MINE FATALITY – On July 11, 2026, a contract miner was seriously injured after being engulfed by coal spillage while shoveling beneath a silo. On July 20, 2026, the miner died from complications related to those injuries.
Photo: MSHA
Best Practices
- From a safe location, remove all loose material that could fall or slide before working or traveling beneath bins and silos.
- Ensure miners are positioned where they are not exposed to falling or sliding material hazards.
- Examine working places to identify the potential for falling or sliding materials.
- Train miners to recognize and safely remove all potential hazards before beginning work.
Additional Information
This is the 18th fatality reported in 2026, and the third classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.”
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Original article published by MSHA