34-year-old die setter Jim Hopper was killed in a workplace accident at Thai Summit America Corporation, an auto-parts manufacturer located in Howell, Michigan, on May 18 after being pinned between two machine dies.
Hopper was a skilled tradesman, husband, and father of five. According to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), Hopper was assisting with the installation of a die at the manufacturing facility when the fatal incident occurred.
In manufacturing, a die is a specialized tool used to cut, shape, or mold materials into specific profiles. A die setter is responsible for installing, adjusting, and removing heavy dies from industrial machinery.
According to MIOSHA, Hopper was standing on the equipment while a crane operator lowered a die into position. After noticing that a pin had been incorrectly placed, the crane operator raised the die so it could be corrected. Hopper climbed off of the equipment to locate the misplaced pin when the suspended die became caught on nearby machinery and began swinging, pinning Hopper between the two dies and causing him to suffer fatal injuries.
Hopper’s death was one of two workplace fatalities reported in the third week of May alone. Just six days before, on May 12, a roofer died after falling headfirst onto a concrete driveway while tossing shingles into a dumpster from the roof of a garage. The roofer was taken to a local hospital and later died from his injuries.
Hopper’s death marks Michigan’s 12th workplace fatality investigated by MIOSHA in 2026 so far, expressing a trend of rising workplace fatalities in the state: In 2025, MIOSHA investigated 45 workplace-related deaths across Michigan, and in 2024, the agency investigated 24 workplace-related deaths. This trend highlights the dangers that workers face under the imperialist economic system, especially in industries like construction, manufacturing, and other “high-risk” industries.
Following Hopper’s death, a GoFundMe campaign was established to help support his wife and five children with funeral expenses and other financial needs.
Image: Jim Hopper and his family. Credit: Retrieved from GoFundMe initiated by Ashlee Slanker.
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