MSEA demands full accountability after deaths of two MDOT workers

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State Employees Association is demanding full accountability after two MDOT workers were killed in a work zone crash near Lansing, saying the investigation must look at both the driver’s actions and whether MDOT management allowed employees to utilize proper safety protocols meant to protect workers and motorists. Speeding and distracted drivers must be held accountable, but MDOT leadership cannot use driver behavior as an excuse to avoid its own responsibility. The investigation must look at the full picture, including whether proper signage, lane-closure procedures, arrow-board use, staffing, equipment, and traffic-control protocols were in place and followed. Workers deserve more than blame after a tragedy. They deserve prevention before tragedy.

“MDOT management also has a responsibility to make sure workers are not sent into dangerous conditions without the proper equipment, signage, staffing and traffic control procedures,” MSEA President VanSickle said. “This is not about excusing unsafe driving. It is about making sure the complete safety system is investigated.”

Bruce Wagner and Steve Spenle were public service workers who helped keep Michigan moving. Their deaths have left their families, coworkers and communities grieving.

“No one should go to work and not come home,” MSEA President Jacob VanSickle said. “Bruce and Steve served the people of Michigan, and we owe it to them, their families and every worker still on the road to demand the full truth.”

MSEA is calling for a full review, looking into the driver of the SUV and their actions, while also looking into whether employees were allowed to use the proper safety equipment such as an arrow board directing traffic away from the crew, signage warning motorists of a crew working ahead, signage telling drivers to reduce their speeds due to road crews in the area, and even allowing our members to properly close a lane as outlined by the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 

The Michigan Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices says, “Safety in short-duration or mobile operations should not be compromised by using fewer devices simply because the operation will frequently change its location.” This standard matters because short-duration work is still dangerous work. 

“A work zone is someone’s workplace,” VanSickle said. “Whether the job lasts days, hours, or minutes, workers deserve the safety protections needed to do the job and make it home.”

MSEA has demanded action be taken on safety concerns with our members and employees of MDOT over the past few years. MSEA has met with MDOT leadership on a statewide and local level multiple times, bringing these safety concerns to the forefront. Concerns MSEA and members brought up during these conversations revolved heavily around roadside safety and even safety within the day-to-day garage operations. These include not having the proper equipment to conduct lane closures and not having enough staff to man a full roadside crew or man safety vehicles during a rolling lane closure. Too often these meetings resulted in words from the department [MDOT] without action. Our members deserve action and deserve their safety to be taken seriously and addressed with urgency.  

A MIOSHA investigation has been initiated, MSEA will closely monitor the investigation and continue pushing for answers about MDOT’s procedures, policies, equipment, and signage. MDOT is responsible for designing work zones and highway work areas that protect both workers and motorists from preventable harm. 

“We are grieving, but we are also steadfast in our commitment to justice for Bruce and Steve and safety for the workers still on the road,” VanSickle said. “Michigan road workers keep our roads safe. Now Michigan must keep them safe.”

Any driver who puts workers in danger must be held accountable. Drivers have a responsibility to slow down, move over, and pay attention when people are working on, or near the road. Accountability cannot stop with the driver if the department’s actions or inactions put employees’ lives at greater risk. 

Slow down. Move over. For all roadside workers.