If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Alert your crew and call for emergency help through the mine's communication system and 911.
- 2Move to a supported or safe area if you can do so without more risk. Don't go under unsupported ground to help someone.
- 3Stay still if you have head, neck or back pain, or were pinned.
- 4Tell responders how long anything was pinning you and which body parts.
- 5Report the injury to your supervisor or foreman in writing. Keep a copy.
- 6Note — or have someone note — the location, the type of ground, recent conditions, and who was nearby.
- 7Watch for confusion, vomiting, worsening headache or drowsiness and tell responders right away.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Mining injuries are often subject to specific reporting and investigation processes at the mine. Make sure your own written injury report to your employer is also made, and ask for a copy of any incident report.
Describe the location, the ground support in place, any cracking, sloughing or loose material you noticed before, and the task you were doing. If contractors were working in the area, note their company.
Your employer generally sends the report to its insurer or claims administrator. Deadlines to report and file vary by state, so check with your state's workers' compensation agency as soon as possible. Some mining work may also involve other benefit programs; ask about them.
Keep hospital records, a symptom diary, the names of crew members and a log of calls. Mines are often far from home, so keep mileage records too.
Getting medical care
Emergency care comes first. Follow-up may involve occupational medicine, neurology and concussion care, orthopedics and imaging. A licensed clinician decides what is appropriate after an evaluation.
Tell every provider you were struck by falling rock in a mine, where you were hit, and whether you were pinned. Crush injuries can have delayed effects, so report swelling, numbness or dark urine right away. Some states and employers have rules about which provider handles follow-up, so ask your employer or adjuster.
If you're prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. In rural areas, home delivery can save long trips.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- You have a head injury, crush injury or fractures with lasting effects.
- Ground support was installed or inspected by a contractor or another company.
- Your claim is denied or delayed.
- You can't return to underground or surface mining work.
- You have questions about how workers' compensation and other mining-related benefits fit together.
- You're treated differently after reporting a ground condition or injury.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your care plan and keep follow-up visits, especially if you have concussion symptoms. Tell your clinician about memory, mood or sleep changes.
Ask your doctor about restrictions on returning underground, heights, lifting and operating equipment. Ask your employer about surface or lighter work.
Rock falls are frightening, and anxiety about returning underground is common. Tell your clinician if it lingers. Keep your employer and adjuster updated.
Questions to ask
- Doctor: Could I have a concussion or crush injury that isn't fully showing yet?
- Doctor: When is it safe for me to go back underground?
- Employer: Can I get a copy of the incident report?
- Employer: Is surface or lighter work available?
- Adjuster: What is my claim number, and how is mileage to appointments handled?
- Adjuster: Are there other benefit programs I should ask about?
- Attorney: A contractor installed the roof support. Does that matter?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I was hit by falling rock in a mine?
Get to a supported, safe area if possible, alert your crew and call for emergency help. Stay still if your head, neck or back hurts. Report the injury in writing once you're cared for.
Is a rock fall injury in a mine covered by workers' comp?
Mining injuries are often handled through workers' compensation, depending on your state and situation. Other programs may also apply. Check with your state's agency.
Can I have a concussion if I was wearing a hard hat?
Yes, protective headgear lowers risk but can't prevent every head injury. Watch for headache, dizziness, confusion or nausea. Get evaluated.
What are delayed signs of a crush injury?
Swelling, increasing pain, numbness, weakness and dark urine can be warning signs after being pinned. Tell a clinician right away. Call 911 if symptoms are severe.
Who investigates mining accidents?
Mining injuries are often subject to specific reporting and investigation processes. Ask your employer what applies. Keep your own written report and copies.
When can I go back underground after a rock fall injury?
Your clinician decides when you're ready. Ask for written restrictions. Your employer may offer surface work meanwhile.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).