Volume 32, Issue 3, Summer 2024
Bart Pickelman, CIH, MIOSHA Director
As we kick off summer, it's imperative to remember workers face a growing number of potential hazards. Employers and employees need to watch out for more than just hot weather during the summer.
As construction season ramps up, it's important to remember excavation and trenching continue to be some of the most dangerous construction activities.
On May 31, MIOSHA launched an investigation after a worker was rescued after being trapped for several hours inside a collapsed trench. Cave-ins rank among the deadliest hazards for workers in excavations and trenches, both in Michigan and nationwide. MIOSHA stood down with workers across Michigan during National Utility Contractors Association Trench Safety Stand Down Week (June 17- 22) to speak about hazard recognition and how to implement safety measures when working in a trench.
MIOSHA has a list of resources to help protect employers and employees from common excavation and trenching hazards on our website at michigan.gov/mioshatrenching.
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 Rescue crews worked for five hours to free a man trapped in a 10- foot deep trench in Portage on May 31, 2024
Heat Illness
Recognizing heat and humidity as hazards and planning for them is important since an average of 32 employees nationwide die annually from heat-related injuries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Many of these fatalities are new or temporary workers who have not been properly acclimated to working in hot and humid conditions.
Federal OSHA is one step closer to adopting a heat standard protecting indoor and outdoor workers which MIOSHA will be required to adopt. MIOSHA's sample heat illness prevention plan gives employers a template to establish their own heat illness prevention procedures and reduce the risk of work-related heat illness among their employees.
We encourage all Michigan employers and employees to review our Heat-Related Illness - State Emphasis Program for consultative assistance and MIOSHA’s enforcement policy regarding heat hazards.
MIOSHA will partner with employers to "Take a Stand" for workplace safety and health on August 12-16, by dedicating our professional staff to visit Michigan high-hazard industries targeted by the MIOSHA. There will be no citations or fines for participating workplaces, however, participants must agree to correct all serious conditions.
To schedule a Take a Stand Day visit, complete the registration form at michigan.gov/mioshatsd. The deadline for submissions are Friday July 19, 2024.
For any questions about participation, email LEO-TASD-RCA@michigan.gov. Employer's will be contacted two weeks prior to the date for scheduling.
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How MTI’s Level 1 and 2 Courses Enhanced My Path in Environmental Health and Safety
By Sarah MacIntyre, EHS Representative, American Axle Manufacturing
Starting a career in environmental health and safety is uniquely challenging and rewarding, particularly when supported by innovative educational programs that link practical training with academic advancement. My experience with the MIOSHA MTI - Oakland University alliance has profoundly shaped my path, illustrating the power of integrated learning.
The distinctive MIOSHA and Oakland University collaboration was pivotal for students like myself. With a MTI level 2 Safety and Health Management Systems (SHMS) certificate, I was able to transition smoothly from practical training to academic recognition, earning up to 12 credits towards a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and Safety. This bridge not only accelerated my educational timeline but also enriched my academic experience by directly linking classroom learning with real-world applications.
In dynamic, interactive sessions led by seasoned MIOSHA trainers, I engaged with practical safety scenarios and discussions that brought OSHA standards and safety regulations to life. These trainers shared their field experiences, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical skills. This was not just learning; it was an immersive experience that helped me visualize how to apply safety standards in various workplace situations.
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"The blend of MIOSHA training and Oakland University coursework allowed me to connect the dots between academic theories and practical safety management"
The blend of MIOSHA training and Oakland University coursework allowed me to connect the dots between academic theories and practical safety management. This holistic approach helped me not only understand but also implement safety practices more effectively in my current role as an EHS representative at American Axle and Manufacturing. In this role, I apply these insights daily, from conducting safety audits to implementing a better safety culture, ensuring our workplace not only meets but exceeds safety standards.
By Brian Paul, Construction Safety Supervisor, Construction Safety and Health Division (CSHD)
 A 49-year-old worker was on the ground when they were struck and killed by a falling crane boom in August 2021.
On Aug. 31, 2021, MIOSHA initiated an inspection following the fatality of a 49-year-old employee working on a dam using a barge-mounted crane. The worker, who was on land, was fatally struck by a falling crane boom that broke free from the barge it was secured to. The incident occurred while two contractors were installing bulkheads to prevent the river water from entering the turbine area of the dam. The general contractor who oversaw the project was performing the bulkhead installation work.
Meanwhile, the subcontractor was hired to lift the bulkheads from land, placing them onto the barge, and then transporting the barge to the dam to set the bulkheads in their permanent location. The subcontractor owned the barge and crane, with the crane permanently attached to the barge. Both contractors were experienced in this type of work and previously worked together.
The crew successfully lifted and installed the first bulkhead. The following day, while lifting the second bulkhead from land to set on the barge, the boom broke free from the turret, striking the worker on their head.
Several unaccounted factors contributed to this incident.
