Mining Incidents

Explosives and Breaking Agents

Every reportable mining accident MSHA has classified under Explosives and Breaking Agents. Fatalities and serious injuries are the bulk of these records; some categories also include reportable non-injury events.

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Fatalities recorded
10
Total incidents
227
Fatal rate
4%

Top operators by fatality count

  1. 01 Star Mine Operations, LLC 2fatal
  2. 02 Bayer Construction Company, Inc. 1fatal
  3. 03 CAM Mining LLC 1fatal
  4. 04 Calhoun Quarry Inc 1fatal
  5. 05 Cody Mining Company Inc 1fatal
  6. 06 Coeur Alaska Inc 1fatal
  7. 07 Fred Weber Inc 1fatal
  8. 08 Gold Run Enterprises LLC 1fatal
  9. 09 Martin Marietta Materials Inc. 1fatal

Recent fatalities

March 5, 2025 IL · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor Fatality · EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Calhoun Quarry Inc · Struck by flying object

The detonator had a dead battery. In order to set off the shot, employee brought up a loader. The loader battery was used to set the shot off. Employee was unable to be inside the shelter provided for blasting.

March 22, 2016 IA · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Martin Marietta Materials Inc. · Struck by flying object

On March 22, 2016 at approximately 6:35pm an employee was struck by flyrock after a shot was detonated. The employee was sitting inside of a pickup approximately 1,200 feet away from the shot when detonated. This incident resulted in a fatality.

November 17, 2013 CO · Metal/Non-Metal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator Fatality · EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Star Mine Operations, LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee went back to check on a post blast and became overcome by Carbon Monoxide from powder smoke. Carbon Monoxide

March 27, 2013 MO · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Fred Weber Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was operating a loader near the highwall when a shot was initiated.

September 7, 2011 AK · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Coeur Alaska Inc · Struck by flying object

The investigation is not complete, but as of now it appears a miner was fatally injured when material that traveled through a borehole struck him after a blast was initiated. The victim was on the 1290 level ramp waiting for a blast to be initiated. The concussion from the explosion traveled through a 3-inch borehole, blowing small rock and debris onto the victim.

May 28, 2010 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss Fatality · EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Gold Run Enterprises LLC · Struck by flying object

2 miners lit their fuse for a face round and then re-entered blast area prior to the mandated 1 hour wait period. When they were within 25 feet of the face, a misfire detonated. This was against company policy and recent training. 1 miner was killed by the blast and the other injured.

July 16, 2007 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
CAM Mining LLC · Struck by flying object

Miner was hit in head by fly rock from blast causing his death.

June 13, 2003 KY · Coal drill helper Fatality · EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Cody Mining Company Inc · Struck by flying object

AT 12:30 PM A RIGHT BREAK OFF THE #4 ENTRY SHOT OUT THROUGH AN EXISTING HOLE IN THE RIB OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHOT INTO THE PARALLEL BREAK, SHOOTING COAL ONTO THE DRILL OPERATOR, DRILL HELP ER AND SHOT FIRER.