 MIOSHA's State Emphasis Program aims to protect indoor and outdoor workers from heat. Learn more at michigan.gov/heat.
As summer temperatures rise, the risk of heat-related illnesses becomes a serious concern for Michigan workers.
Employees exposed to extreme heat and humid working conditions are at risk — both indoors and outdoors. Michigan employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of recognized hazards, including protecting workers from extreme heat.
Additionally, exposure to environmental heat has killed 999 U.S. workers from 1992–2021, with an average of 33 fatalities per year during that time period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
In July 2022, MIOSHA adopted a State Emphasis Program which follows the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's introduction of a National Emphasis Program focused on heat hazards, allowing MIOSHA to perform comprehensive inspection targeting and outreach. This includes providing compliance assistance to help raise awareness of heat illness and educate companies on the steps they can take to prevent dangerous health situations in work environments where there is a higher risk of heat illness.
Employers are encouraged to utilize MIOSHA’s sample heat illness prevention plan, which can be used as a template to establish their own heat illness prevention procedures and reduce the risk of work-related heat illness among their employees. Workplaces can also access federal OSHA’s fact sheet to protect workers from the effects of heat.
The employer sample program for heat illness and prevention was designed to address heat strain in outdoor environments, but the same principles apply to indoor environments as well. Employers are encouraged to evaluate conditions at their worksite while providing detailed procedures on how to prevent and treat heat illness, including:
- Monitoring the heat index and what to do when the heat index equals or exceeds 90°F
- Provisioning water
- Accessing cooling areas or shade
- Building heat tolerance
- Developing an emergency response
- Handling a sick employee
- Training for employees and supervisors
Learn more heat related safety tips at www.michigan.gov/heat.
 The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), MIOSHA and other industry leaders will observe Trench Safety Stand Down Week from June 17-21, 2024.
MIOSHA will join the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) and other industry leaders to observe Trench Safety Stand Down Week from June 17-21. Additionally, June is National Trench Safety Month, providing another opportunity for employers to emphasize the importance of using trench protective systems and safeguarding workers from trenching hazards.
During the tenth annual stand-down event, NUCA, OSHA and MIOSHA are urging employers involved in trench work to voluntarily pause operations and promote the use of protective systems such as sloping, shoring, and shielding.
Excavation and trenching remain some of the most hazardous construction activities, leading to dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries nationwide each year. In Michigan alone, 31 workers have died in excavation-related incidents over the past two decades. However, these incidents are preventable with proper training, adherence to safety protocols, and the use of protective systems.
Learn more excavation and trench hazard awareness and safety tips at www.michigan.gov/mioshatrenching.
Trench Safety Construction Work Activities
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Construction Standard Part 1, General Rules (Part 1, General Rules)
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Construction Standard Part 6, Personal Protective Equipment (Part 6, Personal Protective Equipment)
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Construction Standard Part 8, Handling and Storage of Materials (Part 8, Handling and Storage of Materials)
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Construction Standard Part 9, Excavation, Trenching & Shoring (Part 9, Excavation, Trenching & Shoring)
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Construction Standard Part 13. Mobile Equipment (Part 13. Mobile Equipment)
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Construction Standard Part 15, Excavators, Hoists, Elevators, Helicopters, and Conveyors (Part 15, Excavators, Hoists, Elevators, Helicopters, and Conveyors)
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Construction Standard Part 35, Confined Space in Construction (Part 35, Confined Space in Construction)
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Construction Standard Part 45, Fall Protection (Part 45, Fall Protection)
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General Industry Standard Part 2, Walking-Working Surfaces (General Industry Standard Part 2, Walking-Working Surfaces)
By Katrina DeBose, Acting MIOSHA Appeals Director
 The MIOSHA Appeals Section is seeing the benefits of transitioning all prehearing conferences to a virtual format. Since January, Microsoft Teams has been the default platform for prehearing conferences, enhancing convenience and removing previous logistical obstacles.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, prehearings were held in-person, requiring employers, employees, and MIOSHA staff to travel to Lansing. This often caused inconvenience due to weather, parking issues, and travel expenses for hearings lasting 30 minutes or several hours. Appeals cases were often conducted via teleconference lines, which had limited availability for simultaneous prehearing conferences. As a result, MIOSHA Appeals could only conduct two cases per day, further reducing efficiency.
With the adoption of Microsoft Teams, these issues have been resolved. MIOSHA's three appeals specialists can now conduct separate prehearings simultaneously, significantly improving scheduling and case processing speed. Participants can join by phone or video, and those with a Teams subscription can share content directly. Non-subscribers can send materials in advance for the specialist to share. Additionally, the platform allows for separate virtual rooms for participants if needed, enhancing the overall service during prehearings.
