MSHA reported that on May 19, a miner at Silver Lake mine in San Bernardino County, Calif., died when the haul truck he was operating traveled through a berm and over an approximately 40-ft. highwall to the bench below.
Read MoreBetween Oct. 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025, 2,201 injuries have been reported to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Fourteen were fatal injuries. For the remaining injuries, 1,523 were non-fatal and resulted in days lost or restricted duty, 27 resulted in a permanent disability, and 637 resulted in no days lost or restricted duty. Since Oct. 1, 2024,…
Read MoreThe Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that 10 miner fatalities have occurred between Jan. 3 and March 5 – more than triple the number for the same period in 2024. Accidents classified as Powered Haulage remain the most common with four fatalities, followed by Machinery (two fatalities), and Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall (two fatalities). Four…
Read MoreIn the very hours I write this column, the American mining community is marking Stand Down to Save Lives, an annual initiative called by federal regulators to bring attention to the need for eliminating safety and health hazards and mine sites. In its May 13 announcement of the May 22 effort MSHA noted that, at that time, 12 fewer miners…
Read MoreMSHA reported that on April 15, a miner at Riverbend Sand and Gravel, Weld, Colo., died when the tail section of a collapsible belt conveyor fell and pinned him between the tail section and middle section. The miner was working as part of a crew to tear down the conveyor in preparation to be moved. This is the fourth fatality…
Read MoreMSHA reported that on Jan. 29, a miner died when his haul truck traveled over the edge of a stockpile and overturned. This is the second fatality reported in 2024, and the second classified as “Powered Haulage.” MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident:
Read MoreMSHA reported that on Sept. 8, a miner at Clyde Holding’s Sewickley Mine, Indiana, Pa., died after entering a hopper to clear an obstruction. A front-end loader dumped two loads of crushed limestone into the hopper with the miner inside. This is the 31st fatality reported in 2023, and the seventh classified as “Powered Haulage.” MSHA recommends the following best…
Read MoreMSHA reported that on Sept. 12, a haul truck operator at Cape Sandy #1, Crawford, Ind., died after his haul truck backed through the berm at a dump point and became submerged in a pond. This is the 32nd fatality reported in 2023, and the eighth classified as “Powered Haulage.” MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type…
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The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has reported that on May 2, a miner at Plant 280, Brookings, S.D., died when he was struck by a mobile radial stacker conveyor.
Read MoreMSHA reported that on March 9, a truck driver died at United States Lime & Minerals Inc.’s Johnson County, Texas, location when the tractor’s rear wheels ran over him. A front-end loader struck the tractor-trailer from behind, causing the tractor to move forward. This is the 11th fatality reported in 2023, and the second classified as “Powered Haulage.” MSHA recommends the following best practices…
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