 Struck-by hazards are a leading cause of workplace fatalities in Michigan this year. MIOSHA urges employers to review safety procedures and take proactive steps to protect workers.
MIOSHA urges employers to take extra precautions to prevent fatalities
Struck-by incidents are on the rise in Michigan and have become the leading cause of workplace deaths investigated by MIOSHA in 2025. As of Aug. 5, struck-by fatalities accounted for 10 of the 22 workplace fatalities reported this year. These preventable tragedies are often the result of contact with moving vehicles, heavy equipment or falling objects on the jobsite.
Employers are responsible for ensuring workers are protected from struck-by hazards. This includes maintaining safe work zones, enforcing traffic control procedures and making sure workers remain visible and alert throughout their shifts.
UEI Incorporated, a tool and die manufacturer based in Grand Rapids, has been awarded the MIOSHA's Consultation Education and Training (CET) Silver Award in recognition of its outstanding efforts to protect the safety and health of its workforce.
Recent 2025 struck-by fatalities in Michigan:
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Jan 16: A 41-year-old laborer was fatally injured when a trailer detached from a utility vehicle and struck a metal pole that penetrated the cab.
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April 15: A 64-year-old truck driver was fatally struck by a rolling rear trailer after unloading.
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June 16: A 27-year-old laborer was killed when steel trusses fell and struck him while he worked in an aerial lift inside a school gym.
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July 2: A 47-year-old laborer was pinned between a concrete mixing truck and a dumpster.
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July 4: A 56-year-old co-owner was struck by a coworker’s personal vehicle in a parking lot and died from injuries two days later.
Struck-by safety tips:
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Be aware of moving equipment. Stay alert around vehicles and machinery. Operators may not see you.
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Use trained spotters. Especially when backing up or navigating tight spaces.
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Establish clear zones. Keep pedestrian-only areas separate from equipment and traffic paths.
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Follow traffic control plans. Use cones, barricades and signage to protect work zones.
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Communicate clearly. Use radios, hand signals or flaggers to stay coordinated.
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Wear high-visibility gear. Reflective clothing is critical in low-light or high-traffic environments.
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Slow down. Whether operating equipment, walking or driving, slowing down saves lives.
MIOSHA now offers Hazard Bulletins that provide in-depth information on emerging workplace safety hazards and recent fatalities.
View the latest bulletin at Michigan.gov/MIOSHA.
MIOSHA’s Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division offers employers to request free, no-penalty services designed to strengthen workplace safety and health. Whether you want help identifying hazards, interpreting MIOSHA rules or training your team, the CET division offers personalized support to meet your needs.
Available consultative services include:
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Hazard Survey: A walkthrough of your jobsite to identify hazards, review written programs and evaluate compliance. No citations or fines are issued, but serious hazards must be corrected.
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Consultation: Guidance on MIOSHA rules, workplace conditions or safety questions — available via phone, email or Microsoft Teams.
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Training: Tailored training sessions on topics like hazard communication, fall protection, lockout/tagout and more. Delivered in person or remotely. For classroom courses, visit the MIOSHA Training Institute website at Michigan.gov/MTI.
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Self-Help Program: Designed for small employers, this program offers technical support, exposure evaluations, equipment access and sampling assistance.
If you're an employer, do not wait for a serious incident or a MIOSHA inspection to take action.
Start protecting your team today with help from MIOSHA’s free consultation services.
Visit Michigan.gov/cetrca to request assistance.
Call 517-284-7720 to connect with a MIOSHA consultant.
 MIOSHA encourages employers to prioritize workplace safety with the message “Educate Before We Regulate.” Resources are available at Michigan.gov/cet.
 Workers and safety partners gather at the Kalamazoo Event Center site during the July 18 launch of the MIOSHA/CSM Group/Barton Malow construction partnership.
MIOSHA has launched three new Construction Safety Partnerships on major projects across Michigan, continuing our commitment to protect workers and strengthen safety on the jobsite.
These partnerships are voluntary agreements between MIOSHA and contractors that promote safety through ongoing collaboration, hazard recognition and proactive communication. Together, we work to prevent injuries and illnesses before they happen.
The newly participating projects include:
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Kalamazoo Event Center (CSM Group and Barton Malow): The $515 million, 430,000-square-foot facility will be the future home of the Kalamazoo Wings and Western Michigan University hockey and basketball teams. Scheduled for completion in fall 2027, a construction livestream allows viewers to watch the arena take shape in real time.
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I-696 Reconstruction Project (Toebe Construction): An 11-mile overhaul of one of metro Detroit’s busiest corridors, involving concrete paving, bridge demolition and reconstruction and underground utility upgrades.