- The general contractor did not verify that the crane operator was certified and did not provide the correct capacity of the bulkheads to the barge contractor. The general contractor did not complete daily job hazard analyses (JHA) as required by the company.
- The barge crane subcontractor failed to certify and evaluate the crane operator, neglected to perform annual crane inspections, operated the crane beyond its rated capacity, used an outdated load chart after retrofitting the truck boom crane to the barge, retrofitted the crane without consulting the manufacturer, and did not repair the boom angle indicator.
 A crane broke free from the barge, fatally striking a 49-year-old worker in August 2021.
General Contractor Citations
The inspection resulted in one serious and one other-than-serious citations issued against the general contractor under Construction Standard Part 10, Cranes and Derricks.The general contractor paid a total of $8,000 in penalties as a result of a settlement agreement.
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Rule 1926.1437(m)(1)(i) The employer must not exceed the manufacturer load charts applicable to operations on water. When using these charts, the employer must comply with all parameters and limitations (such as dynamic and environmental parameters) applicable to the use of the charts.
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Penalty: $7,000 (The serious violation was modified from 1926.1417(o)(1) to 1926.1437(m)(1)(i) as the result of a formal settlement agreement.)
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Rule 1926.1427 (a) General requirements for operators. The employer must ensure that each operator is trained, certified/licensed, and evaluated in accordance with this section before operating any equipment covered under subpart CC, except for the equipment listed in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
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Penalty: $1,000 (Modified to other than serious as a result of a formal settlement agreement)
MIOSHA also issued the general contractor a safety recommendation which suggested JHAs be signed by all attending and filled out completely.
Subcontractor Citations
MIOSHA also issued five serious citations to the subcontractor under Construction Standard Part 10, Cranes and Derricks. The employer paid $17,500 in penalties as a result of a settlement agreement.
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Rule 1926.1412(f)(1): At least every 12 months the equipment must be inspected by a qualified person in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section (each shift) except that the corrective action set forth in paragraphs (f)(4), (f)(5), and (f)(6) of this section must apply in place of the corrective action required by paragraphs (d)(2) and (d)(3) of this section.
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Penalty: $3,500 (Reduced from $7,000 during first appeal; citation remained serious)
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Rule 1926.1416(e)(1): Boom angle or radius indicator. The equipment must have a boom angle or radius indicator readable from the operator's station. Temporary alternative measures: Radii or boom angle must be determined by measuring the radii or boom angle with a measuring device.
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Penalty: $3,500 (Reduced from $7,000 during first appeal; citation remained serious)
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Rule 1926.1417(o)(1): The equipment must not be operated in excess of its rated capacity.
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Penalty: $3,500 (Reduced from $7,000 during first appeal; citation remained serious)
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Rule 1926.1427(a): The employer must ensure that each operator is trained, certified/ licensed, and evaluated in accordance with this section before operating any equipment covered under subpart CC, except for the equipment listed in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
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Penalty: $3500 (Reduced from $7,000 during first appeal; citation remained serious)
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Rule 1926.1434(a): Modifications or additions which affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment are prohibited except where the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), or (a)(5) of this section are met.
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Penalty: $3500 (Reduced from $7,000 during first appeal; citation remained serious)
Nathan Wolff, Workplace Safety Representative, General Industry Safety and Health Division (GISHD)
 A mechnical press with inadequate guarding at a manufacturing facility that recieved a total of 13 serious citations following a MIOSHA inspeciton in November 2023.
In November 2023, MIOSHA inspected a manufacturing establishment employing 20 employees that manufactures industrial springs, stampings, and wire forms. The inspection identified 16 regulatory violations that endangered the safety of employees. The facility has operations ranging from engineering, stamping, grinding, and wire forming, to warehousing and storage. The inspection was a comprehensive safety inspection, and the establishment was chosen for inspection at random by computer.
The inspection resulted in 13 serious and three other-than-serious citations issued against the employer. The violations are listed below. Some of them were grouped into single citations:
General Industry Standard Part 1, General Provisions
- Rule 408.10034(3): An employee was exposed to a pinch point created by the point of operation on a spring machine.
- Rule 408.10034(9): An employee was exposed to non-point-of-operation pinch points created by moving cylinders on a spring machine.
General Industry Standard Part 7, Guards for Power Transmission
- Rule 408.10727(1): There was an exposed belt and pulley on a grinder machine.
General Industry Standard Part 21, Powered Industrial Trucks
- Rule 408.12154(3): An operator’s permit for a powered industrial truck was not available upon request.
General Industry Part 23, Hydraulic Power Presses
- Rule 408.12373: Periodic safety inspections were not conducted for the hydraulic power press.
General Industry Part 24, Mechanical Power Presses
- Rule 408.12412(1): Periodic safety inspections were not conducted for the mechanical power press.
- Rule 408.12462(1): There was an inadequate point-of-operation guard on a mechanical power press.
 General Industry Part 26, Metalworking Machinery
- Rule 408.12611: Training did not include the requirement to shut off and lock out when employees perform lubrication tasks on a metalworking machine.
