Case Summaries
The table below contains preliminary information about Michigan workers who died as a result of an injury sustained while at work. The information has been obtained from public media sources, MIOSHA, and stakeholder reporters. MIFACE has not verified this information; verification may conclude that the death is out of scope.
A MIOSHA program-related fatality is determined by whether the individual who died was employed in an industry included in MIOSHA jursidiction as defined in Public Act 154 of 1974, as amended and the fatality may be related to a MIOSHA standard.
2015 Michigan Work-Related Deaths
| Case Number | Date of Injury | Occupation | Description | Incident County |
| 141. | 9/17/15 | Business Owner | A fence company owner died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | Oakland |
| 140. | DETERMINED: NOT WORK-RELATED | |||
| 139. | 11/19/15 | Equipment Repair | An equipment repairman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | Macomb |
| 138. | 10/25/16 | Tool Maker | A tool maker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | Oakland |
| 137. | 10/13/15 | Attorney | An attorney was walking and missed a step up in elevation and tripped, falling onto his left hep. He died of complications from the injury sustained at the time of the fall. | Wayne |
| 136. | 10/15/15 | Farmer | A farmer was driving his tractor westbound on a dirt road. The tractor left the roadway to the right. The decedent over corrected and left the roadway to the left. The tractor collided with a ditch and rolled onto its side. The decedent was thrown from the tractor. | Tuscola |
| 135. | 1962 | Circus Performer | A circus performer died from complications of a fall sustained in 1962. | Wayne |
| 134. | 10/2/15 | Self-Employed Roofer | A self-employed roofer died from burns sustained when his vehicle explosed into flames when he was given a lighter. He was sitting in the vehicle with an open gasoline container. | Marquette |
| 133. | 12/2/15 | Car Wash Attendant | A car wash attendant died due to a drug overdose | Genesee |
| 132. | 12/11/15 | Warehouse Manager | A warehouse manager died due to a gunshot wound. | Berrien |
| 131. | 7/27/15 | Business Owner | A business owner died due to a self-inflicted hanging. | Kent |
| 130. | 6/10/15 | Farmer | A farmer died when he fell from the tractor and was run over by the tractor and attached implement. | Oakland |
| 129. | 11/21/15 | Construction Laborer | A construction laborer was ejected from a motor vehicle as a result of a loss of vehicle control while attempting to pass another vehicle. | Osceola |
| 128. | 8/6/15 | Construction | A construction laborer died from injuries sustained when he fell from a ladder or roof. | Kent |
| 127. | DETERMINED: NOT WORK-RELATED | |||
| 126. | 10/23/15 | Church Volunteer | A church volunteer was trimming trees while standing on a ladder. He fell 15 feet to concrete. | Wayne |
| 125. | 11/11/15 | Truck Driver | A truck driver died when his semi left the roadway, entered the median, and several struck trees. | Branch |
| 124. | 12/16/15 | Farmer | A farmer died when his pickup truck was hit by another vehicle whose driver did not stop at a stop sign. The decedent had the right of way. | Allegan |
| 123. | 10/12/15 | Truck Driver | A truck driver died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | Berrien |
| 122. | 12/16/15 | Construction Laborer | A construction laborer was driving a box truck to a jobsite. The decedent's vehicle left the roadway, struck several mailboxes and a tree. A coworker in the vehicle survived the crash. | Sanilac |
| 121. | 8/18/15 | Owner Cistom Drapery | A custom drapery owner died from intentional exposure to carbon monoxide. | Wayne |
| 120. | 8/28/15 | Project Chief | A project chief drowned when he entered a lake at a work-sponsored party. He was not wearing a life jacket. | Macomb |
| 119. | 9/14/15 | Farmer | A farmer died when he fell from his tractor and the tractor ran over him. | Gladwin |
| 118. | 6/14/15 | Race Car Driver | A race car dirver crashed his racecar into a tire barrier when he drifted high around a turn. | St. Joseph |
