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)

On March 28, 2026, a contractor died after falling approximately 37 feet through an unsecured roof panel of a shaker screen deck while conducting roof repairs.

Best Practices

• Provide and maintain safe access to all work areas.
• Always use approved fall protection systems when working at heights where a fall hazard is present. Ensure fall protection has a suitable fall arrest connection and secure anchorage system.
• Ensure miners are properly trained for the assigned task, including the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and recognizing fall hazards. 
• Conduct a thorough inspection of the workplace and all required PPE before commencing any work activities to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
• Ensure contractors receive appropriate training prior to performing work.

Additional Information

This is the sixth fatality reported in 2026, and the first classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)