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The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has a one-stop-shop resource to help you navigate workplace safety guidance as businesses remain open amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit Michigan.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety for the latest MIOSHA COVID-19 Workplace Safety guidelines, fact sheets, videos, posters and more.
Resources that were recently added to the website include:
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Additionally, social media graphics highlighting COVID-19 safety snapshots for different industries have been added to the website and can be used to share with your networks. Below are social media posts that we encourage you to share on your social media channels.
MIOSHA is looking to highlight COVID-19 workplace safety best practices that your organization is doing to help keep workplaces safe as sectors of the state’s economy reopen. Submit stories, tips, photos or videos about your business’ best practices for consideration.
In an effort to help reopen businesses safely and protect workers, the MI Symptoms Web Application is a cost-free way for employers to comply with Executive Order 2020-114 and implement a COVID-19 symptoms screening questionnaire for employees. Employers who want to register their business for MI Symptoms need to complete this form.
Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health may contact MIOSHA using the new hotline at 855-SAFEC19 (855-723-3219).
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Research shows that masks can greatly reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19, especially when approximately 40% of those who have COVID-19 may be asymptomatic. Learn more about protecting the public and protecting workers at: Michigan.gov/MaskUpMichigan
Masks should be worn in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Orders and MIOSHA guidance if your business is authorized to be open as outlined in the MI Safe Start plan.
The week of June 15-19 was the 2020 Trench Safety Stand Down. Due to COVID-19, MIOSHA representatives did not physically attend as speakers as in past years. Several contractors around the state still held events with their employees to spotlight hazards and solutions in underground work. Specifically, Kamminga and Roodvoets (K&R) held several events with their work crews on different projects. A big thanks goes out to all contractors and MIOSHA representatives who helped spread the word around this serious topic!
Learn more about Excavation and Trenching hazards here: Michigan.gov/MIOSHATrenching
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Across the state on August 12, 2020, MIOSHA is inviting employers to "Take a Stand" for workplace safety and health. Sign up today on our website. For this 16th annual "Take a Stand Day," the MIOSHA program is dedicating more than 125 professional staff to visit Michigan high-hazard industries targeted by the MIOSHA Strategic Plan. MIOSHA safety and health professionals - including compliance staff, outreach consultants, managers, and supervisors - will be scheduled on "Take a Stand Day" to provide one-on-one consultations. There will be no CITATIONS or FINES for participating workplaces. However, participants must agree to correct all serious conditions.
Sign up today on our website!
Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America's workers safe.
Why Participate?
Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. Participating in Safe + Sound Week can help get your program started, energize an existing one, or provide a chance to recognize your safety successes.
Who Participates?
All organizations looking for an opportunity to recognize their commitment to safety are welcome to participate. Last year, more than 2,700 businesses helped to raise awareness about workers' health and safety!
Visit OSHA's Safe + Sound website for more information.
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When examining health and safety hazards in a heat-treating facility, we tend to think of the hazards we can see in plain view. Some examples are the hot metals and oils, the heavy materials being lifted by overhead hoists or forklifts, or the other hazards common with metalworking tools found throughout this industry. Contrary to the saying…what you do not see, can hurt you!
While heat treating is typically defined as a process in which a material, most often a metal, is heated to change the physical and sometimes chemical properties of the metal to obtain a desired result, these processes are not alike and include hardening, annealing, normalizing, tempering, carburizing, nitriding, and several other processes. As a result, each process has unique equipment and unique hazards.
MIOSHA has a number of General Industry Safety standards that would be applicable to some hazards of this operation such as Part 1. General Provisions, Part 33. Personal Protective Equipment, Part 85. Control of Hazardous Energy Sources and Part 90. Permit-Required Confined Spaces. However, one of the most common and most potentially dangerous incidents seen in health and safety in this industry is explosive combustion in oven and furnace operations. Injuries that occur from these accidents are rarely minor. The importance of combustion safety for industrial ovens and furnaces cannot be overstated for this reason.
The basic cause of furnace explosions is the ignition of an overaccumulation of combustible gas and air mixture within the confined space of the oven or furnace. Consequently, the magnitude of the explosion depends on the quantities of the air-to-fuel ratio at the time of ignition. Most often this occurs during startup cycles or following purging cycles due to inadequate burner management systems, improper purging operations or in some cases, damaged or defective piping, valves, or equipment.
MIOSHA encountered such a hazard during an investigation when a furnace expelled a ball of fire at an employee shortly after he loaded the furnace and completed a startup cycle. It was determined that the furnace was usually ignited using a torch which would often cause a minor explosion each time it was lit. Over time the furnace vessel began to develop cracks which allowed outside air to leak into the vessel. As a result, the outside air would often displace the combustion gas and in some instances blow out the burners inside the furnace. In this instance, after the burner went out, the combustion gas accumulated inside the furnace. When the burner automatically relit, it caused an explosion that injured the employee.