| 117. | 12/23/15 | Landlord | A landord died from multiple gunshot wounds. | Wayne |
| 116. | 6/15/15 | Laborer | An individual who worked for a dust pan cleaning company fell down stairs at a condo complex. | Oakland |
| 115. | 10/12/15 | Home Improvement Contractor | A home improvement contractor died from multiple gunshot wounds. | Wayne |
| 114. | 1/1/80 | Delivery Truck Driver | A delivery truck driver died of complications of a gunshot wound sustained in 1980. | Wayne |
| 113. | 9/4/15 | Real Estate Property Manager | A real estate property manager died from a self-inflicted gunshout wound. | Wayne |
| 112. | 11/6/15 | Advertising | An advertising designer died from asphyxia. | Wayne |
| 111. | 11/22/15 | Food Server | A fod server died from a gunshot wound. | Wayne |
| 110. | DETERMINED: NOT WORK-RELATED | |||
| 109. | 10/15/15 | Landscaper | A landscaper died when the vehicle he was driving rear-ended a flatbed tow truck. Same incident as Case 72. | Oakland |
| 108. | Unknown 2005 | Tree Trimmer | A tree trimmer died when the tree he was climbing fell over into a neighbor's yard. | Wayne |
| 107. | 10/20/15 | Plumber | A plumber died from multiple gunshot wounds. | Wayne |
| 106. | 10/27/15 | Industrial Sales | An industrial salesperson bumped/struck their finger on a box of nuts and bolts. The injury complications required surgery. The decedent died during the surgical procedure to amputate the injured finger. | Kalamazoo |
| 105. | 8/21/15 | Carnival Worker | A carnival worker was found unresponsive and died from unknown cause while at the county fairgrounds. | Berrien |
| 104. | 3/27/15 | Sales Clerk | A sales clerk died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | Saginaw |
| 103. | 9/10/15 | Automotive Laborer | An automotive laborer died when he collapsed and fell from a motorized lift device and struck his head on a cement floor. | Eaton |
| 102. | 5/6/15 | Truck Driver | A truck driver died from a drug overdose. | Ingham |
| 101. | 7/21/15 | Motorcycle Repair Mechanic | A motor cycle repair mechanic died when the motorcycle he was driving struck a dump truck. | Genesee |
| 100. | 12/29/15 | Farmer/Plow Business | A farmer/plow business owner died when the vehicle he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. | Livingston |
| 99. | 6/1/15 | Logger | A logger died when he fell from a logging truck and struck his head. | Cheboygan |
| 98. | 9/10/14 | Restaurant Cook | A restaurant cook died from injury complications sustained during a seizure-related fall. | Macomb |
| 97. | 4/25/15 | Maintenance Laborer | A maintenance laborer died from multiple gunshot wounds. | Oakland |
| 96. | 7/8/89 | Aviation Management | An aviation manager was injured when the aircraft she was traveling in crashed. She died of her injuries in 2015. | Calhoun |
| 95. | 7/9/15 | Sheep Farmer | A sheep farmer was died when she was struck by a backing pickup truck while retrieving hay which had fallen from the truck bed. | Berrien |
| 94. | 8/13/15 | Landlord | A landlord died when a wooden post from a swingset he was removing with a tractor fell onto him. | Oakland |
| 93. | 4/2/15 | Lawn Care | A lawn care worker died when the truck he was working under rolled onto him. | Oakland |
| 92. | 7/3/15 | Heating/Cooling Technician | A heating/cooling technician died from a drug overdose. | Saginaw |
| 91. | 9/15/15 | Plasterer | A plasterer died due to a self-inflicted 50-foot fall from a scaffold. | Wayne |
| 90. | 12/18/15 | Farm Hand | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Grand Traverse |
| 89. | 11/7/15 | Construction Worker | A construction worker was buried in soil and bring while working in a trench replacing a sewer line to a residence. | Kent |
| 88. | 11/6/15 | Owner | The owner of a rental equipment company died of complications of a head injury sustained when he fell from standing height. The fall was caused by a medical condition. | Grand Traverse |
| 87. | 12/10/15 | Co-Owner | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Ottawa |
