Mining Incidents

TENSLEEP MINE Metal/Non-Metal

Tensleep, Washakie County, WY  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4800954

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at TENSLEEP MINE.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
21
Years on record
2000–2026
Latest incident
Feb 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
133
citations
32
significant & substantial
$28,130
proposed penalties
$26,537
paid to date
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2025 Q4 4,775 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 5,313 2 0 376.4
2025 Q2 4,833 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 4,150 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 6,696 2 1 298.7
2023 Q3 5,708 4 0 700.8
2023 Q2 4,546 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 4,621 6 2 1298.4
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

21 on file

2026 · 1 incident

February 27, 2026 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

EE said the scraper seat was loose all day and jostled EE as EE drove it during EE's entire shift. EE complained of lower back pain.

2023 · 1 incident

March 17, 2023 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

Haul Truck operator was hauling dirt to the dump site, when they got too close to the edge of the haul road and ran up on the berm, flipping the bed of the haul truck over onto the road.

2022 · 2 incidents

June 12, 2022 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer STRIKING OR BUMPING
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against stationary object

Employee stepped on the hitch of a fuel tank and hit EE's tailbone on the jack when stepping down. Reported to supervisor and kept working until 6/20/22. Went to Doctor on 6/20/22 and was excused from work for one week after a follow up appointment.

May 26, 2022 WY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

Employee had improperly adjusted their seat belt, and was driving over rough terrain in the mine site while operating a 627G Scraper. The jarring resulted in the employee bouncing up and striking the right side of their head against the climate controls. The employee suffered a cut on the right side of their head and received stitches at the Medical Center.

2021 · 3 incidents

November 9, 2021 WY · Metal/Non-Metal scraper-loader operator POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

Employee was stripping topsoil in a Cat 627G scraper when they over travelled the cut area and drove onto a steeper incline, lower in the pit and the scraper tipped over. Initial 2 visits to doctor cleared the employee for work. Different clinic diagnosed EE with a mild concussion and prescribed a steroid on 11/11/21. Employee will be able to return to work on 11/18/2021.

July 28, 2021 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black Hills Bentonite · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was attempting to bolt a tire back on a tractor and was stabilizing the tire with left arm, when the tire shifted and jarred shoulder.

February 8, 2021 WY · Metal/Non-Metal scraper-loader operator OTHER
Black Hills Bentonite · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was exiting scraper, when the wind caught the door & slammed it on EE's rt hand. Hand was caught between door & door jam. EE continued to work, & on 2/11/21, informed supervisor they wanted to get hand x-rayed. Hand was put in cast & EE given full work release. After working till 2/15/21 EE went back to dr & instructed to stay home till 3/4/21 when injury will be re-evaluated.

2020 · 1 incident

March 9, 2020 WY · Metal/Non-Metal scraper-loader operator POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

Scraper operator was push pulling, and upon disconnecting from the front scraper, ran over a rock and jarred their back.

2017 · 1 incident

July 12, 2017 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck by flying object

The miner was pounding a pin out on a bulldozer, when they felt a pain in the left thigh, though there was minor bleeding the employee disregarded it as a scratch, and continued working. On 7/19/2018 the employee went to the doctor and had an x-ray performed, which revealed a sliver of metal embedded in the thigh that had to be surgically removed.

2015 · 1 incident

August 4, 2015 WY · Metal/Non-Metal scraper-loader operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Black Hills Bentonite · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee pinched his hand while performing maintenance on a tractor used for field drying. He had his hand in between a pin and a hammer he was using to fix the machinery with. He needed 3 stitches in his hand!

2014 · 1 incident

September 13, 2014 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

EE drove scraper too close to edge of pile which caused it to slide down angle of repose for about 60 feet then roll completely over and land upright. The supervisor witnessed the event. The operator who was belted in was taken to the hospital for a full set of diagnostics and was released at about 10:30 with no suspected problems. He has not missed any work.

2011 · 2 incidents

October 5, 2011 WY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Black Hills Bentonite · Fall from machine

EE was exiting Cat 627G scraper when he missed his footing and fell to the ground, injuring his left shoulder, back and hip. He was taken to hospital for observation via company vehicle. His injuries were primarily bruising.

March 10, 2011 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

Two scrapers were engaged in push-pull operation when lead machine hit a rock, causing it to stop before rear machine could hook-up. Rear machine then ran into back of lead machine. Operator of rear machine strained back muscles.

2010 · 1 incident

July 19, 2010 WY · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee had the hood on his semi pulled. While leaning into the engine compartment the wind came up. It caused the hood to close and the employee was struck in the back of the head. His head was pushed forward, knocking out his front teeth and causing all but three to be loose. All but three teeth were removed at a dental appointment.

2007 · 1 incident

June 8, 2007 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

Employee was running dozer in reverse, resting right arm on rest when a rock fell in behind track, causing jolt to right shoulder as machine raised then came down hard. He thought shoulder would get better, waited a couple of weeks, a torn rotator cuff was verified-requiring surgery on July 9, 2007.

2006 · 1 incident

August 25, 2006 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

When leaving pit, employee thought he had hit button for cushion hitch, but scraper began to bounce uncontrollably. He hit his head on the left side window, twisted his back and had the wind knocked out of him. Back discomfort caused him to miss days at work. Seatbelt was being worn.

2005 · 2 incidents

September 21, 2005 WY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator MACHINERY
Black Hills Bentonite · Struck against a moving object

While running a push-pull scraper operation in pit, the operator of the pull scraper pulled up a rock that the push scraper hit, causing the operator of the push scraper to be bounced, hitting his head on the roof of the machine.

August 21, 2005 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Black Hills Bentonite · Fall from machine

Employee was climbing onto a dozer tractor when the hand-hold he was using broke, causing him to fall back down to the ground on his already troubled left hip. An MRI revealed a fractured pelvic region. He will miss the remainder of the drying season, about mid September.

2004 · 1 incident

October 18, 2004 WY · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Black Hills Bentonite · Fall onto or against objects

When dismounting D8R dozer the operator lost his balance and grabbed a hold of area beneath the step; which had sharp metal, causing him to slice left pinky finger. It required about four stitches to close. This accident did not require any missed time from work.

2002 · 1 incident

February 13, 2002 WY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black Hills Bentonite · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE REMOVING A HYDRAULIC LINE FROM BENEATH THE FLOOR BOARD OF THE D8R DOZER, EE WAS LYING ON HIS STOMACH. HE REACHED UP TO GRAB A RAG AND HAVING TO TWIST A LITTLE TO HIS LEFT, HE PINCHED A N ERVE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS NECK.

2000 · 1 incident

July 18, 2000 WY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black Hills Bentonite · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE BENT OVER TO PICK UP A CULVERT TO PUT INTO TRUCK. AS HE BEGAN TO LIFT, A SUDDEN PAIN OCCURRED IN HIS LOWER BACK, CAUSING HIM TO DROP IT TO THE GROUND.