Mining Incidents

Mining Incidents in Utah

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

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Fatalities recorded
34
Total incidents
4,443
Fatal rate
1%
Years on record
2000–2026

Year-over-year fatalities

  1. 2000 5
  2. 2001 1
  3. 2002 1
  4. 2004 2
  5. 2006 2
  6. 2007 10
  7. 2008 1
  8. 2010 1
  9. 2011 1
  10. 2013 1
  11. 2014 3
  12. 2016 1
  13. 2018 1
  14. 2021 2
  15. 2023 1
  16. 2026 1

Top mines in Utah by fatality count

  1. 01 Crandall Canyon Mine 9fatal
  2. 02 HANSEN PIT 2fatal
  3. 03 SUFCO 2fatal
  4. 04 Pinnacle Mine 2fatal
  5. 05 Willow Creek Mine 2fatal

Top operators by fatality count

  1. 01 Genwal Resources Inc 9fatal
  2. 02 Andalex Resources Inc 3fatal
  3. 03 Canyon Fuel Company LLC 3fatal
  4. 04 Geneva Rock Products Inc 2fatal
  5. 05 Plateau Mining Corp 2fatal
  6. 06 Rio Tinto Kennecott Copper 2fatal
  7. 07 Staker & Parson Companies 2fatal
  8. 08 Bolinder Resources LLC 1fatal
  9. 09 C.W. Mining Co. 1fatal
  10. 10 Castle Valley Mining LLC 1fatal

Recent fatalities

March 12, 2026 UT · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Kennecott Utah Copper LLC · Struck by powered moving object

At approximately 05.12am on the 12th March 2026, a mechanic was struck by a drill boom in a surface workshop, causing fatal injuries.

December 14, 2023 UT · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec Fatality · MACHINERY
Staker & Parson Companies · Struck by falling object

EE STARTED THE DAY AND HAD WORKED AT THE SHOP LOCATED IN LEHI, UTAH FOR THE MAJORITY OF EE'S WHOLE SHIFT. THERE WERE MATERIALS THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO OUR CREW TO CONTINUE WORKING. EE DROVE TO THE WORKSITE. WHILE EE WAS THERE, EE WAS WALKING AND WHILE WALKING EE WAS STRUCK BY THE FORKS OF A PEICE OF EQUIPMENT THAT FELL OVER, WHICH RESULTED IN EE'S LIFE ENDING.

August 1, 2021 UT · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · INUNDATION

Mantrip was passing the loadout and they observed a wall of water and debris coming towards them. They began backing up and hit the berm. EE was the first to exit the mantrip. They were on high ground with water flowing on both sides of them when EE stepped into the stream on the east side of them when EE was swept away. EE's body was found 6 miles downstream.

January 19, 2021 UT · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Geneva Rock Products Inc · Struck against a moving object

Haul truck driver was dumping material at dump site. Truck went over the dump site and overturned at the lower level. Crews responded and notified Emergency Response. First aid was provided until EMTs arrived.

March 14, 2018 UT · Metal/Non-Metal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler Fatality · MACHINERY
Geneva Rock Products Inc · Struck by falling object

Placing a chute on a screen, the chute became lodged. The employee tried to dislodge the chute with a pry bar. EE was either hit by the chute or pry bar

March 8, 2016 UT · Metal/Non-Metal scoop tram operator, load/haul/dump operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE

Employee was driving a 70 ton CAT 775E haul truck equipped with reverse sonar. Evidence shows the employee backed through a berm approx. 4 ft high and down a slope that was 70 ft. high. The truck came to rest in an area of water spprox. 15 ft. deep. Employee was pronounced deceased on scene by medical emergency personnel.

September 16, 2014 UT · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
West Ridge Resources Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was operating the company #24-43 Wagner ST 2DS Can-setter at x-cut #11 in B Canyon,#2 entry in the 23rd East intake. When the victim was found, he was unconscious & unresponsive, his mid torso was pinned in the articulation area of the machine. His feet were in the cab & he was seated in the seat. CPR was administered. The victim was pronounced dead upon arriving on the surface.