About MIOSHA Enforcement & Appeals
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health (MIOSH) Act (Public Act 154 of 1974, as amended) requires enforcement of workplace safety and health standards. Workplace investigations are conducted by the Construction Safety and Health Division and the General Industry Safety and Health Division. Employers have appeal rights and options for penalty reductions through the PRA process. Read more in our brochure Enforcement and Appeals Overview.
Learn more about MIOSHA Enforcement & Appeals at michigan.gov/miosha.
 The Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) will host a virtual Cannabis Education Session on June 6. 2024 featuring Jennifer Clark-Denson with MIOSHA's Consultation Education and Training Division.
Michigan's Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) virtual education webinar on June 6 will focus on workplace safety and health obligations for employers and employees in the cannabis industry.
MIOSHA Consultation Education & Training Division Industrial Hygienist Jennifer Clark-Denson will outline how cannabis producers can contribute to the evolving regulatory landscape. Jennifer will also review MIOSHA’s top 10 cited citations in the cannabis industry in 2023.
The virtual presentation will be followed by a real-time question-and-answer session.
Date: Thursday June 6, 2024
Time:10 a.m. EST
Where: Virtual – Click to register
To view past MIOSHA/CRA seminars, visit the CRA video library at michigan.gov/cra.
Cannabis State Emphasis Program
In 2023, MIOSHA initiated a State Emphasis Program to help protect the health and safety of those working in the cannabis industry, which includes the growing, harvesting, and processing of cannabis – all of which have the highest occurrence of occupational safety and health hazards.
Since the legalization of cannabis for recreational use in Michigan, and the implementation of the licensing system for growers, processors, and retailers, Michigan has over 1,000 growers, 228 processors, and 1,040 dispensaries.
There have been 12 work-related fatalities reported to MIOSHA in 2024. 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 2024 incidents:
A 26-year-old assistant yard/receiving manager was stocking merchandise with the use of an order picker truck. At some point during the task, the employee fell from the lift approximately 20 feet to the adjacent walking-working surface. The employee was transported to a local hospital and later succumbed to the injuries sustained from the fall.
A 39-year-old law enforcement officer was making a traffic stop for a suspected impaired driver. Other officers were on the scene. During the stop, a commuter vehicle struck two patrol vehicles and the victim, who was outside of the patrol vehicle. The victim died at the hospital.
A 71-year-old owner of a company that provides support services to oil and gas operations was using an air compressor to rid a large tank of oil and water. The victim and his son were cleaning it when it exploded. The victim was killed in the explosion and/or subsequent fire.
A 63-year-old die setter was standing on a semi-truck flatbed trailer, moving a rolling cart loaded with a die fixture to the side of the flatbed. The cart and die fixture fell off the flatbed and onto the victim who sustained multiple injuries. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Approximately one month later, the employer was notified the victim died.
A 21-year-old apprentice pipefitter was working on a boiler system being installed for a school addition. The pipefitter was standing on a ladder when the cap on a pressurized boiler line came off and struck the worker in the face.
A 23-year-old agricultural worker was driving a tractor pulling a farm implement and lost control, causing the tractor to overturn. The victim was ejected from the cab, which rolled over onto the victim.
A 22-year-old laborer was scrapping material from a former hospital building. Individuals were attempting to remove a large boiler with the use of a mini excavator. During the operation, the victim was crushed by the boiler when the controls of the mini excavator were inadvertently activated.
A 68-year-old refrigeration and mechanical technician was found in the back-alley area of a strip mall. The victim was a contractor working for a restaurant. An extension ladder was found nearby. The victim had an apparent head injury to the back of his head.
A 27-year-old animal caretaker worker was standing on a 6-foot step ladder installing a two-by-four board onto a gate when the employee fell sideways off the ladder onto concrete. The victim was transported to a local hospital. Fifteen days later, the victim died as a result of the injuries.
A 62-year-old owner/auto repair mechanic was utilizing a jack to lift a vehicle to perform automotive servicing operations. During the task, the vehicle fell and crushed the victim.
A 46-year-old carpenter and other employees were working on a dormer, with rain approaching, they put a tarp over the dormer. After the pop-up rainstorm was over, they went on the wet roof and in the process of removing the tarp the employee fell to the concrete below.
A 45-year-old sheet metal worker, and another employee, were working on a fixed work platform that was three sections wide. The middle section gave way causing both employees to fall from an approximate 35-foot elevation. The 45-year-old died, and the second worker was hospitalized with critical injures.
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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