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Please see MiOSHA information below on keeping Teen workers safe!

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Clare

Keeping young workers safe on the job this summer

Young workers face unique risks on the job. MIOSHA reminds employers and teens alike to prioritize safety and understand their workplace rights

With an estimated 260,500 Michigan youth ages 16–19 expected to participate in the workforce this summer, MIOSHA is reminding employers, parents and young workers that safety must be a priority from day one.

Work experience offers teens valuable life skills, but it can also expose them to serious risks. Each year in the U.S., dozens of teens die from work-related injuries, and more than 200,000 are treated in emergency rooms. Many of these injuries are preventable with proper training, supervision and awareness of job hazards.

Working teens have rights on the job, and employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace. MIOSHA and the Wage and Hour Division want every young person to have a safe and rewarding work experience.

Know the Law: Teens Can’t Do Every Job

Michigan law prohibits workers under 18 from performing certain hazardous tasks. For example, teens may not:

• Drive on the job (except under very limited conditions).
• Use powered cutting equipment or meat slicers.
• Work in roofing, demolition or excavation.
• Handle hazardous chemicals.
• Climb ladders or scaffolds more than 6 feet high.

Common Hazards for Teen Workers

Many young workers are employed in industries where safety training is critical:

• Food service: hot surfaces, sharp tools, slippery floors.
• Retail: lifting injuries, robbery risk, late-night work.
• Janitorial/cleanup: chemical exposure, wet floors.
• Office/clerical: repetitive strain, lifting boxes.

Teen Workers Have Rights

By law, all workers, including teens, are entitled to:

• A workplace free of recognized hazards.
• Safety training in a language they understand.
• Proper safety equipment.
• The right to report unsafe conditions without retaliation.

MIOSHA’s Message to Employers

Employers must take extra care with young workers. Key responsibilities include:

• Training teens on how to recognize and avoid hazards.
• Keeping teens away from restricted equipment and tasks.
• Supervising young workers closely.
• Encouraging open communication about safety.

Questions or Concerns?

• Talk to your supervisor or a trusted adult.
• Call MIOSHA at 800-866-4674. 
• Call the Wage and Hour Division at 855-464-9243.

MIOSHA offers helpful resources for both employers and young workers to promote safe work environments.

• Download MIOSHA’s “Extreme Safety for Working Teens” brochure and explore more at Michigan.gov/CET
• Visit Michigan.gov/Youthemployment, a resource from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, for FAQs, guidance and more.

Excavation safety in the spotlight during Kalamazoo stand-down

Workers gather during a June 19, 2025 excavation safety stand-down at the Kalamazoo Event Center site, part of Trench Safety Stand Down Week.

As part of Trench Safety Stand Down Week, MIOSHA joined construction crews on June 19 at the site of the new Kalamazoo Event Center for a safety-focused event hosted by joint venture general contractors CSM Group and Barton Malow.

The event featured a training and discussion led by Jeff Burch of Lounsbury Excavating, the excavation contractor on site. Given the scale of the project, which spans four city blocks, safe excavation practices were a key focus.

MIOSHA construction safety consultant Jim Getting attended the event and spoke with workers about the hazards of excavation work and how MIOSHA’s no-cost consultation services can help employers strengthen their safety and health programs.

Excavation and trenching remain among the most dangerous construction activities. In the past two decades, Michigan has recorded 31 worker fatalities due to excavation-related incidents. MIOSHA has developed a suite of tools to help protect workers, including guidelines, hazard alerts, and training materials.

Reminder for all excavation work: Never enter an unprotected trench. To prevent cave-ins:

• Slope or bench trench walls
• Shore trench walls with supports, or
• Shield trench walls with trench boxes

To access MIOSHA’s excavation and trenching resources or request a free consultation, visit Michigan.gov/MIOSHATrenching.

OSHA launches #MirrorCheck initiative to prevent deadly backover incidents

The #MirrorCheck Initiative reminds drivers to always check their mirrors and surroundings. "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.”

Backover incidents remain a serious hazard in construction zones and other work environments, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. To raise awareness and spark jobsite safety conversations, Federal OSHA has launched the #MirrorCheck initiative.

These incidents typically happen when drivers lose sight of people, vehicles or objects behind them. But with the right precautions, backovers are preventable.

Steps Employers Can Take

Employers can reduce backover risks by incorporating the following best practices into their daily operations:

• Adjust mirrors properly to eliminate blind spots.
• Use spotters to guide drivers in tight or high-traffic areas.
• Install backup cameras or sensors to detect obstacles.
• Inspect vehicles daily, including mirrors, brakes and alarms.

Construction sites are often noisy, and workers may wear hearing protection, making it difficult to hear warning signals. Ensuring alarms are loud enough to cut through ambient noise is a critical safety measure.

Even a simple act like checking mirrors before moving a vehicle can mean the difference between a safe day and a tragedy.

Free Tools to Support Safety

• “Top 5 Things You Need to Know” (Spanish)
• Backover prevention toolbox talk (Spanish)
• Customizable PowerPoint (Spanish) presentation for safety meetings

MIOSHA encourages Michigan employers and contractors to incorporate these materials into safety briefings and toolbox talks throughout the summer. Consider sharing your efforts on social media using #MirrorCheck to help spread the message.

