Mining Disasters: 1839 to Present

DateMine NameCityStateKilledProductAccident TypeMine TypeMining Sector
03/18/1839Black HeathRichmondVA53CoalExplosionUGCoal
06/15/1844Black HeathRichmondVA11CoalExplosionUGCoal
01/12/1846No. 1CarbondalePA14CoalCave-inUGCoal
02/19/1847SpencerPottsvillePA7CoalExplosionUGCoal
11/30/1850Cox's Pit, Clover HillWinterpockVA7CoalExplosionUGCoal
05/15/1854ChesterfieldNew RichmondVA20CoalExplosionUGCoal
03/19/1855MidlothianCoalfieldVA55CoalExplosionUGCoal
04/13/1859Bright HopeWinterpockVA9CoalExplosionUGCoal
11/30/1863Raccoon, Clover HillWinterpockVA17CoalExplosionUGCoal
04/03/1867Bright HopeWinterpockVA69CoalExplosionUGCoal
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Note: A mining disaster is defined as an incident with 5 or more fatalities.

* More fatalities are shown than listed in the MSHA database due to the inclusion of federal inspector fatalities that are part of OSHA records.

** Subsequent incident occurred 8/16/2007 during the rescue efforts that claimed the lives of three rescue workers (including one MSHA employee).

Sources

Historical accident reports are available in the library archives at the National Mine Health & Safety Academy in Beckley, West Virginia. Please contact the MSHA Academy at 304-256-3266 or MSHAlibrary@dol.gov to check on the availability of a particular report. Visit MSHA's Home Page for recent mine accident reports.

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program