fall onto the haul truck. The 

haul truck driver stayed in the cab and was not injured.

 Three electrical accidents resulted in three fatalities and one 

near miss. In all three cases, haul trucks raised their bed into 

an overhead high-voltage power line.
Best Practices

 Do not stage, park or position trucks, cranes, or other equipment under 

overhead power lines.

 Post warning signs at all approaches to overhead power lines; install 

barricades where necessary

 Establish safe approaches and create safe zones for raising and lowering 

truck beds, booms, and masts.

 If your truck, boom, or mast contacts an overhead power line:

 Remain inside the vehicle

 Call emergency response personnel

 Inform others to stay away

 Exit the truck only if it is on fire. To exit, jump from the truck landing with both 

feet together. Do not touch the truck and ground at the same time. Then, 

shuffle both feet as close as possible for at least 30 feet as you move away from 

the truck. 10
March 22, 2023 – Powered Haulage

A miner died when the personnel carrier he was riding overturned. Another 

miner riding on the personnel carrier accidentally actuated the emergency stop 

causing the personnel carrier to drift backwards down a grade. The personnel 

carrier struck a coal rib and overturned, pinning the victim beneath it. The 

victim was not riding in a designated seating area.

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Best Practices

 Maintain steering and braking components.

 Perform functional tests of brakes and other safety devices 

during the pre-operational examination.

 Tag out and remove equipment from service when defects 

affecting safety are found.

 Do not exceed the maximum designed seating capacity of 

personnel carriers. 

 Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with roadway 

conditions.

 Task train miners on all equipment they operate.

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February 26, 2023 – Machinery

A contract miner died while operating a bulldozer. The bulldozer traveled over 

the edge of an access road and rolled 375 feet down an embankment, ejecting 

the contract miner from the operator’s cab. The contract miner was not 

wearing a seatbelt. 

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Best Practices

Operators should train miners to:

 Wear a seat belt while operating mobile equipment. 

 Examine ground conditions before beginning work in an area 

and as ground conditions warrant during the work shift. 

 Operate equipment safely, and to identify and report hazards.

 Be aware of their position relative to edges of roadways and 

benches.

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