COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has confirmed that 12 workplace-related deaths have occurred in the state so far in 2026 following two tragic incidents within the past week.
On Monday, a 34-year-old die setter in Howell was killed while assisting with the repositioning of a die. According to officials, a crane operator noticed a locating pin was out of position and began raising the die; as the worker stepped off a bolster to fix the pin, the die caught another unit, began swinging, and pinned the victim between the two specialized metal-shaping tools. This incident followed the state’s 11th fatality of the year involving a 26-year-old roofer in Marshall.
The Marshall incident occurred on May 11 while the roofer was working on a garage roof and throwing shingles into a nearby dumpster. Investigators report the worker fell headfirst from the roof onto a concrete driveway below. He was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries the following day, May 12. MIOSHA emphasized that falls remain a leading cause of construction fatalities and urged employers to ensure all staff are properly trained and protected from fall hazards. The agency continues to investigate both cases to determine if any safety violations occurred.
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