| 86. | 11/26/15 | Truck Driver | A truck driver died when his semi and trailer hauling paper rolled onto its side and then onto a guardrail. | Kent |
| 85. | 7/29/15 | Plaster/Drywall | A drywaller died when he was catapulted from an elevated platform of a cherry picker when the cherry picker overturned. | Oakland |
| 84. | 6/25/15 | Truck Driver | A truck driver died when he was ejected from his semi as the semi rolled after entering a ditch. He was pinned under the semi. | Wexford |
| 83. | 6/2/15 | Road Construction Supervisor | A road construction supervisor fell backwards from standing height. He died several days later from head injuries sustained at the time of the fall. | Wayne |
| 82. | 7/17/15 | Petty Officer Coast Guard | A Coast Guard petty officer died from due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | Ottawa |
| 81. | 2/22/15 | Farmer | A farmer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | Ionia |
| 80. | 9/6/15 | Automobile Painter | An automobile painter died from a gunshot wound. He was enroute to pick up a down payment for work to be performed when he had an altercation with a motorist blocking a street. | Wayne |
| 79. | 2/19/15 | Owner | The owner of a construction firm was making repairs to a well service to a home; the pipes were freezing. He was found by his customer headfirst into the well. The cause of death was drowning. | Genesee |
| 78. | 11/10/15 | Truck Driver | A truck driver died when his tanker truck, which was traveling in the right lane of an expressway struck a road commission vehicle. | Wayne |
| 76. | 11/7/15 | Laborer | MIOSHA Program-Related Fataltiy: Please access information here. | Macomb |
| 75. | 4/23/15 | Unknown | The decedent was driving a work vehicle when a pickup truck crossed the centerline and struck the decedent's vehicle head-on. | Eaton |
| 74. | 8/19/15 | Truck Driver | A semi-truck driver died when he lost control on a 35 mph roadway curve. The semi left the roadway, entered a ditch and overturned. | Alpena |
| 73. | 5/4/2000 | Supervisor | A supervisor fell while on a man lift in 2000. He died due to complications of neck and chest injuries in 2015. | Washtenaw |
| 72. | 10/15/15 | Tow Truck Driver | A tow truck driver was assisting a motorist with a flat tire. A vehicle left the roadway and struck both the decedent and his tow truck which was on the left shoulder with lights activated. | Oakland |
| 71. | 10/11/15 | Laborer | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Wayne |
| 70. | 1/24/15 | Farmer | A farmer died when he was driving a tractor. His jacket became caught on one of the rear wheels. He was pulled from his tractor seat and run over. | Eaton |
| 69. | 10/2/15 | Farmer | A farmer was driving a tractor when it overturned. He died as a result of being pinned under the tractor. | Wexford |
| 68. | 9/22/15 | Store Owner | A meat market owner died due to gunshot wounds during a robbery. | Macomb |
| 67. | 12/18/14 | Gas Station Attendant | A gas station attendant tripped on a mat and fell, stating he injured his shoulder. Several days later, he fell striking his head. he cause of death as listed on the death certificate was arteriosclerotic heart disease with the manner of death as accident. | Macomb |
| 66. | 6/30/15 | Farmer | A farmer died when an unsupported dump bed fell and pinned him between the bed and the frame of the trailer to which it was mounted. The trailer had a dump truck type dump bed with a lifting mechanism. After several hours, his spouse decided to check on him and found him pinned by the dump bed against the trailer frame. Responding police found a propane tank running and also an air compresser close to where the decedent was working. | Jackson |
| 65. | 9/16/15 | Railroad Worker | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Ingham |
| 64. | 1/5/15 | Master Plumber | A master plumber died in a motor vehicle crash. | Wayne |
| 63. | 8/13/15 | Welder's Helper | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Wayne |
