3
Figure 1. MSHA classification for reported accidents between 1983–2021 for surface and underground U.S. mines ground-
fall incidents are contained in the blue box
Table 1. Examples of ground-fall narratives and their classification
Ground-fall narrative Classification
“Employee was roof bolting in the face area when a small piece of rock fell from the roof hitting employee
in the left forearm. reportable only due to stitches to left forearm.”
Roof fall
“Employee was shoveling the ribs in the face as part of the clean-up cycle, when a piece of rock sloughed
off the rib near the roof and struck the employee in the right ankle.”
Rib fall
“A rock burst occurred in the main drift while employees were constructing a tunnel liner, seven miners
were injured.”
Rock outburst
“Employee using excavator to clean highwall and boulder hit cab shattering right window getting glass in
right eye.”
Highwall failure
Table 2. Examples of unclear ground-fall narratives in MSHA dataset
“A piece of rock struck him on the lower part of his left leg, which resulted in a fracture of the small bone in that part of the leg.”
“Having advanced a slider tube with co-worker, he was struck on the right foot by a piece of rock measuring 2 ft x 3 ft x 6 in thick.
this resulted in fracture of three areas of his right metat tarsal on the right foot. injured began losing time on 3/8/10.”
“Injured employee was struck by a rock measuring 20”l x10”w x 3” thick causing a contusion to the left side of his face.”
“An unplanned ground fall occurred at 3156, north 148, panel c107 in the underground mine.”
“Fall was found at 1 west mains intake #8 entry. fall was 40’ l x 19’ w x 5’ thick.8 left dimensions were 25’ l x 19’w x 5’ thick.”
Figure 1. MSHA classification for reported accidents between 1983–2021 for surface and underground U.S. mines ground-
fall incidents are contained in the blue box
Table 1. Examples of ground-fall narratives and their classification
Ground-fall narrative Classification
“Employee was roof bolting in the face area when a small piece of rock fell from the roof hitting employee
in the left forearm. reportable only due to stitches to left forearm.”
Roof fall
“Employee was shoveling the ribs in the face as part of the clean-up cycle, when a piece of rock sloughed
off the rib near the roof and struck the employee in the right ankle.”
Rib fall
“A rock burst occurred in the main drift while employees were constructing a tunnel liner, seven miners
were injured.”
Rock outburst
“Employee using excavator to clean highwall and boulder hit cab shattering right window getting glass in
right eye.”
Highwall failure
Table 2. Examples of unclear ground-fall narratives in MSHA dataset
“A piece of rock struck him on the lower part of his left leg, which resulted in a fracture of the small bone in that part of the leg.”
“Having advanced a slider tube with co-worker, he was struck on the right foot by a piece of rock measuring 2 ft x 3 ft x 6 in thick.
this resulted in fracture of three areas of his right metat tarsal on the right foot. injured began losing time on 3/8/10.”
“Injured employee was struck by a rock measuring 20”l x10”w x 3” thick causing a contusion to the left side of his face.”
“An unplanned ground fall occurred at 3156, north 148, panel c107 in the underground mine.”
“Fall was found at 1 west mains intake #8 entry. fall was 40’ l x 19’ w x 5’ thick.8 left dimensions were 25’ l x 19’w x 5’ thick.”