Minnesota OSHA Reports Fatalities and Serious Injuries Across Multiple Industries
Updated investigation summaries highlight falls, machinery incidents, struck-by hazards and other workplace risks.
- By Danielle Naidu
- Oct 30, 2026
Minnesota OSHA has released updated summaries of workplace fatality and serious-injury investigations, documenting incidents across construction, manufacturing, agriculture, health care and other industries during federal fiscal year 2026.
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry updated its fatality investigation summary Sept. 29 and lists an Oct. 15 update for its serious-injury summary. The reports cover incidents associated with the federal fiscal year that ran from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.
Fatality investigations involved a range of hazards, including falls, workers struck or crushed by equipment and machinery-related incidents.
Documented incidents included a July 20 truss collapse in Lakeville that resulted in a worker falling. In Albertville, an employee was struck by a bundle of steel July 29. Another investigation involved a worker pulled into machinery at a Perham machine shop Sept. 4.
The fatality summary also includes a September incident at a St. Paul Park refinery where an employee was found deceased inside a machine. Several of these investigations remained open when the summary was updated.
The serious-injury report identifies additional hazards involving falls, amputations, electrical exposure and contact with moving equipment.
In January, a food manufacturing employee in Elk River suffered finger amputations, resulting in OSHA citations. Other incidents included workers falling from collapsing trusses at a Long Lake construction site in April and an employee being struck by a forklift in Coon Rapids in July.
The report also noted electrical hazards. Two employees at an electric power distribution operation in Melrose sustained burns during an August arc flash incident.
Health care workers were among those affected by serious injuries. Minnesota OSHA documented incidents involving employees struck or assaulted by patients, including cases in Burnsville and Minneapolis.
The summaries provide the incident date, worksite location, industry, a brief description of what occurred and the status of the agency's investigation. Outcomes vary, with some cases resulting in citations, others closing without citations and additional investigations remaining open.
The reports illustrate the range of workplace hazards under investigation by Minnesota OSHA, particularly those involving falls, hazardous machinery, moving equipment and electrical systems.
Employers and safety professionals can review the investigation summaries through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's website. OSHA's public inspection database also provides additional inspection information, including citations.
About the Author
Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.