Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) Director Barton Pickelman was awarded with the 2023 Michigan Safety Conference (MSC) Special Recognition Award in Grand Rapids on April 18.
He is the first ever recipient of the MSC Special Recognition Award, a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the improvement of workplace safety and health programs in the state of Michigan.
“Bart is a strong supporter of our non-profit organization. He consistently speaks at our annual event, allows his staff to serve on our committees and training Divisions, presents at our annual Coffee with MIOSHA and promotes our efforts whenever possible,” said MSC director Denise McGinn.
“I’m truly honored to have received this special recognition," said Director Pickelman. "I’ve been blessed over my career to be surrounded by talented safety and health professionals dedicated to protecting workers, including all the great staff at MIOSHA.”
At the award ceremony, MSC commended Director Pickelman for his leadership during MIOSHA’s enforcement of the state’s COVID-19 executive orders in 2020 and 2021. He was appointed MIOSHA director in 2016.
“The past few years he has provided exceptional leadership as the head of the state agency responsible for protecting worker health during the COVID pandemic,” McGinn, said.
Director Pickelman oversees all aspects of the MIOSHA program, which includes occupational safety and health compliance in general industry and constriction. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist, who began his MIOSHA career as a compliance officer and also served as Ergonomic Specialist, Safety and Health Manager and MIOSHA Deputy Director.
Director Pickelman has over 30 years experience in private and the public sectors in the occupational health and safety field. Congratulations, Director Pickelman!
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By Eric Allen & Dan Maki, Health and Safety Managers, Construction Safety and Health Division
The 2023 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction (May 1-5) is underway. The tenth annual safety stand-down is intended to raise awareness of fall hazards and to encourage conversations about fall prevention in the workplace. MIOSHA encourages each employer in all industries to take a few moments to stop and talk with employees about the hazards of falls.
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 38% of the 986 construction fatalities recorded nationwide in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2022, MIOSHA investigated eleven fall related deaths. Eight of these deaths were in the construction industry. Each of these deaths were preventable.
Plan ahead to get the job done safely. Provide the right equipment. Train everyone to use the equipment safely.
Here are common rules surrounding fall protection requirements:
We encourage all employers to take advantage of our Consultation Education and Training services for free safety and health assistance. Check out our full list of services to learn how you can request free consultative visits with no citations or penalties, receive awards and recognition, apply for grant funding and more. Request help today. The CET office can be reached by calling (517)284-7720.
Beyond fall prevention, take the time to bring Safety Week to life at your company. Access tools and resources to help your workers stay connected, supported and safe.
For federal OSHA resources or more information on how to hold your own safety stand-down, visit www.osha.gov/preventfalls.
 Electricity and electrical products play fundamental roles in how we do business each day. However, if not used or maintained appropriately, they can pose serious risks that can result in injury or death.
May is National Electrical Safety Month — an annual effort to help raise awareness of electrical safety and reduce the number of electrically-related incidents, injuries and deaths. We encourage all Michigan employers and workers to light up their electrical safety by taking simple steps to prevent on-the-job electrocutions and other electrical hazards.
Do you know MIOSHA electrical system requirements and best practices? If not, take some time this month to review them with your team or contact our Consultation Education and Training Division for additional, free safety and health assistance.
MIOSHA Electrical Safety Resources:
For additional electrical safety resources, visit the Electrical Safety Foundation International website: www.esfi.org/workplace-safety.
MIOSHA recently launched a brand-new online penalty payment system which allows employers to pay citation penalties quickly and securely, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Employers will be able to use: electronic check (e-check), debit & credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express).
Note: No transaction fees for e-checks, but credit card transactions are subject to a 2.5% transaction fee.
The online payment option will only be available for those who received a final determination or final order of the board. Citation payments will not be allowed if an inspection is still in any stage of the appeal process.
The new online service will not display payment history. For information regarding your payment history, now or in the future, employers should call 517-284-7750 for General Industry Safety and Health Division citation payments or 517-284-7680 for Construction Safety and Health Division citation payments.
