Falling Sliding Material

MNM Fatal – 3/3/26

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On March 3, 2026, a contractor died while working in an excavated area when the adjacent concrete block retaining wall collapsed.

Best Practices

  • Conduct inspections before working near retaining walls or earth-retaining structures. Look for signs of movement, cracking, bulging, loose blocks, seepage, or soil erosion.
  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.
  • Maintain a safe distance. Keep personnel, equipment, and materials back from the top and base of retaining walls to prevent surcharge loading or vibration that could cause sudden wall failure.
  • Never work directly below or adjacent to unsupported or unprotected excavations or unstable retaining walls. Use barricades, controlled access, or engineered protection to prevent exposure to falling blocks or wall collapse. 
  • Train miners in safe work procedures and hazard recognition.

Additional Information

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

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), Final 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 – 1/3/25

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On January 3, 2025, a miner died when an excavated trench collapsed and engulfed him.  The victim was replacing a 12-inch discharge line in the trench when the wall collapsed.

Best Practices

  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.  Do not enter trenches if the trench walls are not properly supported for the full height or sloped to a safe angle.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.  Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Follow OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety Guidelines.

Additional Information

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

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

MNM Fatality – 8/5/23

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On August 5, 2023, a piece of granite fell, striking two miners, killing one and seriously injuring the other.

Best Practices

  • Examine work areas to identify loose ground or unstable conditions before work begins and as conditions change.  Report hazards and do not work in unsafe conditions.
  • Correct unsafe conditions or barricade areas to prevent access before beginning work.
  • Consider mining methods that do not require miners to work or travel near the base of a highwall.

Additional Information

This is the 26th fatality reported in 2023, and the second classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.”

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

Coal Fatality – 5/16/23

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On May 16, 2023, a bulldozer operator died when a spoil pile slid and engulfed the bulldozer he was operating. At the time of the accident, the bulldozer operator was repairing a ramp used to access water pumps in the pit.

Best Practices

  • Establish and follow ground control plans that are consistent with prudent engineering design for the safe control of all highwalls, pits, and spoil banks.  
  • Examine highwalls, spoil banks, and ground that slope into working areas after every rain, freeze, or thaw before work in such areas.
  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.  Correct unsafe ground conditions in the affected area.
  • Equip bulldozers 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.

Additional Information

This is the 19th fatality reported in 2023, and the first classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.” 

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

MNM Fatality – 9/28/22

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On September 28, 2022, a miner died when he was engulfed in a collapsed stockpile.  The miner was working close to the toe of the stockpile to remove material off the top of a surge tunnel’s feeder to clear a blockage.

Best Practices: 

  • Operators should have procedures to safely clear blockages from feeders, and train miners to stay out of areas where there is a danger of falling or sliding material.
    • Equip feeders with mechanical clearing devices to prevent exposing miners to hazards of falling or sliding material.
  • Make sure miners trim stockpiles to prevent hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 22nd fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Engulfment.”

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

Coal Fatality – 1/11/22

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On January 11, 2022, a 32 year-old miner died while driving on a mine road when a tree fell from a highwall onto the cab of his pickup truck.

Best Practices: 

  • Examine highwalls frequently and from as many perspectives as possible (bottom, sides, and top/crest).  Look for signs of instability such as cracks, sloughing, loose ground, and for fall of material hazards such as large trees and rocks.
  • Train all miners to recognize hazardous highwall conditions.
  • Conduct additional examinations as conditions warrant, especially during periods of changing weather conditions.
  • Clear loose or potentially hazardous material from near the edge of highwalls and slopes, especially when persons will work or travel below.
  • Develop and follow a ground control plan that addresses all potential hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the third fatality reported in 2022 and the first classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.” 

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

Coal Fatality – 10/19/21

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On October 19, 2021, a 58-year-old mechanic with 17 years of experience was fatally injured when the articulated haul truck bed collapsed on him while he performed maintenance on the truck on the surface at an underground mine Ohio with 10 employees*.

Best Practices: 

  • Securely block from motion machinery or equipment that has been raised, and properly use mechanical blocking devices.  Ensure that blocking material is competent, substantial, and adequate to support and stabilize the load.
  • Position yourself in a safe location and away from potential “red-zone” areas where you can be injured.  Observe and follow all warning labels and signs on equipment.
  • Never work under a load that is unsupported or inadequately supported, and never depend on hydraulics to support a load.
  • Outfit haul trucks with a dump box lock bar that mechanically blocks the bed from coming down.
  • Develop and follow safe work procedures.
  • Always consult and follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work procedures for the maintenance task.

Additional Information: 

This is the 29th fatality reported in 2021, and the 3rd classified as “Falling, Rolling or Sliding Rock/Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 9/14/21

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On September 14, 2021, a 70 year old* individual with no mining experience* was fatally injured at a mine with 3 employees* when an excavated trench collapsed and engulfed him.  The victim was prospecting for gold inside the trench with a metal detector when the trench collapsed.

Best Practices: 

  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas. Do not enter trenches if the trench walls are not properly supported for the full height or sloped to a safe angle.
  • Do not abandon trenches or excavations without removing the potential of collapse by filling or sloping the walls to a stable angle.
  • Carefully examine ground conditions before performing tasks near excavated embankments, trenches, or ditches.
  • Follow OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety Guidelines located at https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha2226.pdf
  • Train miners about the inherent dangers of trenching work.
  • Keep visitors within sight and sound of a responsible person.

Additional Information: 

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data only and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality. (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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