Underground

Coal Fatal – 12/18/25

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On December 18, 2025, a miner died after a tractor pinned him against the rib.

Best Practices

  • Stay out of “red zones” and pinch point areas.
  • Maintain effective traction on the slope.  Control or remove excessive water, mud and other debris.
  • Obtain proper clearances from the dispatcher prior to starting down the slope to ensure the travelway is clear.
  • Communicate your presence and intended movements when working around mobile equipment and wait for acknowledgment before moving.
  • Minimize pedestrian traffic in known haulage routes.

Additional Information

This is the 32nd fatality reported in 2025, and the 13th classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatal – 11/8/25

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On November 8, 2025, a section foreman died after a mine was inundated with water from an adjacent abandoned mine. The foreman was found on November 13, 2025.

Best Practices

  • Determine the location of abandoned mine workings using signed maps and local sources. Abandoned mines are a major flood hazard.
  • Provide sufficient barrier pillars. Evaluate interburden thickness and compare mine surveys from a common baseline.
  • Use directional, long-hole drilling to ensure adequate barriers around mining areas.
  • If necessary, submit permits for “operations under water.”

Additional Information

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Inundation”.

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Coal Fatal – 11/6/25

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On November 6, 2025, a miner died when the scoop he was operating was struck by the lead locomotive of a supply trip.

Best Practices

  • Operate mobile equipment at safe speeds appropriate for the grade, load, and track conditions. Select the proper gear before descending grades to maintain positive control.
  • Conduct thorough pre-operational examinations of all mobile equipment. Test brake systems, sanders, and communication devices before use and ensure they work properly.
  • Establish and follow communication protocols that require verification for all mobile equipment operators.
  • Make sure miners communicate their location and intended movements with the dispatcher.

Additional Information

This is the 27th fatality reported in 2025, and the 12th classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatal – 9/29/25

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On September 29, 2025, a miner died when the Load Haul Dump Loader he was operating traveled into an open stope.

Best Practices

  • Do not work or travel near open stopes or holes.
  • Install and maintain signage identifying open holes or stopes.  Ensure signage is highly visible, maintained in place, and understood by everyone in the working area.
  • Install and maintain barricades, berms, or other restraining devices in front of open holes or stopes.
  • Establish and discuss safe procedures to prevent working or traveling near open holes.
  • Ensure miners maintain control of equipment while it is in operation.
  • Ensure that miners are properly task-trained for their assigned tasks.

Additional Information

This is the 24th fatality reported in 2025, and the tenth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 9/2/25

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On September 2, 2025, a blaster was loading holes from the ground when a piece of rock fell from the roof and struck him. The blaster died from his injuries.

Best Practices

  • Be alert for changes in the roof, face, and ribs and take additional safety precautions when adverse conditions are encountered.
  • Install ground support where ground conditions, or mining experience in similar ground conditions in the mine, indicate it is necessary.
  • Scale loose roof and ribs from a safe location to maintain safe ground conditions.
  • Examine and test the roof, face, and ribs in areas where work is to be performed prior to work commencing, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant during the work shift.
  • Train miners on how to identify hazardous roof conditions.

Additional Information

This is the 21st fatality reported in 2025, and the second classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 7/26/25

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On July 26, 2025, an electrician was electrocuted when he came in contact with one phase of a 13,200-volt three phase power source.

Best Practices

  • Always lock out, tag out, and try out electrical equipment prior to work.
  • Verify circuits are de-energized using properly rated test equipment.
  • Leave protective covers in place until electrically powered equipment is de-energized.
  • Always ensure High Voltage equipment conductors are grounded before beginning work.
  • Always use proper tools and Personal Protective Equipment when working with electricity.

Additional Information

This is the 17th fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Electrical.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 7/12/25 Underground

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On July 12, 2025, a miner died when material within an active stope caved onto the Load Haul Dump loader he was operating.

Best Practices

  • Only travel in areas with a ground support system designed, installed, and maintained to control the ground.
  • Understand and follow the mine operator’s ground control procedures and mining methods.
  • Perform work from a safe location.
  • Only travel within designated safe zones and use signage to indicate hazardous areas.  Ensure this signage is highly visible and understood by everyone in the working area.
  • Conduct thorough examinations of working places/ground conditions before starting any work, after blasting, and as conditions warrant during the shift.

Additional Information

This is the 15th fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)
 

Coal Fatality – 2/28/25

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On February 28, 2025, a miner died when a piece of rock fell from an unsupported pillar rib and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Be aware of potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs with rock and partings.  Rock in the rib has been associated with over 80% of rib fall fatalities in the past decade.
  • Conduct thorough pre-shift and on-shift examinations of the roof, face, and ribs and conduct examinations thereafter as conditions warrant.  Scale loose ribs as necessary.
  • Rib support may be necessary when the mining height increases, when rock is present in the rib, or when encountering deeper cover.
  • For the best protection against rib falls, install rib bolts with adequate surface control products during the mining cycle and in a consistent pattern.
  • Train miners to recognize roof and rib hazards and to stop work in the area until the hazards are corrected.

Additional Information

This is the eighth fatality reported in 2025, and the second classified as “Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall.”

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

Coal Fatality – 1/10/25

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On January 10, 2025, a mobile bridge carrier pinned the operator against the coal rib, causing fatal injuries.

Best Practices

  • Stay out of pinch points and “Red Zone” areas.
  • Install and maintain person-in-position switches on mobile bridge carriers to require the miner to stay in the operator’s compartment while in motion.
  • Stay in the operator’s compartment when operating equipment.
  • Activate the emergency de-energization device or “panic bar” before exiting the operator’s compartment in the event of a hazardous situation.
  • Communicate your presence and intended movements when working around mobile equipment and wait for acknowledgment before moving. 

Additional Information

This is the second fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 11/27/24

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On November 27, 2024, an electrician died when a Load Haul Dump (LHD) loader struck him.  The electrician was outside of his mine utility vehicle and was struck by the LHD loader tire.

Best Practices

  • Communicate your intended movements to mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence before you travel near mobile equipment.
  • Use reflective clothing and/or strobe light devices to increase your visibility.
  • Be aware of your location in relation to movement of equipment and stay clear of their normal paths of travel.

Additional Information

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2024, and the 12th classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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