Mining Incidents

Mining Incidents in Idaho

Every reportable accident on file with MSHA at a Idaho mine. Operators below are ranked by recorded fatality count in this state.

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Fatalities recorded
13
Total incidents
2,619
Fatal rate
0%
Years on record
2000–2023

Year-over-year fatalities

  1. 2000 1
  2. 2001 2
  3. 2002 1
  4. 2010 1
  5. 2011 3
  6. 2014 1
  7. 2017 1
  8. 2019 1
  9. 2021 1
  10. 2023 1

Top mines in Idaho by fatality count

  1. 01 Galena 4fatal
  2. 02 Lucky Friday 2fatal
  3. 03 Rocky Mountain Quartzite Quarry 1fatal
  4. 04 Plant #1 1fatal
  5. 05 Mt Solo Pit 1fatal

Top operators by fatality count

  1. 01 U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. 4fatal
  2. 02 Hecla Limited 2fatal
  3. 03 DeAtley Crushing Co 1fatal
  4. 04 Fighting Creek Materials Inc 1fatal
  5. 05 Higher ground resources 1fatal
  6. 06 Highland Enterprises Inc 1fatal
  7. 07 J R Simplot Company 1fatal
  8. 08 Northern Stone Supply Inc 1fatal
  9. 09 Silver Opportunity Partners LLC 1fatal

Recent fatalities

April 11, 2023 ID · Metal/Non-Metal miner, nec Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Miner was working in the 3200-033 raise. EE was bolting the hanging wall. A large wedge slipped off the wall and pinned the Miner to the foot wall causing fatal crushing injuries.

September 14, 2021 ID · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Higher ground resources · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

A visitor to the mine site was in a unauthorized area running a sluice box in a unstable trench when it collapsed and buried them. The trench was tapered and made safe to remove their body.

August 2, 2019 ID · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
J R Simplot Company · Struck against a moving object

Employee maintaining equipment in mobile fuel truck lost power and brakes moving down a steep grade resulting in over-turned truck.

October 17, 2017 ID · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner Fatality · MACHINERY
Fighting Creek Materials Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Operator was up on hill pushing overburden down to excavator for feeding crusher. Operator went down a small incline on Cat Dozer and was thrown from the cab.

June 2, 2014 ID · Metal/Non-Metal shaftcrew, shaft repair, skip tender, station tender Fatality · HOISTING
Silver Opportunity Partners LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Two shaft repairmen had finished pulling lacing from the pipe compartment, the all clear/tucked in verbal command was given twice with response. The bell signal was transmitted to raise the skip. One miner's fall protection lanyard was accidentally left connected to a shaft anchor. As the skip raised the lanyard remained secured pulling the miner between the skip and shaft timber.

November 17, 2011 ID · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Hecla Limited · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Two miners working in an underground bin excavation were attempting to level the muckpile by blowing muck down a hole at the brow. They were both tied to retractable fall restraints when the muckpile slid down the repose angle unexpectedly. One employee manually pulled his line and engaged his restraint but the second man was engulfed and suffocated by the finely broken muck.

September 13, 2011 ID · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant Fatality · ELECTRICAL
DeAtley Crushing Co · Contact with electrical current

Co-worker was in the process of shutting down the generators, to do maintenance to the power cables. At that time employee started to unguard the power cables on the switch van out of the vision of co-worker. He refused to have the power checked by two other co-workers. Moments later he was electrocuted.

April 15, 2011 ID · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Hecla Limited · Struck by falling object

A ground/roof fall occurred in the 6150-15 West Stope completely burying an employee under 30 feet of rock.

September 10, 2002 ID · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Highland Enterprises Inc · Struck against stationary object

LOST CONTROL OF DUMP TRUCK REASON IS UNKNOWN. LEFT LOADING AREA, WENT DOWN A HILL, COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND TIPPED CAB OF TRUCK OVER ON ITS SIDE.

August 9, 2000 ID · Metal/Non-Metal forklift operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MAN WAS DRIVING 922B LOADER DOWN A ROAD WITH A STEEP GRADE. FOR UNKNOWN REASON, LOST CONTROL AND THE LOADER TURNED OVER AND THE RAPS SAFETY CAB FAILED AND COLLAPSED CAUSING FATALITY.

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