A workplace fatality on Feb. 6 in Flint is Michigan's second worksite death during 2026, state officials said. The victim was a 53-year-old laborer, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) said.
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According to a state database, the worker was among three people who were using a front-end loader for a task. Two employees stood in the loader bucket, while an operator started the machinery so the others could reinstall a pin on the arm of an excavator. During that process, the excavator cab and arm turned, pinning one of the workers between the excavator arm and the front-end loader bucket.
The employee was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead.
There were 44 workplace-related deaths in Michigan during 2025, state officials said.
"Every life is precious. Our mutual goal must be that every employee goes home at the end of every shift unharmed," the website says.
Preliminary information released by MIOSHA indicates the crew was attempting routine maintenance on heavy equipment when the tragedy occurred. The front-end loader was being used as a lifting platform to give two workers access to the excavator arm. Investigators believe an unexpected movement of the excavator caused the fatal compression.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes and transported the injured laborer to a nearby medical center, but doctors were unable to save him. The names of the victim and the employer have not yet been made public while officials continue to notify family members and review safety records.
MIOSHA has opened a formal investigation to determine whether proper safety procedures were followed and if additional training or equipment safeguards were required. The agency typically reviews machine maintenance logs, worker certifications, and site supervision practices in cases involving heavy machinery.
Workplace safety advocates note that incidents involving loaders and excavators remain among the most dangerous in the construction industry because of blind spots and the immense weight of moving parts. Even minor miscommunication between operators and ground crews can have catastrophic consequences.
The fatality marks the second confirmed workplace death in Michigan this year, underscoring ongoing concerns about job-site protections. Officials said lessons learned from the investigation will be shared with employers statewide to help prevent similar tragedies.
The death has prompted renewed calls from labor groups for stricter enforcement of equipment-operation protocols, particularly when workers are positioned in loader buckets or elevated near moving machinery. Safety trainers emphasize the importance of lockout procedures, clear hand signals, and the use of manufacturer-approved lifting platforms.
Industry experts also recommend daily safety briefings before any task that requires coordination between multiple pieces of equipment. Such measures, they say, can reduce the risk of accidental movement and ensure every crew member understands their role.
There were 44 workplace-related deaths in Michigan during 2025, a figure that MIOSHA hopes to reduce through education and enforcement. The agency maintains that most on-the-job fatalities are preventable when employers and workers commit to rigorous safety standards.
"Every life is precious. Our mutual goal must be that every employee goes home at the end of every shift unharmed," the website says.
MIOSHA officials are expected to release a full report in the coming months, including any citations or recommendations for the employer involved.
Originally reported by Paula Wethington in CBS News.
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