As a result of these findings, MIOSHA issued a serious violation under MIOSHA’s general duty clause. The employer did not maintain and inspect the furnace in accordance with guidelines provided by the manufacturer or consensus standards. Specifically, one consensus standard that identifies many of the safeguards needed to prevent such an incident is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 86: Standard for Ovens and Furnaces. This consensus standard is a comprehensive document covering the safe operation of ovens and furnaces with sections on explosion relief, ventilation, equipment locations and many other helpful sections. For example, safety guidelines outlined in this consensus standard such as utilizing a flame monitoring system or automatic fuel shut off could have prevented this accident.
As heat treating processes change and become ever more technical, the hazards associated with this industry can be safely mitigated and the processes made practical and efficient with the proper implementation of suitable protections and safe work practices. MIOSHA’s Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division is available to employers so they may take steps voluntarily to correct hazards and comply with current safety and health regulations and practices. Employers can contact CET at 517-284-7720 or complete a Request for Consultative Assistance for a free evaluation of their workplace.
MIOSHA has amended the following standards:
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CS Part 640. Beryllium in Construction. Effective June 15, 2020, these rules were created in order to be as effective as the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 29 CFR 1926.1124 “Beryllium.”
The following standards are in the process of being revised:
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GI Part 62. Plastic Molding – is being reviewed by the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR). The changes allow more flexibility pertaining to guarding issues.
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CS Part 1. General Rules – being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.50.
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CS Part 6. Personal Protective Equipment - being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.104.
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CS Part 8. Handling and Storage of Materials - being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.250(a)(2)(i)(ii).
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CS Part 14. Tunnels, Shafts, Cofferdams, and Caissons - being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.800(k)(10)(i).
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CS Part 21. Guarding of Walking and Working Areas – being updated to be as effective as federal OSHA, guardrail specifications for scaffolding and catch platforms, currently the top rail shall be located not less than 36 and no more than 42 inches above the floor, ramp, platform, or runway. We are amending it to be installed between 38 inches and 45 inches above the floor.
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CS Part 22. Signals, Signs, Tags, and Barricades - being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.200.
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CS Part 602. Asbestos - being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.1101.
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CS Part 603. Lead in Construction - being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.62 appendices A through C.
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CS Part 604. Chromium (VI) - being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.1126.
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CS Part 605. Methylenedianiline (MDA) - being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.60.
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CS Part 609. Cadmium – being updated due to the standard improvement project issued by federal OSHA and to be as effective as 1926.1127.
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GI Part 49. Slings – these rules are being updated to correct the column title in Table 1 Minimum Allowable Chain Size at any Point of Link from maximum to “minimum allowable chain size, inches” to be as effective as OSHA 1910.184.
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GI Part 74. Fire Fighting – we are updating to add the reference to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 1403 Live Fire Standard. We are reviewing Appendix A “Non-Mandatory Training Reference” with regards to NFPA training requirements.
All of our MIOSHA Standards can be found on our website at www.michigan.gov/mioshastandards.
To date, there have been eight work-related fatalities reported to MIOSHA in 2020. The information below shares preliminary details about the most recent 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 incident and is not the result of the official MIOSHA investigation. To report fatalities/catastrophes, call MIOSHA at 800-858-0397.
Preliminary summaries of the most recent incident:
On June 4, at approximately 2:35 p.m., a 38-year-old heavy equipment operator was run over by a piece of equipment he was operating.
There were 37 MIOSHA-covered deaths in 2019. 2009 saw the lowest number with 24. Every life is precious. Our mutual goal must be that every employee goes home at the end of every shift unharmed.
If you need help or assistance in ensuring your workplace is safe, MIOSHA is here to help. The CET Division provides workplace safety and health training and consultations to employers and employees throughout Michigan, free of charge. Contact CET today at 800-866-4674 or request CET services online.
July 1, 2020 - COVID-19 Hospitals - State Emphasis Program (SEP)
June 30, 2020 - Coordination of Enforcement and Consultation Interventions
June 17, 2020 - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Interim Enforcement Plan
June 5, 2020 - Field Operations Manual - Changes Highlighted
June 5, 2020 - Field Operations Manual Instruction with Significant Changes
June 5, 2020 - Field Operations Manual (FOM) 2020
June 2, 2020 - Medical Services and First Aid for General Industry and Construction
June 5, 2020 - Governor Whitmer Appoints Sean Egan to Serve as Director of COVID-19 Workplace Safety
May 29, 2020 - MIOSHA Launches New Site for COVID-19 Workplace Safety; Michigan.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety is one-stop-shop for workplace safety resources as businesses reopen
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 www.michigan.gov/mioshavariances.
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