| 62. | 8/20/15 | Truck Driver | A truck driver died as a result of burns sustained when he either lost control of his truck or fell asleep. His truck was hauling 8,000 gallons of gasoline when it struck the median and then traveled into oncoming lanes. | Wayne |
| 61. | 9/9/15 | Fire Fighter | A fire fighter died when he was deliberately struck by a vehicle driver. | Ingham |
| 60. | 8/23/15 | Deck Hand | A deck hand died when he deliberately climbed over his ship's railing and jumped into the water. He was not wearing a life preserver. | Mason |
| 59. | 8/27/15 | Pastor | A pastor died when he was attempting to land his single-engine plane. | Calhoun |
| 58. | 8/28/15 | Police Officer | A police officer was struck by a vehicle hauling a trailer. | Oakland |
| 57. | 6/7/15 | Farmer | A farmer was lying on his back working under a farm tractor when the tractor fell onto him. | Genesee |
| 56. | 6/16/15 | Farmer | A farmer died when he fell from a ladder he was using to repair equipment. | MIssaukee |
| 55. | 8/25/15 | Groundsperson | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Ogemaw |
| 54. | 5/11/15 | Attorney | An attorney driving an automobile crossed the centerline and struck an oncoming SUV. Road conditions from heavy rain may have been contributory. | Genesee |
| 53. | 8/12/15 | Trainee | A trainee choked on a sandwich while at work. | Oakland |
| 52. | 3/17/15 | Line Leader | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Genesee |
| 51. | Unknown | Various | This individual died of a reported exposure to toxic gases. | Unknown |
| 50. | 1/5/15 | Farmer | A farmer died due to inhalation of exhaust fumes while working on his tractor. | Bay |
| 49. | 8/31/15 | Truck Driver | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Jackson |
| 48. | 8/25/15 | Grounds Person | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Ogemaw |
| 47. | 8/9/15 | DNR 1st Lieutenant | A Michigan DNR employee died in a plane crash. He was flying his plane to an inservice training program. | Emmet |
| 46. | 7/27/15 | Tow Truck Driver | A tow truck driver died due to gun shot wounds when he stopped to assist a person flagging him down. | Wayne |
| 45. | 1/12/15 | Farmer | A farmer was crushed under a tractor tire. The decedent was standing on the ground while starting the tractor. Unbeknowst to him, the tractor was in gear and rolled forward, pinning him onder the tractor tire. | Newaygo |
| 44. | 1/16/15 | Farmer | A farmer was pinned under a tractor wheel in a field. The decedent had been attempting to pull out a large tree in a fence row when the tractor became stuck. The decedent either was thrown from the tractor seat or climbed off with the tractor still in gear and became pinned under the tire. | Genesee |
| 43. | 6/5/15 | Team Leader | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. |
Wayne |
| 42. | 6/4/15 | Car Transport Driver | A car transport driver failed to yield at an intersection and pulled in front of and struck a pickup truck. | St. Joseph |
| 41. | 7/21/15 | Farm Youth | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Eaton |
| 40. | 7/18/15 | Owner | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Oakland |
| 39. | 7/14/15 | Feed Operations Manager | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Kalamazoo |
| 38. | 7/13/15 | Laborer | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Saginaw |
| 37. | 7/8/15 | Maintenance Technician | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Kent |
| 36. | 6/27/15 | Laborer | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Kent |
| 35. | 7/7/15 | Journeyman Maintenance Technician | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Ionia |
| 33. & 34. | 6/6/15 | Truck Drivers | Two truck drivers died in a head-on collision. One truck driver ran off the road, overcorrected, crossed the centerline, and struck an oncoming truck head-on. The collision killed both drivers. | Macomb |
| 32. | 5/2/15 | Farmer | A farmer was trapped underneath an overturned tractor. | Montmorency |
| 31. | 6/16/15 | Electrician Foreman | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Allegan |
