Mining Incidents

Mining Incidents in Virginia

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

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Fatalities recorded
39
Total incidents
9,941
Fatal rate
0%
Years on record
2000–2025

Year-over-year fatalities

  1. 2000 6
  2. 2001 2
  3. 2002 4
  4. 2003 3
  5. 2004 3
  6. 2005 1
  7. 2006 2
  8. 2007 1
  9. 2008 2
  10. 2009 1
  11. 2011 1
  12. 2012 1
  13. 2014 4
  14. 2015 2
  15. 2016 1
  16. 2018 1
  17. 2022 2
  18. 2024 1
  19. 2025 1

Top mines in Virginia by fatality count

  1. 01 Buchanan Mine #1 8fatal
  2. 02 KIMBALLTON PLANT #1 2fatal
  3. 03 Strasburg Quarry 1fatal
  4. 04 01 MINE 1fatal
  5. 05 Chantilly Crushed Stone Incorporated 1fatal

Top operators by fatality count

  1. 01 Consolidation Coal Company 6fatal
  2. 02 Lhoist North America of Virginia, Inc. 2fatal
  3. 03 Paramont Coal Company Virginia LLC 2fatal
  4. 04 Baillio Sand Company Inc 1fatal
  5. 05 Basic Mining Corp 1fatal
  6. 06 Big Laurel Mining Corporation 1fatal
  7. 07 Buchanan Minerals, LLC 1fatal
  8. 08 Buchanan Production Company 1fatal
  9. 09 CONSOL Buchanan Mining Company LLC 1fatal
  10. 10 Chantilly Crushed Stone Inc 1fatal

Recent fatalities

December 22, 2025 VA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Mundy Stone Company · Contact with hot objects or substances

The injured employee was performing maintenance on a rock crusher using a cutting torch when a fire occurred. The injured employee received burns to EE's body and which ultimately proved fatal.

May 31, 2024 VA · Coal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Buchanan Minerals, LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was struck-by a rock in the 2 Right crosscut of the 16 East Section, while traveling under unsupported roof.

December 22, 2022 VA · Coal motorman, motor person, swamper, switchman, locomotive operator Fatality · OTHER
The Black Diamond Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

The sub-contractor was found unconscious in EE's vehicle by EE's co-worker. The car was locked, co-worker attempted to wake EE. Co-worker called 911, then got mine superintendent, who came to the scene, broke the window, removed EE from EE's car, and started CPR. EE was then pronounced deceased at the hospital.

June 20, 2022 VA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · MACHINERY
Lhoist North America of Virginia, Inc. · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Fatal injury to a temporary employee with Gillman Services, Inc was experienced when they were engulfed by a flow of lime kiln dust while operating a CAT 336 Excavator.

October 11, 2018 VA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Georgia Stone Industries · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was in the process of opening a 6' thick slab. Water bags were installed at the top of the slab. EE was not wearing a safety harness and was about 20' high. Slab broke and fell down & hit EE and crushed him.

September 21, 2016 VA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Holston River Quarry Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

On 9/21/16, evidence suggests that the victim, an experienced mechanic, may have been attempting to remove or loosen the top drive power head, spindle cap on the drill machine to replace damaged seals by attempting to use a pipe wrench and hydraulics of the drill machine, which are controlled by levers in cab next to platform. Victim struck in torso by pipe wrench. No eyewitness.

August 3, 2015 VA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Luck Stone Corporation · Struck by rolling or sliding object

Associate backed the haul truck under the conveyor to load Mineral filler. Preliminary findings indicate that the associate climbed to first level platform under the silo hopper. While standing on the platform, the upper section of the hopper detached from the silo. The entire hopper, along with contents, then collapsed onto the platform, engulfing the associate.

March 16, 2015 VA · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Paramont Coal Company Virginia LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was in the process of conducting his pre-shift exam on the section when he was found by another miner. He was pinned between a fallen rib and shuttle car that had been parked in the crosscut. The incident was not witnessed. Material that dislodged from the rib appeared to have struck the foreman on the right side of his body which resulted in fatal injuries.

November 10, 2014 VA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
R&S STONE, INC. · Struck by falling object

EE shut down crushing plant to remove a drill bit stuck in the jaw crusher. He was using a torch to cut off drill bit when the bit flew up into his chest & face. He was hospitalized and died on 1/17/15.

August 20, 2014 VA · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor Fatality · ELECTRICAL
CONSOL Buchanan Mining Company LLC · Contact with electrical current

The employee was working on a Fletcher roof bolter. He had the panel board off trouble shooting inside the electrical components of the machine. He apparently came in contact with electricity. The investigation is not complete at this time.

February 21, 2014 VA · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · MACHINERY
Dominion Coal Corporation · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was tramming continuous miner from #4 heading toward #1 heading when he was caught between the conveyor boom and the rib. There were no eyewitnesses.

January 11, 2012 VA · Coal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator Fatality · EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Consolidation Coal Company · Struck by flying object

The IEE was operating a supp. motor and was helping move a shuttle car. Shuttle car caught a fire valve and broke the fire valve off. The damaged fire outlet was isolated from the main water supply before repairs were started.The IEE was helping re-install the fire valve when the valve blew off and hit the EE over the lt. eye and forehead, causing lacerations,fractures.

July 25, 2008 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Consolidation Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee was marking locations to install roof bolts, a piece of slickensided rock fell striking the employee's head and crushed his head against the drill station canopy.

April 22, 2008 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Osaka Mining Corporation · Struck by falling object

The victim was positioned next to the continuous mining machine operator in the No. 7 Heading of the 1 North (about 95'inby S.S.#597). The final shuttle car was being loaded from the face of the place, when a piece of roof bolted rock measuring about 71" long X 39" X 18" thick fell, striking the victim. The injuries received from the occurance were fatal.

February 2, 2007 VA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Chantilly Crushed Stone Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The truck owner was replacing a bolt in a pony axle. The owner had a bottle jack under one axle tire and a wooden block under the axle tire beside it. The owner then lowered the axles from the cab, positioned himself on a creeper between the 2 raised axle tires. The jack came out from under one axle tire; crushing the owner.

June 12, 2006 VA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Rockbridge Stone Products Inc · Struck by falling object

Employee was removing hydraulic line on Volvo loader. He had raised the bucket, remove front cover, taken 3 bolts out of line. The line then blew off then the main boom cylinder came down on top of him pinning him between differential and boom causing accident.

May 4, 2006 VA · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Consolidation Coal Company · Contact with electrical current

The employee came into contact with a guy wire, which broke loose and came in contact with an energized condutor on the pole. There was no insulator or proper anchor on the guy wire, this caused the employee to be electrocuted.

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