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With a full five months still left in the year, the state already has seen 21 workplace fatalities in 2026, according to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
It has MIOSHA urging employers and workers to take proactive steps to identify hazards, communicate safety concerns and stop work when conditions become unsafe.
That message is underscored by three recent trench collapses in Michigan within a two-day period, including one that resulted in a worker's death July 1, MIOSHA states in a news release.
The incidents highlight the importance of reassessing hazards as conditions change and using available safety resources to prevent serious injuries and fatalities, according to MIOSHA.
"Every workplace death is a tragedy, and recent incidents are a reminder that conditions can change quickly," MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said in the news release. "Employers must make hazard recognition part of every job, provide workers with the training and protections they need and create a culture where employees are empowered to speak up and stop work when something is unsafe."
Workplace hazards can emerge or intensify as weather, equipment, materials, traffic patterns, staffing and job tasks change. MIOSHA encourages employers to --
-- Assess hazards before work begins and reassess them as conditions change;
-- Provide task-specific training and ensure workers understand how to identify and report hazards;
-- Maintain clear communication among workers, supervisors and contractors; and
-- Stop work when required protections are not in place or conditions become unsafe.
Workers have the right to raise workplace safety and health concerns without retaliation, MIOSHA stressed. They should report unsafe conditions to a supervisor or employee representative and may file a complaint with MIOSHA if the hazard is not addressed. Workers may request their identity not be disclosed to their employer.
Employers do not have to wait for an inspection or incident to seek assistance. MIOSHA's Consultation Education and Training Division provides free, confidential on-site consultation services to help employers identify hazards and strengthen workplace safety and health programs.
MIOSHA also offers education and training, MIOSHA Training Institute courses and opportunities to participate in workplace safety and health partnerships and alliances.
"These proactive resources can help employers prevent injuries and fatalities before they occur," MIOSHA said in the release.
MIOSHA's Stay Alert For Everyone, or SAFE, initiative also reinforces the importance of recognizing changing conditions, maintaining situational awareness and speaking up before an incident occurs.
MIOSHA resources include --
-- Request free CET assistance or view training opportunities: Michigan.gov/CET;
-- File a workplace safety or health complaint: Michigan.gov/MIOSHAComplaint;
-- Learn more about SAFE: Michigan.gov/StayAlert; and
-- View preliminary workplace fatality summaries: Michigan.gov/MIOSHAFatalities.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. MIOSHA's mission is to help protect the safety and health of Michigan workers through enforcement, consultation, education and training.