| 30. | 5/1/15 | Part-Time Truck Driver | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Houghton |
| 29. | 5/29/15 | Production Associate | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Washtenaw |
| 28. | 5/27/15 | County Employee | A county employee driving a pickup died when his truck was struck by a semi being hauled by another semi. The hauled semi drifted over the road centerline. | Monroe |
| 27. | 3/17/15 | Truck Driver | A truck driver died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | Monroe |
| 26. | 5/26/15 | Farmer | A farmer was pinned by a Case International tractor when it rolled into a ravine after traveling over a road wash out. | Hillsdale |
| 25. | 5/28/15 | Laborer | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Saginaw |
| 24. | 5/17/15 | Taxi Driver | A taxi driver died when his taxi was struck head-on by a vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of an expressway. | Bay |
| 23. | 5/11/15 | Carpenter Foreman | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Washtenaw |
| 22. | 5/5/15 | Energy Center Operator | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Wayne |
| 21. | 5/6/15 | Manufacturing Laborer | A manufacturing laborer died when he was intentionally struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. | Wayne |
| 20. | 4/24/15 | Painter | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Washtenaw |
| 19. | 4/21/15 | Pizza Delivery Driver | A pizza delivery driver died due to gunshot wounds during a robbery. | Genesee |
| 18. | 4/18/15 | Shipping Coordinator | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Wayne |
| 17. | 4/15/15 | Tree Trimmer | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Oakland |
| 16. | 3/31/15 | Pawn Shop Owner | A pawn shop owner died due to gunshot wounds during a robbery. | Wayne |
| 15. | 3/26/15 | Party Store Owner | A party store owner died due to gunshot wounds during a robbery attempt at the store. | Macomb |
| 14. | 3/25/15 | Cab Driver | A cab driver died due to gunshot wounds. | Wayne |
| 13. | 3/20/15 | Crane Operator | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Macomb |
| 12. | 3/10/15 | Resale Shop Owner | A resale shop owner died due to gunshot wounds. | Wayne |
| 11. | 3/7/15 | Talent Agency Employee | A talent agency employee died due to multiple gunshot wounds sustained in her employer's parking lot. | Oakland |
| 10. | 2/26/15 | Accounts Receivable Specialist | An accounts receivable/accounting specialist died when she was struck by a semi truck while trying to cross a street on a work-associated errand. | Otsego |
| 9. | 1/19/15 | Dump Truck Driver | A dump truck driver died when the truck's front tire exploded, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, exit the roadway, and strike some trees. | Kalamazoo |
| 8. | 2/21/15 | Pizza Delivery | A pizza delivery driver died due to stab wounds. | Macomb |
| 7. | 2/6/15 | Security Specialist | A security firm owner died due to gunshot wounds sustained when he was securing a parking lot for a nightclub. | Wayne |
| 6. | 1/26/15 | Pizza Delivery | A pizza delivery driver died when the rear passenger side of the vehicle she was driving was struck an oncoming driver. The decedent was stopped on the roadway waiting to turn left onto another road. The crash caused the decedent's vehicle to roll onto its right side and then burst into flames. | Oakland |
| 4. & 5. | 1/15/15 | Farm Owners | The decedents, who were partners in a farming business, died of gunshot wounds. | Presque Isle |
| 3. | 1/8/15 | Sheet Metal Worker | MIOSHA Program-Related Fatality: Please access information here. | Oakland |
| 2. | 1/9/15 | Scrap Hauler | The driver of a pickup truck was hauling scrap in a trailer when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. The roadway was snow covered and icy at the time of the crash. | Saginaw |
| 1. | 1/9/15 | Truck Driver | A semi truck driver died when the truck he was driving was involved in a chain reaction pile-up of more than 120 vehicles. Snow, wind and poor visibility contributed to the incident. | Kalamazoo |