Cement

MNM Fatal – 1/8/26

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On January 8, 2026, an over-the-road truck driver died after he became pinned between the dump bed and the frame of a truck.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work and use methods to properly protect persons. 
  • Before working on equipment, block all raised components against motion and ensure persons are positioned in a safe location and away from the “red zone” areas.
  • Never work under a load that is unsupported or inadequately supported. Observe and follow all warning labels and signs on equipment.

Additional Information

This is the second fatality reported in 2026, and the first classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatal – 1/6/26

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On January 6, 2026, a contractor was fatally struck by the motor and gearbox assembly while removing a baghouse slide gate. 

Best Practices

  • Block machinery or equipment against hazardous motion before beginning maintenance or repairs. Verify miners are in a safe location and away from potential “red zone” areas.
  • Secure assemblies to prevent unexpected movement and use proper tools.
  • Identify and control all stored energy sources, including gravity.
  • Train miners in safe work procedures and hazard recognition.

Additional Information

This is the first fatality reported in 2026, and the first 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 Fatalilty – 2/22/25

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On February 22, 2025, a contractor died when the bridge providing access into the kiln shifted, causing the skid steer loader he was operating to fall backwards into the clinker chute. 

Best Practices

  • Provide safe access to all working areas.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions for bridges and ramps.
  • Routinely examine metal structures for indications of structural weakness (corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling beams, braces or columns, loose/missing connectors, broken welds, etc.).
  • Train miners on their assigned tasks, including how to identify, report, and correct hazards.
  • Examine work areas at the beginning and throughout the day for changing conditions that may affect safety.

Additional Information

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

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

MNM Fatality – 8/9/24

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On August 9, 2024, an electrician was seriously injured by an arc flash from a 4,160 VAC circuit while working on an electrical panel for a motor control center.  On August 22, 2024, he died from his injuries.

Best Practices

  • Lock out and tag out circuits before working on electrical equipment:
    • Identify and control all hazardous energy sources before starting any task.
    • Open the circuit breaker or load break switch to de-energize the equipment. 
    • Open the visual disconnect to confirm that incoming power is off.
    • Lockout/Tagout the visual disconnect.
    • Ground the de-energized conductors.
  • Use properly rated electrical meters and personal protective equipment, such as electrically rated gloves, arc flash protection suits, insulated blankets or mats, and polycarbonate barriers. 
  • Establish safe procedures before beginning work and discuss them with all miners involved in the task.

Additional Information

This is the 15th fatality reported in 2024, and the second classified as “Electrical.”

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

MNM Fatality – 1/17/23

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On January 17, 2023, a miner was fatally injured when his personal car collided with a customer truck. Both vehicles were traveling toward each other in opposite directions on an icy mine access road.

Best Practices

Operators should:

  • Clear roadways of ice and snow or require traction devices to assure safe operation of mobile equipment.
  • Alert drivers to reduce speed on wet or icy roads. 
  • Maintain control of equipment while it is in operation.

Additional Information

This is the second fatality reported in 2023, and the first classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 11/5/22

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On November 5, 2022, a miner died when he was engulfed in a coal stockpile at a cement operation.

Best Practices

  • Equip grates and feeders with mechanical clearing devices to prevent miners from being exposed to hazards of falling or sliding material.
  • Make sure miners do not travel by foot on stockpiles or near the toe of stockpile slopes.
  • Make sure miners can be seen, heard, or can communicate with others when working alone under hazardous conditions. 
  • Examine working places to identify the potential for falling or sliding materials prior to allowing access to areas in or around grates and feeders.

Additional Information

This is the 27th fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Engulfment.”

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

MNM Fatality – 10/17/22

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On October 17, 2022, a miner died when he fell approximately 90 feet from the walkway outside the plant’s mill building.

Best Practices

  • Train miners to be aware of fall hazards in their workplace.
  • Provide and maintain safe access to areas where miners work or travel.

Additional Information

This is the 25th fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Investigation determined that the fatality was not chargeable to mine operator.

MNM Fatality – 7/21/22

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On July 21, 2022, a miner received fatal injuries when his right arm became entangled in an auger (screw) conveyor. 

Best Practices: 

  • Secure all conveyor covers in place during normal operation.  Keep tools, clothing, and body parts away from moving conveyors.
  • De-energize, lock out, tag out, and block machinery against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance.  Never perform work on a moving conveyor.
  • Examine work areas and equipment.  Report defects to miners and assure defects are corrected and recorded.  Test emergency shut-off devices frequently.

Additional Information: 

This is the 16th fatality reported in 2022, and the sixth classified as “Machinery.”

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

MNM Fatality – 7/26/21

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On July 26, 2021, a 33 year old contract iron worker with 8 years 13 weeks experience*, who was not wearing fall protection, was performing maintenance on a cement cooler at a mine in Stockertown, PA with 128 employees* when a wooden board broke, causing him to fall 23 feet onto a concrete floor.

Best Practices: 

  • Assure a safe means of access is provided and maintained to all working places.  Use personnel lifts or ladders to access elevated work areas safely.
  • Use fall protection when a fall hazard exists.  Ensure fall protection has a suitable fall arrest and secure anchorage system.
  • Examine work areas, tools, and equipment. Report and correct defects. Do not use unsafe equipment.
  • Assess risks and eliminate or control hazards before beginning maintenance activities. Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Train miners and ensure they perform work safely, use tools properly, and utilize personal protective equipment correctly.

Additional Information: 

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2021, and the second classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”(*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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