Michigan officials this week announced the 10th worker death in the state in 2025, an Oakland County laborer who was pinned by a lawnmower.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the fatal incident took place May 28 in Oakland Township and the victim, whose gender was not released, died on May 31 after being hospitalized.
The 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 on May 28, MIOSHA said. The lawnmower overturned, and pinned the victim at the bottom of the ditch for about five minutes before coworkers could free them. The victim was transported to a hospital.
The fatality was the second in one week in Michigan and the third in May.
In 2024, Michigan saw 11 worker deaths in the first five months of the year while 14 workers died through May 2023.
There were 36 MIOSHA-related deaths in 2023 and 31 overall in 2024. 2009 saw the lowest number with 24.
“Employers and employees are urged to use extreme care and safety diligence in all work activities,” MIOSHA said in an email. “Every life is precious. Our mutual goal must be that every employee goes home at the end of every shift.”
What to know about worker safety in Michigan.
How many on-the-job deaths have happened in Michigan in 2025?
According to MIOSHA, in addition to the latest fatality, the following deaths have occurred in 2025:
Michigan worker deaths in recent years
The number of workers killed on the job by year:
How many workers died in 2024 nationally?
In fiscal year 2024, federal OSHA investigated 826 worker deaths, an 11% reduction from 928 in the previous year, the agency said. Excluding COVID-related deaths, fiscal 2024 was the lowest number of worker fatalities OSHA has been mandated to investigate since 2017.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan officials confirm 10th workplace death of 2025. What MIOSHA says happened
Reporting by Dan Basso, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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