Mining Incidents

Mining Incidents in Washington

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

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Fatalities recorded
12
Total incidents
2,533
Fatal rate
0%
Years on record
2000–2020

Year-over-year fatalities

  1. 2000 1
  2. 2001 2
  3. 2002 1
  4. 2003 1
  5. 2005 1
  6. 2006 1
  7. 2007 1
  8. 2010 1
  9. 2016 1
  10. 2018 1
  11. 2020 1

Top mines in Washington by fatality count

  1. 01 Centralia Coal Mine 1fatal
  2. 02 Sky River Pit 1fatal
  3. 03 Getchell Pit 1fatal
  4. 04 Portable Crusher 1fatal
  5. 05 Pend Oreille Mine 1fatal

Top operators by fatality count

  1. 01 Cadman (Rock) Inc 1fatal
  2. 02 Chilton Logging Inc. 1fatal
  3. 03 Columbia Ready-Mix Inc 1fatal
  4. 04 Concrete Nor'west 1fatal
  5. 05 Crown Resources-Corporation 1fatal
  6. 06 Ellensburg Cement Products Inc 1fatal
  7. 07 Glacier Northwest 1fatal
  8. 08 Hard Rock Inc 1fatal
  9. 09 Shawnee Rock Inc 1fatal
  10. 10 Teck Cominco American Inc 1fatal

Recent fatalities

August 26, 2020 WA · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman Fatality · MACHINERY
Chilton Logging Inc. · Struck by falling object

Miner was in the process of removing wedges on right side of tracked Jaw Feeder. During removal of the last wedge, the panel suddenly fell trapping the miner between the counterweight on excavator and the panel. The weight and force of the panel caused blunt force trauma to the chest and head.

December 29, 2018 WA · Coal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand Fatality · MACHINERY

The victim drowned when the dredge ee was operating sank.

December 21, 2016 WA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Crown Resources-Corporation · Struck against a moving object

Truck driver was hauling gold ore to the plant. While descending the roadway from the mine, the victim lost control of truck. Went up embankment & over an appox drop 20' drop landing back in the roadway. The victim was transported to the hospital & died of injuries several days later.

November 30, 2010 WA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Shawnee Rock Inc · Struck by falling object

Maintenance was being performed on 10 wheel truck. It appears that the chain slipped causing the truck to fall striking the victim. The victim died from possible internal injuries. Still awaiting Coroner's and MSHA's finding to complete the investigation.

January 25, 2007 WA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Teck Cominco American Inc · Struck by falling object

Still under investigation. Fall of ground occurred during bolting cycle in which two employees were involved. One was struck by slab/ground fall, and resulted in fatality.

June 21, 2006 WA · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Hard Rock Inc · Contact with electrical current

Contractor (electrician) was working in building. It is unknown just what happened. The electrician contacted energized conductors while installing an electrical circuit.

June 17, 2005 WA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Cadman (Rock) Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was standing on a temporary platform just below a jaw crusher attempting to remove two toggle seat wedges from the pitman. Shortly after removing the two bolts holding the wedges in place, the pitman unexpectedly moved fatally crushing the employee.

July 22, 2003 WA · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Concrete Nor'west · Contact with electrical current

BOOM TRUCK OPERATOR APPARENTLY SWUNG LOAD NEAR POWERLINE. EMPLOYEE LENDING A HAND TO UNHOOK LOAD WAS ELECTROCUTED.

October 17, 2002 WA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator Fatality · MACHINERY
Ellensburg Cement Products Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WENT UP TO TOP OF CONVEYOR TO ATTACH CHAINS TO MOVE CONVEYOR. CO-WORKER MANUVERED BORROWED EXCAVATOR - WHEN HE HIT SWITCH TO LOCK OUT MACHINE THE BOOM CAME DOWN PINNING EE BETWEEN BUCKET AN D FRAME OF CONVEYOR.

December 4, 2001 WA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Columbia Ready-Mix Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

EMPLOYEE WAS FEEDING THE SAND HOPPER AT THE WASHPLANT USING A JOHN DEERE THE OTHER LOADER OBSERVED THE LOADER PARKED AT THE SAND HOPPER WITH ITS BUCKET IN THE AIR WITHOUT AN OPERATOR IN THE CA B. THE OTHER LOADER OPERATOR OBSERVED EE'S LEGS STICKING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF SAND HOPPER ON THE CONVEYER BELT AND SHUT POWER OFF, RADIOED FOR HELP.

February 9, 2001 WA · Metal/Non-Metal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Tommer Construction Co Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

WEATHER AND GROUND CONDITION WAS GOOD. UNDER CONVEYOR WAS WELL GUARDED. VICTIM WAS FOUND BETWEEN RETURN ROLLER AND CONVEYOR BELT UNDER SCREEN CONVEYOR. NO ONE SAW ACCIDENT.

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