MSHA issues seasonal ground fall alert

The U.S. Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) recently issued a ground fall safety alert.

During the first seven months of 2026, there were approximately 150 underground “Fall of Roof or Back” accidents reported to MSHA, including one fatality that exemplifies the importance of hazard communication.

Day shift overexcavation not recorded

On April 2, 53-year-old shuttle car operator Aaron Warrix died after being struck by falling rock from the mine roof while setting timber posts during underground retreat mining at Panther Eagle Mine in Whitesville, West Virginia.

MSHA investigators found the day shift excavated lifts larger than what was required by the mine’s roof control plan (RCP). This noncompliant mining sequence prevented proper installation of posts between lifts to supplement the roof support.

Upon completing his pre-shift inspection, the evening shift section foreman did not identify, correct, or make any records of the obvious and extensive hazards and violations created during the day shift by the noncompliant mining sequence and the improper installation of posts.

Foremen did not identify or record hazards

Immediately after the inspection, miners began excavating the next lift using a continuous mining machine (CMM). The foreman did not make adjustments to the mining sequence to achieve compliance with the RCP.

Both the day and evening foremen should have noticed the obvious excessive widths and depths of both lifts, and the absence of posts. Additionally, the extensive amount of time each CMM would have been in these cuts should have alerted them that the mining sequence in the RCP was not being complied with.

MSHA investigators determined the section foremen knew or should have known of these hazardous conditions and should have taken corrective actions by stopping production, installing supplemental support, and repositioning the CMM.

During the mining of the second lift, the CMM struck two roof bolts, removing the bearing plate completely from one and damaging the other. The damaged roof support - combined with the absence of posts - increased the span of unsupported roof, allowing roof strata to sag and become unstable.

The compromised mine roof support exposed loose, unsupported draw rock that later fell on and killed Warrix.

MSHA recommends updating plans as hazards are found

During retreat mining, roof falls are very common. A diligent, continual observation of the mining sequence and roof support - both permanent and supplemental - is essential during the mining cycle and examinations.

Ground fall accidents remain a common cause of injuries in mining operations, especially as changing seasonal conditions introduce increased moisture into the environment.

While these hazards can occur anywhere underground, they are most frequently associated with older workings that have been exposed to weathering and extended stand‑up times. These can also be associated with inadequate inspection, scaling, and supplemental support procedures.

MSHA recommended the following best practices to protect against ground falls:

• Always follow the Roof or Ground Control Plan. Review and update the plan as necessary when ground conditions or mining methods change.
• Train all miners, supervisors, and contractors to recognize roof/back hazards and changing ground conditions.
• Conduct frequent, systematic pre-shift and on-shift examinations and communicate any hazards and corrective actions between shifts.
• Manage water and seasonal moisture. Maintain drainage, divert inflows, pump accumulations, and reinspect ground and supports after wet or freeze‑thaw periods.
• Scale loose ground from a safe position using long-handled bars or mechanical scalers. Never scale from beneath an unsupported roof/back.
• Berm, barricade, clearly mark, or seal areas that are no longer needed or that present ground‑control hazards. Update maps and post signage to restrict access.
• Regularly train miners to identify and mitigate hazards and violations.