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Joe Louis Arena Hotel Project (Colasanti Construction Services): A high-rise redevelopment on the former Joe Louis Arena site in downtown Detroit. The project will deliver a 25-story hotel with six additional floors of podium and ballroom space.
 Representatives from MIOSHA, Toebe Construction, MDOT, MITA and MISS Dig 811 mark the signing of a construction safety partnership for the I-696 Reconstruction Project.
Worksites participating in MIOSHA Construction Partnerships have seen an average 48% reduction in injury and illness rates compared to the statewide construction average. These partnerships include quarterly visits from a MIOSHA team to identify hazards, provide safety support and help ensure safe working conditions.
“These partnerships are about more than compliance,” said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman. “They’re about building trust, improving communication and creating safer, healthier job sites where workers can thrive.”
“This award is well-deserved and exemplifies the commitment of CSM and contractors that work on MIOSHA Construction Partnership sites, to maintaining the highest standards of safety and health,” said Stuart Mason, chief executive officer at CSM Group. “We are grateful for our continued collaboration with MIOSHA to keep safety at the forefront.”
Participation is voluntary and does not exempt employers from enforcement inspections. However, hazards identified during scheduled partnership visits are corrected without citation or penalty —emphasizing education and cooperation over enforcement.
Interested in forming a partnership?
MIOSHA partnerships are open to companies, local governments and employers in construction and general industries. MIOSHA currently has seven active partnerships statewide. Learn more at Michigan.gov/MIOSHApartnerships.
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 Members of the UEI Incorporated team gather after receiving the MIOSHA CET Silver Award in recognition of their commitment to workplace safety and health.
UEI Incorporated, a tool and die manufacturer based in Grand Rapids, has been awarded the MIOSHA's Consultation Education and Training (CET) Silver Award in recognition of its outstanding efforts to protect the safety and health of its workforce.
The company achieved zero injuries in 2024, reflecting its proactive safety leadership and strong employee engagement. UEI’s management and staff have demonstrated a shared commitment to workplace safety through several initiatives, including participation in MIOSHA’s annual Take a Stand event.
The CET Silver Award is presented to Michigan employers that implement and maintain comprehensive safety and health management systems.
“This award is well-deserved and exemplifies the commitment of UEI, and companies like it, to maintaining the highest standards of safety and health,” said MIOSHA CET Director Tarah Kile said.
To learn more about MIOSHA’s CET Awards, cooperative programs, and partnerships, visit:
🔗 Michigan.gov/cet.
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MIOSHA is proud to renew its alliance with the Central Michigan Manufacturers Association (CMMA), reinforcing a shared commitment to protecting the health and safety of Michigan’s manufacturing workforce.
Through this renewed five-year agreement, MIOSHA and CMMA will continue to collaborate on promoting safety and health training, expanding access to free consultative services and raising awareness of workplace hazards and MIOSHA regulations.
Key goals of the alliance include:
- Delivering targeted training on topics such as lockout/tagout, hearing conservation and supervisory responsibilities.
- Encouraging CMMA members to utilize MIOSHA’s Consultation Education and Training (CET) services.
- Participating in CMMA’s monthly meetings and annual conference to provide safety guidance and answer member questions.
This partnership is part of MIOSHA’s broader effort to build strong connections with Michigan’s employers and industry groups. By working together through voluntary alliances, MIOSHA helps ensure more workers go home safe at the end of every shift.
Learn more about MIOSHA’s Alliance Program at Michigan.gov/alliance.
 Join MIOSHA for coffee and conversation about workplace safety on Aug. 28 in Troy, MI.
MIOSHA and American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Greater Detroit Chapter, along with Kelly Services, invite Michigan employers and employees to join us for an informal networking event focused on workplace safety and health.
Coffee with MIOSHA events are designed for safety professionals, offering a unique opportunity to:
- Network with MIOSHA administrative, enforcement and consultative staff.
- Ask questions and discuss workplace safety challenges.
- Learn about MIOSHA’s programs and services to enhance safety and health.
Event Details:
Aug. 28, 2025, 9-11 a.m, 999 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084
Register now to reserve your spot.
Questions? Berj Bush at berj.bush@dteenergy.com
There have been 23 work-related fatalities reported to MIOSHA in 2025. The information below shares preliminary details about the fatalities reported to MIOSHA, which are believed to be covered by the MIOSH Act. The description reflects information provided to MIOSHA at the initial report of the incidents and are not the result of any official MIOSHA investigation.
Two cement finishers were grinding and polishing a concrete floor in a customer's pole barn. When the employer had not heard from them by 8:30 p.m., he contacted the homeowner, who found both employees unconscious. The 43-year-old victim was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the second employee was hospitalized in critical condition. The employees had used propane-powered equipment in the enclosed barn without ventilation.
