Highwall mining is an important coal mining method. More than 60 highwall miners are presently in operation, and they may account for about 4% of total U.S. coal production. A review of accident data for 1983-2002 from the Mine Safety and Health Administration identified nine fatalities attributable to auger and highwall mining, of which inadequate ground control accounted for one-third. In the past 5 years, one fatality occurred in highwall mining. Estimates of the manpower requirements in highwall mining suggest that its fatality rate is essentially the same as for surface coal mining thus, highwall mining seems to be a very safe modern mining method. Highwall stability is the major ground control-related safety concern, and operators are required to develop and follow an appropriate highwall mining ground control plan