MSHA Reports Fatal Slip or Fall at Texas Limestone Surface Mine

October 4, 2026 · Article

Reviewed by William Chantrill, Marwil Safety Services.

MSHA has posted a preliminary report on a fatality that occurred on September 23, 2026. Here is what the agency has published so far.

What MSHA has reported

Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Location: Springfield Pit, Graham, TX
Mine type: Surface
Mined material: Crushed Broken Limestone NEC

That is the full extent of the information in the preliminary report. MSHA has not stated what the person was doing, where the fall happened, or what caused it. Preliminary information can change as the investigation moves forward, so we are not going to guess at causes. When MSHA releases more detail, we will have a clearer picture of what went wrong.

Why this matters for your operation

Slips and falls are a hazard category that applies to nearly every surface operation, from plant walkways to haul road berms to drill decks. A fatality classified this way is a good prompt to take a fresh look at your own site, without assuming anything about what happened in Graham.

A practical review you can do this week

Walk your travelways, stairways, platforms and work areas. Look for debris, spills, mud, ice or anything that makes footing unreliable.
Check handrails, guardrails and access ladders for damage or missing sections, and get repairs on the schedule.
Ask your crews where they feel least secure on their feet. People who work the area every day often know about hazards before anyone writes them up.
Review how your workplace examinations are done and recorded. Under 30 CFR 56.18002, a competent person designated by the operator must examine each working place at least once each shift, before miners begin work in that place, for conditions that may adversely affect safety or health. The operator must promptly notify miners in any affected areas of the conditions found and promptly initiate action to correct them. Confirm your examiners know what to look for and that corrections actually get made.
Remind drilling contractors and other visitors working on your property that your site's hazards and rules apply to them too.

Keep an eye on the final report

MSHA typically follows a preliminary report with more detail once its investigation progresses. When it does, compare the findings against your own site. If the report points to a condition or practice you have, fix it before it becomes your problem.

How Marwil Safety can help

Marwil Safety Services helps small operations build and manage written safety programs, set up workplace examination systems, and stay ready for inspections. We also provide MSHA Part 46 and Part 48 surface training (no underground training). We serve the Eastern United States, with compliance support available nationwide. Call 443-477-4244 or email contact@marwilsafety.com.

Sources

General information only, not legal advice. Check the current text of any regulation at ecfr.gov.

Questions about your operation?

Marwil Safety Services provides safety program management and MSHA Part 46 and Part 48 surface training across the Eastern United States, with compliance support available nationwide. Call 443-477-4244 or email contact@marwilsafety.com.