A 42-year-old laborer was pulling a trailer with a side-by-side utility task vehicle (UTV) when the trailer came off the hitch. The trailer’s tongue went underneath the truck causing it to collide with a stationary metal pole. The pole penetrated the cab of the truck fatally injuring the victim.
A 29-year-old roofer was working on a residential roof. The roof of this home was covered with plywood and tarps. The victim went on the roof to remove the tarp. While the victim was cutting the tarp, the victim fell approximately 20 feet onto their head. The victim was found on the ground wearing a harness. The victim was pronounced deceased at the worksite.
A 34-year-old senior foreman pipefitter was performing underground piping when the trench caved in burying the victim. The employee died as a result of the injuries at the worksite.
A 32-year-old roofer was installing a roofing membrane when they fell off the roof approximately 20 feet to the ground. The victim was transported to the hospital, placed on life support, and died as a result of the injuries on March 9.
A 63-year-old machine repairman was performing maintenance tasks near a conveyor line. During the task, a motorized arm pinned the victim to the conveyor causing fatal crushing injuries.
A 64-year-old truck driver was parked on a hill to unload a double trailer of aggregate for a water and sewer project. The rear trailer needed to be unhooked in order to dump the front trailer. After both trailers were emptied, the victim was in the process of hooking up the rear trailer when it began rolling down the hill, striking the driver, causing fatal injuries.
A 38-year-old Arborist was working at a logging site. After taking a break, the victim walked onto the property line and was struck by a tree affected by oak wilt, approximately 60 feet away and not part of the work area. The victim died at the scene.
A 71-year-old machine operator was cutting steel banding securing a bundle of 2-inch by 2-inch square metal tubing. After the banding was cut, the tubing collapsed and struck the victim’s legs, causing them to fall and hit their head. The victim was transported to the hospital and placed on life support but died from their injuries four days later.
A 32-year-old laborer was operating a riding lawnmower along the edge of a steep embankment with a 10-foot drop to a drainage ditch. The lawnmower overturned, pinning the victim at the bottom of the ditch for about five minutes before being removed by coworkers. The victim was transported to the hospital and died from their injuries three days later.
A 46-year-old student support specialist was found unresponsive with a metal file cabinet on top of them. Emergency services were called. The employee was pronounced on scene. The autopsy indicated the cause of death to be traumatic (compression) chest asphyxia from the file cabinet.
A 27-year-old laborer, and another employee were working on a high school gymnasium setting steel trusses. A few hours before the fatal incident, there was a near miss when unsecured steel trusses fell, one landing on the ground and one landing on an aerial lift occupied by the two employees. As the two employees were in an aerial lift going up to reinforce the trusses on a second attempt, several unsecured steel trusses fell. The steel trusses struck both employees trapping them in the aerial lift resulting in them both being hospitalized. One of the two employees died from their injuries.
A 48-year-old truck driver was backing up his truck for stone delivery. While backing up, the truck jack-knifed causing the truck to tip over crushing the cab.
A 17-year-old laborer was tasked to cut up a felled tree at a residential location. The owner found the victim next to the chainsaw with a laceration to their neck.
A 24-year-old gutter installer was replacing a gutter system at a customer location. While the victim was in an elevated lift, they came into contact with overhead energized electrical lines and fell out of the lift approximately 30-feet.
A 23-year-old laborer was between the bucket of a large excavator and a concrete structure. The bucket was resting on the ground. The operator of the excavator didn’t see the employee and moved the bucket and struck the victim.
A concrete mixing truck backed into a 47-year-old laborer pinning them between a dumpster and the mixing truck.
A 56-year-old co-owner was placing cones for customer parking and walking toward the office when the victim was struck by another employee driving a personal vehicle to the employee parking lot. The victim was taken to the hospital and died from their injuries two days later.
A 50-year-old highway maintenance laborer was struck by a passenger vehicle while performing road work. The victim died at the scene.
A 44-year-old laborer was cleaning on the roof of a building under renovation. Debris was being dropped through a chute into a dump truck on the ground. The victim was in the truck bed, trying to reposition the chute, when the building’s parapet wall collapsed and fell onto them. The worker died at the scene.
A 34-year-old senior researcher was installing and setting up a machine at a customer location when the machine activated, and the victim was caught between the frame and the lifting mechanism.
A 61-year-old delivery driver was filling a propane tank at a residential home when the tank caught fire. The driver sustained burns to their entire body and was taken to the hospital. The employer was notified on July 28 that the worker had died.
Variances from MIOSHA standards must be made available to the public in accordance with Part 12, Variances (R408.22201 to 408.22251). MIOSHA variances are published online at:
Michigan.gov/mioshavariances.
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