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For the 17th consecutive year, MIOSHA invited Michigan employers across the state to "Take a Stand" for workplace safety and health. From August 9-13, the agency dedicated its staff to visit Michigan high-hazard industries to provide one-on-one consultations to employers on specific hazards or areas of concern.
In total, 54 companies participated this year. As part of these special consultations, employers faced no citations or fines, but agreed to correct all serious conditions.
Whether you need help conducting a safety or health hazard survey, evaluating a safety and health management system, or understanding specific MIOSHA rules, be sure to mark your calendars for August 2022 for next year's "Take a Stand" week.
With recent sizzling temperatures and high humidity across much of the state, it's important to keep heat illness prevention top of mind.
While workers can suffer from heat exposure any season, Michigan summers are a particularly hot time of year, which makes these three key words more important than ever: Water. Rest. Shade.
Here are some tips for workers to stay safe in the heat, both indoors and outdoors:
- Drink cool water — even if you aren’t thirsty, drink at least one cup of cool water every 20 minutes.
- Take frequent rest breaks — give yourself enough time to recover from heat, depending on the temperature, humidity and general conditions.
- Seek shade or a cool area — take breaks in a designated shady or cool location as needed.
- Dress for the heat – consider wearing a hat and light-colored, loose-fitting and breathable clothing.
- Watch out for each other — consistently monitor yourself and others for signs of heat illness.
- If wearing a face covering, be sure to change it if it gets wet or soiled.
For more on the signs and symptoms of heat illness and what to do in the case of a medical emergency, visit osha.gov/heat.
There have been several recent personnel changes to the Board of Health and Safety Compliance and Appeals. On July 30, 2021, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reappointed Kim Dennison, of Laingsburg, to represent labor in the health industry for a term commencing July 30, 2021 and expiring March 18, 2025. Ms. Dennison is an occupational health nurse for the Michigan Laborers’ Training and Apprenticeship Institute and an instructor and the owner of Absolute Learning Success, LLC. She holds an Associate of Applied Sciences in Nursing from Lansing Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, and a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina.
Gov. Whitmer also newly appointed Todd Doenitz, of Plymouth, to represent management in the construction industry for a term commencing July 30, 2021 and expiring March 18, 2025. Mr. Doenitz is the director of trade labor for Barton Malow Company. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Mr. Doenitz was appointed to succeed Daniel Kozakiewicz whose term expired March 18, 2021. These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
In addition, Corin Krizek was hired to serve as Board Clerk effective August 9, 2021. Ms. Krizek has several years of experience working with similar boards and commissions during her tenure as a deputy clerk for the Eaton County Clerk’s Office and Eaton Township Clerk’s office.
The Board of Health and Safety Compliance and Appeals reviews formally contested Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) cases involving safety and health citations, orders, and appeals arising out of the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act. More information regarding the Board of Health and Safety Compliance and Appeals, including contact information, member information, and meeting schedule, is available on the MIOSHA website.
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Organizations around the country, including those like MIOSHA in the health and safety community, are placing a special emphasis on mental health and suicide prevention in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month.
Work-related stress can have a severe impact on mental health and, without proper support, lead to suicide. Worker suicides are particularly concerning for the construction industry, where the suicide rate among construction workers is four times higher than the general population. This is due in large part to work-related stresses such as seasonal work, demanding schedules and workplace injuries.
No matter what industry you work in, if you're having trouble with coping with work-related stress, talk with someone who can help.
Get confidential support, available 24/7 for everyone in the U.S., by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or by going to suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.
For more ways to spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide, visit: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/.
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With Michigan’s construction season in full swing, the MIOSHA Construction Safety and Health Division reminds all Michigan employers to ensure that a “competent person” identifies and evaluates all confined spaces where employees may work, before work begins at a construction worksite. This evaluation shall include testing, as necessary.
The competent person must be capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and he or she must have the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate these hazards.
A confined space means a space that: (1) is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter it; (2) has limited or restricted means for entry and exit; and (3) is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Employers who have employees who enter Permit Required Confined Spaces (PRCS) must have a permit space program for controlling, and, where appropriate, for protecting employees from, permit space hazards and for regulating employee entry into PRCS.
PRCS is a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: (1) contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; (2) contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant; (3) has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or (4) contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Part 35, Section 1207(a), requires the employer to provide training to each employee whose work is regulated by this standard, at no cost to the employee, and ensure that the employee possesses the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under this standard. This training must result in an understanding of the hazards in the permit space and the methods used to isolate, control or in other ways protect employees from these hazards, and for those employees not authorized to perform entry rescues, in the dangers of attempting such rescues.
