MNM Fatal – 8/13/26

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On August 13, 2026, a miner was performing maintenance on a slipping head pulley of a hopper. During the task, the miner fell onto the discharge conveyor, where he became engulfed as the belt began feeding material from the hopper.

Best Practices

  • De-energize, lock-out, tag-out, and block machinery against motion before performing repairs or maintenance.
  • Provide and maintain safe access to all working places. Use personnel lifts or ladders to access elevated workplaces safely.
  • Provide and ensure proper use of fall protection where there is a danger of falling. Ensure fall protection has a suitable fall arrest connection and secure anchorage system.
  • Conduct workplace examinations to identify conditions that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners. Identify risks and eliminate or control hazards before beginning work.

Additional Information

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2026, and the third classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatal – 7/29/26

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On July 29, 2026, a contractor miner was injured after falling approximately 18 feet through an opening located on the fifth floor of the surface portion of the #3 hoist, and landing on the floor below. On August 1, 2026, the contractor miner died from complications related to those injuries.

Best Practices

  • Provide and maintain safe access to all working places. 
  • Protect miners from unguarded openings above, below, or near travelways through which persons may fall, by installing and maintaining guardrails, barriers, or covers for openings. 
  • Ensure miners wear safety belts and lines where there is a danger of falling. Ensure fall protection has a suitable fall arrest connection and secure anchorage system.
  • Conduct complete and thorough examinations of working places.
  • Train miners to perform tasks safely and always be aware of surroundings.

Additional Information

This is the 19th fatality reported in 2026, and the second classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatal – 7/6/26 OK

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On July 6, 2026, a miner died when a covered hopper railcar derailed and pinned him against a structural beam of a train load out silo.

Best Practices

  • Maintain railroad track and load-out areas to ensure safe operating conditions consistent with the speed and type of haulage used.
  • Control drainage where wet processes are used. 
  • Ensure that workplace examinations are conducted to identify and correct any hazardous conditions before miners begin work.
  • Ensure miners are trained in the task being performed.
  • Always provide and maintain a reliable communication system.

Additional Information

This is the 17th fatality reported in 2026, and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.” 

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatal – 7/11/26

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On July 11, 2026, a contract miner was seriously injured after being engulfed by coal spillage while shoveling beneath a silo. On July 20, 2026, the miner died from complications related to those injuries. 

Best Practices

  • From a safe location, remove all loose material that could fall or slide before working or traveling beneath bins and silos.
  • Ensure miners are positioned where they are not exposed to falling or sliding material hazards.
  • Examine working places to identify the potential for falling or sliding materials. 
  • Train miners to recognize and safely remove all potential hazards before beginning work.

Additional Information

This is the 18th fatality reported in 2026, and the third classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatal – 7/6/26

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On July 6, 2026, a miner died when the haul truck he was operating collided with another haul truck.

Best Practices

  • Always operate mobile equipment at safe speeds and following distances. Consider the condition of roadways, grades, clearances, visibility, traffic, weather, and the type of equipment being used.
  • Ensure miners are adequately task trained in the safe operation of all equipment they operate.
  • Ensure haulage roads are examined for hazardous conditions. Communicate hazardous conditions to all persons using the haulage roads.
  • Follow the traffic rules at the mine and the mine’s Safety Program for Surface Mobile Equipment

Additional Information

This is the 16th fatality reported in 2026, and the fourth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatal – 7/01/26

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On July 1, 2026, a miner died after a longwall shield hydraulically collapsed on him while performing maintenance on the shield.

Best Practices

  • Block the shields against hazardous motion before working on components that support the raised portions of the shields. Review and understand the manufacturer’s maintenance and repair procedures.
  • Be aware of potential pinch points when working on or near hydraulic components. Identify hazards that may be created as a result of the work being performed. 
  • Train miners who install, move, or maintain shields on proper procedures and hazard recognition, including manual operation of hydraulic control valves. Monitor personnel routinely to ensure they follow safe work procedures.
  • Maintain good communication with coworkers. Make sure those around you know your intentions.

Additional Information

This is the 15th fatality reported in 2026, and the fifth classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatal – 6/26/26

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On June 26, 2026, a contract truck driver died while loading a front-end loader onto a trailer for transportation.

Best Practices

  • Load equipment in a manner that does not create a hazard to miners from falling or shifting equipment.
  • Ensure work areas are clear and that miners position themselves away from potential hazards, including potential pinch points, when moving or positioning equipment.
  • Ensure miners communicate their presence and intended movements when working near mobile equipment and that they wait for acknowledgment before moving.
  • Ensure miners always give a warning prior to moving equipment.
  • Train all miners in the safe performance of tasks.

Additional Information

This is the 14th fatality reported in 2026, and the third classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatal – 5/21/26

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On May 21, 2026, a contractor died when an explosion occurred while he was heating the flights on an auger used to load ammonium nitrate.

Best Practices

  • Practice safe-work procedures for hot-work on and around reactive material conveyance and storage systems. Never apply heat when reactive materials are present.
  • Train miners and contractors on reactive material hazards and clean out procedures prior to performing repair work.
  • Conduct job‑specific hazard assessments and follow manufacturer recommendations for auger removal, repair, and welding activities.
  • Ensure all stored energy sources, including mechanical, electrical and thermal are locked out, tagged out, and secured against motion before removing or repairing augers or drive components.

Additional Information

This is the 13th fatality reported in 2026, and the first classified as “Explosives and Breaking Agents.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatal – 5/20/26

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On May 20, 2026, a contract mechanic field technician was fatally injured while removing the radiator guard from a front-end loader when the counterweight fell on him. 

Best Practices

  • Block machinery components against motion with suitable tools or blocking materials before removing mounting bolts from machinery components that can fall during disassembly.
  • Review and follow the equipment manufacturer’s recommended maintenance procedures when performing repairs to machinery.
  • Ensure miners are positioned in safe locations away from crushing hazards.
  • Train miners in safe work procedures related to their assigned tasks.

Additional Information

This is the 12th fatality reported in 2026, and the fourth classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatal – 5/19/26

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On May 19, 2026, an assistant shift foreman died after a large section of rib fell and struck him. Two contractors were also injured in the accident.

Best Practices

  • Conduct thorough pre-shift and on-shift examinations of the roof, face, and ribs and conduct examinations thereafter as conditions warrant.
  • Train miners to recognize roof and rib hazards and to stop work in the area until hazards are corrected.
  • Adequately support loose roof and rib material and scale loose material from a safe location before working or traveling in an area.
  • Use the proper tool, like a slate bar, when pulling down loose roof or ribs.
  • Take additional safety precautions where mining conditions change and mining heights increase or thicker rock brows are present.
  • Always set posts or other floor-to-roof support from a safe location.
  • Train miners to follow the approved roof control plan.

Additional Information

This is the 11th fatality reported in 2026, and the first classified as “Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)