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The 11th reported Michigan worker death of 2018 occurred on May 29. Employers and employees are urged to use extreme care and safety diligence in all work activities. The information below shares preliminary details about the most recent fatality reported to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) which is believed to be covered by the MIOSH Act. The description reflects information provided to MIOSHA at the initial report of the incident and is not the result of the official MIOSHA investigation.
Preliminary summary of incident: On May 29th, at approximately 10:20 a.m., a 43-year-old tow truck driver was responding to a disabled school bus on the interstate. The tow truck driver pulled over to tow the school bus. He went to the passenger side to talk to the bus driver opposite the side of oncoming traffic, and it was at this time the bus was struck from behind by a passenger vehicle. When the bus was struck it was pushed forward striking the tow truck driver.
If you need help or assistance in ensuring your workplace is safe, MIOSHA is here with resources to help. The Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division provides workplace safety and health training and consultations to employers and employees throughout Michigan free of charge. Contact CET today at 800-866-4674 or submit a request online at www.michigan.gov/cetrca.
Every life is precious. Our mutual goal must be that every employee goes home at the end of their shift every day!
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Fatality Number
|
Date
|
Occupation
|
Age
|
Type of Injury
|
Description
|
Location (City)
|
| 1. |
01/10/18 |
Tow Truck Driver |
41 |
Vehicle Accident |
A 41-year-old tow truck driver had just placed a disabled vehicle onto a flatbed wrecker. After securing the front of the vehicle, he proceeded to the rear, at which time his tow truck was struck from the rear by another vehicle. |
Bridgeport |
| 2. |
02/26/18 |
Laborer |
39 |
Caught In or Between |
A 39-year-old laborer was attempting to cap off the sewer line in an excavation approximately 29 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 9-12 feet deep when the excavation collapsed/caved-in on the laborer. |
Sterling Heights |
| 3. |
02/26/18 |
Park and Recreation Ranger |
65 |
Struck By |
A 65-year-old park and recreation ranger was operating an all terrain type vehicle while grooming a ski trail. He was broadsided by a snowmobile crossing the trail. |
Brimley |
| 4. |
03/30/18 |
Special Education Teacher |
57 |
Struck By |
On March 23rd, a 57-year-old special education teacher was performing morning drop off duties on a public roadway when she was struck by a motor vehicle. The teacher passed away from her injuries on March 30, 2018. |
Mt. Clemens |
| 5. |
04/04/18 |
Bus Driver |
52 |
Cardio-vascular; respiratory system fail |
On March 15th, a 52-year-old bus driver slipped and fell on ice/snow while walking through the parking lot on the way to his car after completing his morning bus run. His left femur was fractured and he was sent to the hospital. The bus driver was recuperating at home when he died of an apparent heart attack on April 4, 2018. |
Rudyard |
| 6. |
04/27/18 |
Laborer |
50 |
Struck By |
A 50-year-old laborer working for a demolition company was engaged in fire watch duties when a piece that was being cut fell, striking him in the chest. |
Wyandotte |
| 7. |
04/30/18 |
Truck Driver |
55 |
Shock |
A 55-year-old truck driver had dumped a load of top-soil with a dump truck. At some point, the raised dump-bed of the truck contacted power lines and pulled the primary pole down. The primary lines were hooked inside the raised dump-bed. It appeared that after leaving the cab of the dump-truck, the driver’s hand contacted something that was energized. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. |
Oak Park |
| 8. |
05/04/18 |
Foreman |
36 |
Struck By |
A 36-year-old foreman was moving leaves into a pile on the property. A coworker had gone to move a truck and heard a tree crackle. When he came back, he found that a tree branch had fallen on the foreman and crushed him. |
Clarkston |
| 9. |
05/08/18 |
Machine Operator |
52 |
Struck By |
Two employees were operating a tube cutting machine, cutting metal tube rollers to size, in a facility that manufactures roller conveyors. The tube didn’t cut all the way through, so the 52-year-old machine operator adjusted the machine rpm to cut another piece. The cut left a burr which caught on the cutting blade causing the roller to fly up. The end of the roller caught the machine operator in the neck cutting him. Emergency services were called, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. |
Lachine |
| 10. |
05/23/18 |
Asphalt Paving Crew |
20 |
Struck By |
A 20-year-old asphalt paving crew member was struck by a dump truck on site. |
South Lyon |
| 11. |
05/29/18 |
Tow Truck Driver |
43 |
Struck By |
A 43-year-old tow truck driver was responding to a disabled school bus on the interstate. The tow truck driver pulled over to tow the school bus. He went to the passenger side to talk to the bus driver opposite the side of oncoming traffic, and it was at this time the bus was struck from behind by a passenger vehicle. When the bus was struck it was pushed forward striking the tow truck driver. |
Ypsilanti |
The previous year fatalities can be found on our website. |
