MINE FATALITY – On March 3, 2026, a contractor died while working in an excavated area when the adjacent concrete block retaining wall collapsed.
Photo: MSHA
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.”
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.
Original article published by MSHA