The MIOSHA Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division offers many helpful confined space resources which can be found online. These resources include confined space training modules and a sample PRCS entry permit. If an employer chooses to utilize MIOSHA resources to help train its employees, the employer must supplement these training materials with jobsite specific training. Part 35, Section 1926.1207(d), also requires employers to maintain employee training records.
Safe + Sound Week may be over, but safety doesn't take a day off. Continuous improvement is important for success.
This nationwide event is held each August to recognize the successes of workplace safety and healthy programs and offer information and ideas on how to keep workers safe.
Here at MIOSHA, our CET Division offers free statewide safety and health assistance to employers and employees year-round. Our experienced professionals will help you identify hazards in your workplace and together, we can tour your facility to suggest ways you can create a safer and healthier environment for your workers.
To learn more about our free services or to request a visit:
To date, there have been 25 work-related fatalities reported to MIOSHA in 2021. 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.
Preliminary summaries of the most recent 2021 incidents:
On Aug. 5, a 59-year-old grinder operator was operating an industrial tub grinder when a fire developed on the equipment. The employee did not make it out of the cab of the equipment and he was fatally injured by the fire.
On Aug. 9, a 58-year-old truck driver was standing on the bed of a flatbed semi-trailer, releasing the straps that secure the bundles of steel during transport. After removing a strap, the bundle shifted, and the employee fell off the trailer and onto the adjacent ground. The bundle of steel fell from the trailer and onto the employee crushing him.
On Aug. 16, a 70-year-old truck driver was making a delivery at a customer’s location and was caught between his trailer and another trailer.
On Aug. 16, a 50-year-old business owner was trimming tree limbs when the boom of the aerial work platform failed, dropping him and the bucket approximately 40 feet to a concrete pad below.
On Aug. 14, a 25-year-old climber was driving a loader and was loading a tree into a truck. The back tire of the loader came off the curb and the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. The driver was crushed under a steel cage.
On Aug. 17, a 19-year-old laborer was performing landscaping tasks, using a Bobcat equipped with a bucket to remove fence paneling. While removing the panels, one of the panels became entangled in chicken wire. The laborer attempted to untangle the chicken wire from the fence paneling while remaining partially inside the Bobcat. As he raised the bucket, he became pinched in between the mast and cab of the Bobcat. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and transported him to a nearby hospital via helicopter, where he later passed away.
On Aug. 24, a 46-year-old sand and gravel pit manager was moving material around in a parking lot with a bulldozer. He exited the bulldozer and the machine began to move. As he attempted to stop the machine, he was fatally struck by it.
On Aug. 17, two employees were working from an aerial lift when one of them came into contact with a high voltage power line. The 27-year-old millwright was taken to the hospital where he passed away two days later.
On Aug. 27, a 35-year-old laborer was driving an aerial lift across the westbound lanes of I-94 when he was struck by a semi-truck.
A 54-year-old general laborer worked in a repackaging area of a warehouse. 911 was called when the employee collapsed on March 11. The employer was informed by the hospital that the employee had tested positive for COVID-19. The employee passed away on April 2, 2021 due to COVID-19.
On Aug. 31, a subcontractor was performing work on a dam using a barge-mounted crane on the river. The crane fell over, striking the 49-year-old superintendent who was on land.
To date, there have been 73 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 summary of the most recent 2020 incident:
The 76-year-old care partner tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 13, was hospitalized on Nov. 19, and passed away on Dec. 3, 2020. The employee provided adult foster care to residents of an assisted living center and her last day of work was Oct. 31, 2020.
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 assist you. 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.
August 19, 2021 - MIOSHA Presents Distinguished Gold Award to KUKA Systems North America LLC in Clinton Township, MI
August 12, 2021 - MIOSHA Encourages Employers to Follow Updated CDC Guidance to Contain the Spread of COVID-19
August 9, 2021 — Indian Country Inspections/Investigations and Interventions
August 4, 2021 — Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Interim Enforcement Plan
July 29, 2021 — MIOSHA Training Institute (MTI) Scholarship Procedures
July 26, 2021 — Alliance Policies and Procedures
July 26. 2021 — Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP)
July 26, 2021 — Focused Inspections
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 michigan.gov/mioshavariances.
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