Mining Incidents

Mining Incidents in New Mexico

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

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Fatalities recorded
18
Total incidents
3,899
Fatal rate
0%
Years on record
2002–2025

Year-over-year fatalities

  1. 2002 3
  2. 2003 1
  3. 2004 1
  4. 2005 2
  5. 2007 1
  6. 2008 1
  7. 2009 1
  8. 2013 1
  9. 2017 1
  10. 2018 2
  11. 2019 1
  12. 2021 1
  13. 2022 1
  14. 2025 1

Top mines in New Mexico by fatality count

  1. 01 Chino Mines Co Mine 2fatal
  2. 02 Bonito Pit 2fatal
  3. 03 Intrepid Potash East 2fatal
  4. 04 CARLSBAD PLANT 1fatal
  5. 05 Lee Ranch Coal Mine 1fatal

Top operators by fatality count

  1. 01 Freeport-McMoRan Chino Mines Company 4fatal
  2. 02 Black Rock Services LLC 2fatal
  3. 03 El Segundo Coal Company, LLC 2fatal
  4. 04 Intrepid Potash-New Mexico, LLC 2fatal
  5. 05 Chevron Mining Inc 1fatal
  6. 06 Freeport-McMoRan Tyrone Inc 1fatal
  7. 07 James Hamilton Construction Company 1fatal
  8. 08 Khani Co. Inc. 1fatal
  9. 09 Mosaic Potash Carlsbad Inc 1fatal
  10. 10 Onyx Construction 1fatal

Recent fatalities

November 22, 2025 NM · Metal/Non-Metal dryer operator, kiln operator, dry plant operator, fluid operator, bed dryer operator Fatality · HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United Salt Carlsbad LLC · Struck by falling object

The employee was pressure washing silo #6 and was found with their head and right arm in the silo with salt buildup on their head and right arm. The employee was pronounced dead at the scene.

August 23, 2022 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
El Segundo Coal Company, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Contractor suffered fatal injuries while performing maintenance on "Dutchman" of electric shovel bucket. Fatal injuries resulted from being pinned between shovel bucket door and bucket.

September 21, 2021 NM · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Black Rock Services LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

For unknown reason an independent driver lost control of belly truck which caused it to jack knife, throwning driver from the cab. Driver was then run over by same truck.

March 6, 2019 NM · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Freeport-McMoRan Tyrone Inc · Struck by flying object

While preparing to perform side frame/track repairs on a 4100A shovel. When the relief valve was ejected from the jack. Employee was struck by a pressure relief valve in the lower left abdominal/waist area. The injury resulted in the death of the employee.

October 25, 2018 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · OTHER
Freeport-McMoRan Chino Mines Company · Struck against a moving object

Rollover accident/fatality/ongoing investigation.

June 15, 2018 NM · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) Fatality · HOISTING

An employee, assisting with shovel maintenance, entered the man lift at the shovel house level to descend and retrieve a needed part. After entering the man lift, the support arm broke, causing the basket and employee to fall to the ground. An investigation is ongoing. Amendment: Employee passed away 6/27/19.

March 24, 2017 NM · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Black Rock Services LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Approx. 8-8:30 pm after shift, employee drove a vehicle onto mine site and stopped close to generator, left vehicle running, gear selector in drive position, did not set emergency brake or chalk wheels. Got out and started generator. EE appeared to have come out of generator and stopped in front of vehicle to urinate, back to vehicle. Vehicle rolled, pinned EE against generator.

May 17, 2013 NM · Metal/Non-Metal mucking machine operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Chevron Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Around 1:30 in the morning a miner was found pinned between two rail cars on the haulage level.

March 19, 2009 NM · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · OTHER
Freeport-McMoRan Chino Mines Company · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee got out of cab and stepped toward window & knee gave out. Employee did not slip or trip, footing was good, maintained 3 point contact, from a flat surface, but as employee shifted his weight his knee gave out.

August 6, 2008 NM · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Intrepid Potash-New Mexico, LLC · Contact with electrical current

EE was found unconscious, with no resp or pulse pit between hydroseparator and floc building. CPR was administered and EE was transported to CMS where he was pronounced dead. Autopsy report has not been recieved. A heat trace tape was found arcing near where EE was found.

November 12, 2007 NM · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · MACHINERY
Westmoreland San Juan Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Conveyor Belt broke free from feeder breaker and struck employee on his back, knocking him down.

November 29, 2005 NM · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) Fatality · EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Freeport-McMoRan Chino Mines Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY LEAKS IN A PONTOON ON A PUMP BARGE. APPARENTLY HE CONNECTED A COMPRESSOR TO THE END PLATE OF THE PONTOON VIA A THREADED NIPPLE, A HOSE WITH A VALVE AND AN AIR PRESSURE GAUGE. THE END OF THE PONTOON RUPTURED AND APPEARS TO HAVE HIT THE EMPLOYEE IN THE HEAD. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO WITNESSES, THE EXACT PROCEDURE & POSITION OF EE'S BODY DURING THE

October 18, 2005 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Intrepid Potash-New Mexico, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee parked water wagon, got off, didn't chock wheels or set park brake. Vehicle rolled, he either slipped and fell under Rt tire or tire knocked him down and ran up on lower torso.

January 30, 2004 NM · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Khani Co. Inc. · Struck by falling object

A METAL PLATE - 15' X 8' X 1" THICK WAS LEANING TOWARD PLANT. WE BEILIEVE VICTIM WAS TWISTING A CABLE ATTACHED TO PLATE TO REMOVE SLACK WHEN THE PLATE FELL ON HIM. IT RESULTED IN VICTIM'S DEATH.

April 16, 2003 NM · Metal/Non-Metal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler Fatality · MACHINERY
James Hamilton Construction Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE REMOVED THE GUARD DIRECTLY OVER THE JAWAREA AND ACCESSED THE RAMP WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING, RESULTING IN THE LEG FRACTURE.

December 9, 2002 NM · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Mosaic Potash Carlsbad Inc · Struck by falling object

INDEPENDENT OWNER/OPERATOR TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED AT THE IMC SURFACE OPS. PARTS WAREHOUSE WITH A DELIVERY OF CONVEYOR BELTS. A CONTRACT FORKLIFT OPERATOR BEGAN TO OFF LOAD (2) 500' ROLLS OF 30" CONVEYOR BELTING, WEIGHING 3100 LBS. AND THE TRUCK DRIVER WALKED AROUND THE BACK OF THE TRAILER, OUT OF SIGHT. THE END OF THE FORKS TIPPED CAUSING THE BELTING TO ROLL OFF STRIKING THE DRIVER,

April 26, 2002 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS FUELING DOZER WHEN FUEL TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY MOVED DOWN THE SLOPE. THE CHOCKS WERE PLACED AT REAR TANDEM WHEELS ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN TRUCK MOVED. EE RAN AFTER TRUCK AND WAS STRUCK BY THE REAR WHEELS ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE COMPANY'S INVESTIGATION IS ON GOING.

February 9, 2002 NM · Metal/Non-Metal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler Fatality · MACHINERY
Onyx Construction · Struck by powered moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING THE DOZER IN A LEVEL WORKING AREA & LEFT THE DOZER IN GEAR AND WENT OUT LEFT SIDE OVER BRAKE LEVER AND FELL BETWEEN BLADE& TRACK & WAS FATALLY CRUSHED. "THIS FATALITY AC TUALLY HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO-ADIB 4/3/2003"

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