June 14, 2014 UT · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Diamond K Gypsum Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was shrink wrapping a pallet with a weed burner and for some unknown reason he burned himself and was found by a co-worker in a serious burn condition. He is burned over 36% of his body including left arm, which has been amputated, and his right upper arm, chest and face. The cause of death was mucomuyosis (fungal infection).

February 1, 2014 UT · Metal/Non-Metal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Gilbert Development Corp. · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Miner became entangled in belt return roller and sustained fatal injuries. Equipment involved was Rahco mobile stacker, Model m30x1500.

March 22, 2013 UT · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Castle Valley Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

The Continuous Miner had started into a left hand turn on the second lift off the pillar. A roof fall approx. 22'x25' ranging in thickness from 12" to 22" occurred, striking the employee, causing fatal crushing injuries.

February 24, 2011 UT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Bolinder Resources LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Had just finished up workplace exam and shimming the cone, done pre-shift inspection and had blown horn for start up and around 8:19 am. Co-worker saw EE lying on conveyor belt with his legs under the magnet. He immediately notified the crusher operator and he immediately shut off the operation.

May 26, 2010 UT · Metal/Non-Metal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck by falling object

Blasted drift and was ready for baring down and mucking. Unknown cause of death at this time. The victim was hand scaling the north rib of the left 4500 drift when loose material fell on him.

October 29, 2008 UT · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Rio Tinto Kennecott Copper · Struck by falling object

All we know is a call came 10/29/08 about 8:00 a.m. that we had a fatal accident at Kennecott; our driver was killed by a pipe falling off the top of load on trailer. All Bob Orton Trucking does is haul the load (this load from WL Plastics Corp, Cedar City, Utah). We do not load or unload product.

December 12, 2007 UT · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
C.W. Mining Co. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

A truck got stuck. The loader backed up to the truck to pull it out. The loader operator and the truck operator both got out to hook the chain up. The loader rolled back and crushed the truck operator between the truck and loader. THIS PERSON IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF OURS, WE DO NOT HAVE HIS INFORMATION. The loader impacted the loader operator in the back, he moved out of the way.

August 16, 2007 UT · Coal inspector Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Genwal Resources Inc · Struck by flying object

On Thursday August 16, 2007 an outburst occurred during rescue work on the Main West panel. The outburst occurred in the No. 1 entry inby crosscut #126. Rescue work was ongoing to remove coal and debris which had filled the No. 1 entry during an outburst that occurred on August 6, 2007.

August 16, 2007 UT · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Genwal Resources Inc · Struck by flying object

On Thursday, August 16, 2007 an outburst occurred during rescue work on the Main West Panel. The outburst occurred in the No. 1 entry inby crosscut 126. Rescue work was ongoing to remove coal and debris which had filled the No. 1 entry during an outburst that occurred on August 6, 2007.

August 16, 2007 UT · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Genwal Resources Inc · Struck by flying object

On Thursday, August 16, 2007 an outburst occurred during rescue work on the Main West Panel. The outburst occurred in the No. 1 entry inby crosscut 126. Rescue work was ongoing to remove coal and debris which had filled the No. 1 entry during an outburst that occurred on August 6, 2007.

August 6, 2007 UT · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Genwal Resources Inc · Struck by flying object

On August 6, 2007 at 2:50 am a bounce/outburst occurred at the Crandall Canyon Mine. It affected the current mining location in the South Barrier of West Mains extending outby to approx. X/C 119. The outburst affected all 4 entries and rescue operations were begun immediately. Rescue operations to reach the miners were unsuccessful.

August 6, 2007 UT · Coal apprentice, trainee Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Genwal Resources Inc · Struck by flying object

On August 6, 2007 at 2:50 am a bounce/outburst occurred at the Crandall Canyon Mine. It affected the current mining location in the South Barrier of West Mains extending outby to approx. X/C 119. The outburst affected all 4 entries and rescue operations were begun immediately. Rescue operations to reach the miners were unsuccessful.

August 6, 2007 UT · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Genwal Resources Inc · Struck by flying object

On August 6, 2007 at 2:50 am a bounce/outburst occurred at the Crandall Canyon Mine. It affected the current mining location in the South Barrier of West Mains extending outby to approx. X/C 119. The outburst affected all 4 entries and rescue operations were begun immediately. Rescue operations to reach the miners were unsuccessful.

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