Michigan Sees Decline in Workplace Deaths

April 28, 2009

A new report says workplace accident deaths in Michigan have dropped significantly in the past two years.

Michigan State University reported that 120 workers died on the job in Michigan in 2007, down from 157 in 2006. The report says preliminary figures show 103 deaths in 2008. Final numbers are expected this summer.

Deaths peaked at 182 in 1999. The report includes only deaths from accidents such as electrocution and crush injuries.

Medicine professor Kenneth Rosenman directs Michigan State’s Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He says the downturn is good, but “the vast majority of these deaths were preventable.”

Michigan had 2.9 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2007, compared with 3.7 per 100,000 nationwide.

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On the Net:

Michigan State’s Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: http://www.oem.msu.ed