The 13th Michigan worker death of 2013

The 13^th Michigan worker death of 2013 occurred at approximately 1:30 pm on April 22, 2013. Employers and employees are urged to use extreme care and safety diligence in all work activities.

Summary of incident: On April 22, 2013 at approximately 1:30 pm, an explosion occurred in the digester at a waste water treatment plant. Construction employees were working on or near a tank using a welder’s torch.

Last year there were 26 MIOSHA-related deaths. 2009 saw the lowest number with 24.

If you need help or assistance in ensuring your workplace is safe, MIOSHA is here with resources to help. The Consultation Education & Training (CET) Division provides workplace safety and health training and consultations to employers and employees throughout Michigan free of charge. Contact CET today at (800) 866-4674 or submit a request online at www.michigan.gov/cetrca.

Every life is precious. Our mutual goal must be that every employee goes home at the end of their shift every day!

Fatality Number	Date	Occupation	Age	Type of Injury	Description	Location (City)
1.	1/17/13	Assistant Manager	36	Crush	Employee was run over by a tractor while trying to remove a railroad timber using a tractor loader with a front bucket.	Turner
2.	1/18/13	Materials Handler	42	Crush	Employee was operating a crane and was crushed by beams that fell out of the sling being carried by the crane.	Belleville
3.	1/23/13	Carpenter	20	Fall	Employee fell approximately 19’ from a high-pitch residential roof while installing shingles.	Coldwater
4.	1/24/13-accident 1/28/13-passed away	Laborer	56	Cave-in	Employee was working in a 12’ deep excavation to repair a leaking water main when a section of the side collapsed, completely burying him. Coworkers uncovered him and he was taken to medical facilities, where he later expired.	Grosse Isle
5.	2/06/13	Bus Operator	48	Run over	Employee dropped off last fare and stepped out of bus. Bus began to roll. She attempted to re-enter the bus and was run over by the rear tires.	Mt. Morris
6.	2/18/13	Roofer	39	Fall	Employee was installing insulation material on a low-pitch roof for a new commercial building. He was working between the warning line system and the edge of the roof when he fell 25 feet to the ground.	Howell
7.	2/16 /13-accident 2/20/13-passed away	Carpenter	33	Struck	Employee was struck in the eye by nail from pneumatic nail gun while rough framing a house. Nail entered through eye socket into the brain.	White Lake
8.	2/25/13	Roofer	36	Fall	Employee fell 22 feet through a deteriorated roof while in the process of replacing the metal decking.	Grand Blanc
9.	3/17/13	Welder	61	Struck	Employee was welding a piece of equipment over a pulper and fell into the pulper. The pulper is an open top vat with a spinning rotor blade at the bottom.	White Pigeon
10.	3/21/13	Carpenter	48	Fall	Employee fell 35 feet when a gust of wind pushed the employee and a window he was installing off the platform of a forklift.	Franklin
11.	3/21/13	Die Setter	42	Struck	Employee had a mold hooked on a crane when the bolt gave way causing the mold to fall, bounce and hit another mold. The employee was between the two molds and struck.	Shelby Township
12.	4/11/13	Co-Owner	59	Crush	The co-owner was trying to re-stake a large spruce tree that had fallen over. He used the bucket on his skidster to help. He was standing on the ground beside his cab and apparently leaned into the cab and accidently activated the bucket controls. His head was crushed between the bucket lifting arms and the cab.	Emmett
13.	4/22/13	Pipefitter	49	Explosion	An explosion occurred in the digester at a waste water treatment plant. Construction employees were working on or near a tank using a welder’s torch.	Dexter