For more information and to access the materials, visit: Osha.gov/Preventing-Backovers.

Take a Stand for Workplace Safety and Health: Celebrating 20 years — sign up now!

Join MIOSHA in celebrating the 20th anniversary of Take a Stand for Workplace Safety and Health week, Aug. 11–15.

During this special event, MIOSHA will dedicate enforcement and consultation staff to visit Michigan employers — to help strengthen workplace safety and health efforts. MIOSHA compliance and consultation staff will conduct one-on-one visits tailored to each employer’s specific hazards and areas of interest.

No citations or penalties are issued during these visits; however, employers must agree to correct any serious hazards identified.

If you are ready to jump-start your safety and health program — or reenergize an existing one — schedule a free and confidential visit by completing the Request for Consultation Assistance form.

Submit your request for the 2025 Take a Stand event at Michigan.gov/MIOSHATASD.

MIOSHA encourages employers to prioritize workplace safety with the message “Educate Before We Regulate.” Resources are available at Michigan.gov/cet.

Michigan worker deaths of 2025

There have been 14 work-related fatalities reported to MIOSHA in 2025. The information below shares preliminary details about the fatalities reported to MIOSHA, which are believed to be covered by the MIOSH Act. The description reflects information provided to MIOSHA at the initial report of the incidents and are not the result of any official MIOSHA investigation.

Preliminary Summaries of the 2025 incidents: 

Two cement finishers were grinding and polishing a concrete floor in a customer's pole barn. When the employer had not heard from them by 8:30 p.m., he contacted the homeowner, who found both employees unconscious. The 43-year-old victim was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the second employee was hospitalized in critical condition. The employees had used propane-powered equipment in the enclosed barn without ventilation. 

A 42-year-old laborer was pulling a trailer with a side-by-side utility task vehicle (UTV) when the trailer came off the hitch. The trailer’s tongue went underneath the truck causing it to collide with a stationary metal pole. The pole penetrated the cab of the truck fatally injuring the victim.

A 29-year-old roofer was working on a residential roof. The roof of this home was covered with plywood and tarps. The victim went on the roof to remove the tarp. While the victim was cutting the tarp, the victim fell approximately 20 feet onto their head. The victim was found on the ground wearing a harness. The victim was pronounced deceased at the worksite.

A 34-year-old senior foreman pipefitter was performing underground piping when the trench caved in burying the victim. The employee died as a result of the injuries at the worksite.

A 32-year-old roofer was installing a roofing membrane when they fell off the roof approximately 20 feet to the ground. The victim was transported to the hospital, placed on life support, and died as a result of the injuries on March 9. 

A 63-year-old machine repairman was performing maintenance tasks near a conveyor line. During the task, a motorized arm pinned the victim to the conveyor causing fatal crushing injuries.

A 64-year-old truck driver was parked on a hill to unload a double trailer of aggregate for a water and sewer project. The rear trailer needed to be unhooked in order to dump the front trailer. After both trailers were emptied, the victim was in the process of hooking up the rear trailer when it began rolling down the hill, striking the driver, causing fatal injuries.

A 38-year-old Arborist was working at a logging site. After taking a break, the victim walked onto the property line and was struck by a tree affected by oak wilt, approximately 60 feet away and not part of the work area. The victim died at the scene.

A 71-year-old machine operator was cutting steel banding securing a bundle of 2-inch by 2-inch square metal tubing. After the banding was cut, the tubing collapsed and struck the victim’s legs, causing them to fall and hit their head. The victim was transported to the hospital and placed on life support but died from their injuries four days later. 

A 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. The lawnmower overturned, pinning the victim at the bottom of the ditch for about five minutes before being removed by coworkers. The victim was transported to the hospital and died from their injuries three days later. 

A 46-year-old student support specialist was found unresponsive with a metal file cabinet on top of them. Emergency services were called. The employee was pronounced on scene. The autopsy indicated the cause of death to be traumatic (compression) chest asphyxia from the file cabinet.

A 27-year-old laborer, and another employee were working on a high school gymnasium setting steel trusses. A few hours before the fatal incident, there was a near miss when unsecured steel trusses fell, one landing on the ground and one landing on an aerial lift occupied by the two employees. As the two employees were in an aerial lift going up to reinforce the trusses on a second attempt, several unsecured steel trusses fell. The steel trusses struck both employees trapping them in the aerial lift resulting in them both being hospitalized. One of the two employees died from their injuries.

A 48-year-old truck driver was backing up his truck for stone delivery. While backing up, the truck jack-knifed causing the truck to tip over crushing the cab.

A 17-year-old laborer was tasked to cut up a felled tree at a residential location. The owner found the victim next to the chainsaw with a laceration to their neck.

Variances

Variances from MIOSHA standards must be made available to the public in accordance with Part 12, Variances (R408.22201 to 408.22251). MIOSHA variances are published online at:
Michigan.gov/mioshavariances.

Quick Links 

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This email was sent to membielac@michigan.gov using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity ·105 West Allegan · Lansing, Michigan 48933

Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.

Library Law Consultant

Library of Michigan

MembielaC@michigan.gov

517-335-8132

The research and resources above are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.

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