 MIOSHA and Lawrence Technological University Construction Safety Research Center invites employers and employees to share a cup of coffee and learn about the importance of workplace safety and health.
Representatives from the MIOSHA's Construction Safety and Health Division and the Consultation Education and Training Division will answer questions about MIOSHA services and ways to make the construction industry a safer place to work.
Coffee with MIOSHA events provide an informal opportunity for employers and employees to meet with MIOSHA representatives — including consultative and enforcement — to ask questions, obtain information on program services and resources, learn about MIOSHA Training Institute opportunities and establish rapport.
WHO: All Michigan employers and employees (This event has a construction emphasis)
WHAT: Coffee with MIOSHA
WHEN: May 16, 9-11 a.m.
WHERE: Lawrence Technological University
Construction Safety Research Center, Lear Auditorium, room T429
21000 West 10 Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48075
COST: Free
RSVP: Contact Ahmed Albayati, PhD, PE at 248-204-2586
There have been 12 work-related fatalities reported to MIOSHA in 2023. 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 descriptions reflect information provided to MIOSHA at the initial report of the incidents and are not the result of the official MIOSHA investigations.
Preliminary summaries of the most recent 2023 incidents:
A 57-year-old driver operating a concrete mixing truck became stuck while making a delivery at a job site. A contractor attempted to pull out the truck by connecting a tow cable from a bulldozer. The bulldozer's hitch pin broke off, and then tow cable whipped trough the concrete truck windshield, fatally striking the driver.
A 54-year-old truck driver was kneeling over a single-piece rim wheel and tire assembly. While inflating the tire, the sidewall burst, and the assembly shot up fatally striking the man.
A 28-year-old Southwest Michigan firefighter responded to a call for a broken tree branch hanging on a power line. After the fire department secured the scene, a different power line broke and struck the firefighter who was knocked down and electrocuted.
A 58-year-old Van Buren County road worker was part of a four-man crew doing repair work. The victim was performing traffic control when he was struck by a commuter vehicle.
A 34-year-old truck driver was on route performing trash collection. The victim had exited the garbage truck and was placing a garbage hopper into the hopper lift. He proceeded to the right side of the truck to operate the hopper controls with his back to the road when an oncoming commuter vehicle struck the garbage truck from the rear fatally striking the victim.
A 39-year-old EMT worker was driving an ambulance on I-75 to when he came upon a vehicle that crash into a viaduct wall near an exit ramp. When the victim exited the ambulance to assist the driver, he was fatally struck by an oncoming vehicle, which also fatally struck the driver of the crashed vehicle.
A 61-year-old electrical maintenance journeyman, part of multi-person crew, was struck by a radiator assembly during the dismantlement of a transformer at an electrical substation.
A 19-year-old warehouse worker and another employee were attempting to change the bucket on a Bobcat backhoe. The victim was attempting to remove a pin from the bucket while the coworker was operating the Bobcat. The victim was fatally crushed after being caught between the bucket and a bollard.
A 35-year-old laborer and his employer arrived at a private residence to perform a tree trimming job. The bucket truck became stuck, so the crew attached a rope to the front axle of the dump truck and the tie down on the skid steer's bucket. The rope snapped and struck the victim, who was operating the skid steer in the chest.
A 24-year-old production technician was heating a finished part to remove oils when the next cycle of a vacuum forming mode began. The victim was caught between an extended conveyor and vacuum forming mold, crushing him.
A 24-year-old laborer/roofer was performing roofing operation on a flat roof near a skylight. The victim fell 20 feet through the skylight and landed on the concrete floor below. The victim was admitted to the hospital and died from his injuries one month later.
A 57-year-old mechanic was mounting two tires for a trailer. The victim took one of the tires outside the shop and placed it on the ground to inflate using pneumatic air compressor, set at approximately 150 psi (pounds per square inch). The tire exploded and struck the victim in the head.
On March 27, 2023, Barton G. Pickelman, Director, signed Agency Instruction, MIOSHA-COM-04-1R7 Multi-Employer Work Sites.
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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