Surface

MNM Fatality – 10/28/25

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On October 28, 2025, a miner died after the haul truck he was driving went over a berm along the haul road and into a water-filled pit.

Best Practices

  • Always operate mobile equipment at safe speeds. Consider the roadways, tracks, grades, clearances, visibility, traffic, and type of equipment used.
  • Ensure berms and guardrails are at least mid-axle height of the largest mobile equipment using the roadway.
  • Follow the Surface Mobile Equipment Safety Program at your mine.
  • Always wear a seatbelt while operating mobile equipment. Never attempt to exit or jump from an out-of-control vehicle.
  • Perform pre-operational examinations of mobile equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 26th fatality reported in 2025, and the 11th classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatality – 8/26/25

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On August 26, 2025, an electrician died while performing elevator testing.  The elevator car descended and struck the electrician on the first-floor elevator platform. 

Best Practices

  • De-energize, lock out, tag out, and block machinery against hazardous motion, including unintended movement, before conducting maintenance.
  • Install audible and visual alarms to warn of impending equipment movement.  Ensure the alarms are functional through testing and maintenance.
  • Stay clear of moving equipment during testing procedures.
  • Train miners to safely perform testing procedures and ensure the procedures are followed.

Additional Information

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Hoisting.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 8/25/25

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On August 25, 2025, a miner died after the haul truck he was driving went over a berm along the haul road, over a highwall, and overturned into water in the pit.

Best Practices

  • Always operate mobile equipment at safe speeds. Consider the roadways, tracks, grades, clearances, visibility, traffic, and type of equipment being used.
  • Follow the Surface Mobile Equipment safety program at your mine.
  • Clearly mark hazards along roadways with signs and signals.
  • Always wear a seatbelt while operating mobile equipment. Never attempt to exit or jump from an out-of-control vehicle.
  • Maintain control of mobile equipment while it is descending, especially around tight turns.
  • Ensure miners are adequately task trained in the safe operation of all equipment they operate.
  • Perform pre-operational examinations of mobile equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 19th fatality reported in 2025, and the eighth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 8/7/25

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On August 7, 2025, a contractor died after the front-end loader he was operating traveled over the edge of a highwall, falling approximately 70 feet.

Best Practices

  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Never attempt to enter or exit an out-of-control vehicle.
  • Ensure miners are adequately task trained in the safe operation of assigned equipment.
  • Perform regular pre-operational examinations of mobile equipment.
  • Monitor work activities to ensure both miners and contractors follow safe work procedures.

Additional Information

This is the 18th fatality reported in 2025, and the seventh classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 7/29/25

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On July 29, 2025, a contractor died when the excavator he was tramming toppled forward, causing the cab to land on a boulder.

Best Practices

  • Maintain the boom in the direction of travel when tramming.
  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Ensure miners operate excavators perpendicular to the slope.
  • Task train miners in the safe operation and potential hazards of all equipment, including avoiding ground conditions that can cause the equipment to tip over.
  • Conduct workplace examinations of all work areas prior to beginning work.

Additional Information

This is the 18th fatality reported in 2025, and the fourth classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 7/12/25

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On July 12, 2025, a delivery truck driver died when the truck he was driving traveled off the road and crashed into a ravine.

Best Practices

  • Maintain control of mobile equipment and follow all posted speed limit and warning signs.
  • Ensure berms and guardrails are at least as high as the mid-axle height of the largest mobile equipment using the roadway.  
  • Ensure braking systems can stop and hold the equipment with its typical load on the maximum grade it travels.
  • Always wear a seatbelt while operating mobile equipment.
  • Perform thorough pre-operational inspections of mobile equipment.  Correct any defects that create a hazard.

Additional Information

This is the 16th fatality reported in 2025, and the seventh classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 6/15/25

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On June 15, 2025, a miner died after the telehandler that he had been operating overturned onto him while he was outside the equipment moving a water pump suction line.

Best Practices

  • Ensure miners operate telehandlers perpendicular to the slope and use load stabilizing devices to prevent roll over.
  • Keep telehandler forks low to the ground unless the surface is level and ground conditions can support the telehandler.  Never suspend a load from the forks.
  • Always lower booms on equipment when unattended and secure the equipment against movement.
  • Do not exceed the load radius and load limits of lifting equipment.
  • Do not work alone unless you can communicate with others or they can see you.
  • Ensure miners position themselves in a safe manner while working around equipment.
  • Conduct inspections of mobile equipment prior to use.  If deficiencies exist, remove the equipment from service.

Additional Information

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary information only and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the accident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 5/19/25

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On May 19, 2025, a miner died when the haul truck he was operating traveled through a berm and over an approximately forty-foot highwall to the bench below. 

Best Practices

  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Ensure berms and guardrails are at least as high as the mid-axle height of the largest mobile equipment using the roadway.  The effectiveness of a berm depends not only on its height, but also on its base width and compaction.
  • Always wear a seatbelt and remain in the cab with your seatbelt on while operating mobile equipment.  Never attempt to exit or jump from an out-of-control vehicle.
  • Ensure miners are adequately task trained in the safe operation of all equipment they use.
  • Perform pre-operational examinations of mobile equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 13th fatality reported in 2025, and the sixth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Cllick here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 5/1/25

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On May 1, 2025, an excavator operator died after material from a tailings cell engulfed the excavator he was operating. At the time of the accident, the excavator operator was loading dry material into two haul trucks.

Best Practices

  • Establish and follow ground control procedures that are consistent with prudent engineering design for the safe control of all highwalls, pits, spoil banks and any area where miners will be working below a tailings or water storage cell.  
  • Examine highwalls, banks, and other areas that slope into working areas after every rain, freeze, or thaw and before miners begin work in such areas.
  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.  Document and correct unsafe ground conditions in the affected area.
  • Equip excavators with two-way communication systems, high-strength glass, light sticks, cooling packs, and a breathable air device when working on material that has the potential to slide or engulf mobile equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 12th fatality reported in 2025, and the second classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.”

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary information only and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the accident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 3/28/25

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On March 28, 2025, a miner was fatally injured at a surface mine when sand from the highwall engulfed the front-end loader he was operating.  The miner was digging sand from the toe of the highwall.

Best Practices

  • Use mining methods that ensure highwall stability and safe working conditions.
  • Use appropriate equipment to gradually flatten the slope starting at the top of the highwall.
  • Equip front-end loaders with two-way communication systems, high strength glass, and an SCSR for breathable air when working on material that has the potential to slide or engulf mobile equipment.
  • Examine highwalls, spoil banks, and ground that slope into working areas.  Correct unsafe ground conditions in the affected area.  Conduct additional examinations as ground conditions warrant, especially during periods of changing weather conditions.
  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.  Identify and control all hazards associated with the work and the methods to properly protect miners.
  • Train miners to assess risks and hazards and correct or barricade hazards to prevent access before beginning work activities.

Additional Information

This is the 11th fatality reported in 2025, and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).