- Rule 408.12617(3): The stop device for a metalworking machine was located inside of the machine guarding.
- Rule 408.122618(1): Lockout was not utilized when employees change grinding wheels on a spring grinder machine.
- Rule 408.12618(2): Lubrication and oiling tasks were performed while a metalworking machine was running in production mode.
- Rule 408.12635(1): There was an exposed portion of non-working blade between the blade guides and the blade guard on a metal bandsaw.
- Rule 408.12650: There were multiple exposed moving parts on various multislide machines.
General Industry Part 39, Design Safety Standards for Electrical Systems
- Paragraph 1910.305(a)(2)(ii): An extension cord was used in place of permanent wiring.
General Industry Part 85, The Control of Hazardous Energy Sources
- Paragraph 1910.147(c)(6)(i)(C): Periodic inspections of the energy control procedure (lockout/tagout) did not include a review with each authorized employee responsible for utilizing the energy control procedure to ensure that the requirements of the standard are followed.
General Industry Part 92, Hazard Communication
- Paragraph 1910.1200(f)(6): A secondary container of rust inhibitor was not identified by a label describing the chemical contents and hazards of the chemical.
 Pictured is one of the pinch points employees were exposed to on a spring machine..
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (North American Industry Classification System code 332) is among the ten high-hazard industries targeted by MIOSHA in its 2024–2028 strategic plan for reductions in injury and illness rates. Employees in this sector can be exposed to a wide range of safety and health hazards. With Michigan’s prominence in the automotive industry, the fabricated metal product manufacturing subsector ranks as the fourth largest high-hazard industry in the state, with approximately 3,100 employers, who employ 71,300 workers, comprising around 12% of all manufacturing jobs in Michigan.
If you are interested in the MIOSHA standards and publications related to the hazards found in Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, visit michigan.gov/mioshapublications. MIOSHA's Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division provides onsite consultation, hazard surveys, and training at little or no cost to employers. For free safety and health consultative assistance, complete an online request for assistance at michigan.gov/cet.
Top Down Leadership Expressed Through Auditing
By Will MacFarland, Safety Specialist, Nucraft
 Nucraft is a privately held wood office furniture manufacturer specializing in high-end quality designs, with an emphasis on custom or special products. Our 290,000-square-foot facility in Comstock Park, employs 300 workers involved in production, maintenance, shipping, receiving, and office work. Our main goal for our facility is to be a great place to work. To achieve this, we prioritize showing the utmost respect for our associates by providing a safe and healthy work environment. We believe safety starts from the top down; when management engages with safety, their associates follow suit.
As we developed our safety auditing and inspection program, we recognized the importance of demonstrating leadership commitment and involving more than just our supervisors in the inspection process. Our inspections include participation from production and engineering supervisors, managers, directors, and the vice presidents of human resources and operations. Each rotates to a different area every month.
To ensure accountability for completing inspections, we discuss them in daily manager meetings and review them in safety meetings. Our main safety whiteboard displays the names of assigned inspectors in a grid. When an inspection is completed, the inspector's red magnet is flipped to green. This system allows anyone to easily see who is on track with their inspections and who may be falling behind.
A great aspect of our auditing program is our 5s and housekeeping programs. Departments and their workstations make 5s organizational improvements and are regularly audited on their cleaning initiatives. Nucraft’s 5s program consists of three-tiered levels: specialist, master and elite. To signify their achievements, a banner is hung above their areas for visual recognition of program milestones achieved. The program also involves operator preventative maintenance and work instructions at the upper tier. The 5s program is a foundational building block for our safety programs, helping to keep the facility clean and organized in an industry known for its dust and clutter.
During inspections, we audit various aspects of the safety programs and incorporate learnings from past incidents, such as injuries, near misses, and associate suggestions. We now incorporate 5S, daily cleaning, standard work, and safety into a single audit. Additionally, we require auditors to have a two-minute discussion about safety with a shop floor associate. A question within our program allows auditors to document any safety concerns or suggestions that come up during the discussion. The goal is fostering a better safety culture by building trust, creating transparency between management and operators, along with continuously looking for worksite improvements, our safety culture remains collaborative and evolving.
by Mike Krafcik, MIOSHA Communications Specialist
 (left picture, left to right: MIOSHA CET Onsite Supervisor Reo Rodriguez, MIOSHA CET Safety & Health Program Manager Sherry Scott, EnovaPremier of Michigan Plant Manager Vince Trudell, EnovaPremier of Michigan Production Manager & Safety Coordinator Anton Richardson, MIOSHA Onsite Safety Consultant Catherine Leonard-Parmerelee are pictured during the MIOSHA CET Gold ceremony for Enova Premier of Michigan on May 30, 2024.
Automotive tire and wheel assembly manufacturer EnovaPremier of Michigan, LLC. was recognized by MIOSHA's Consultation Education Training (CET) Gold award for its excellent safety and health performance.
Enova Premier of Michigan's Charlotte facility was recognized for achieving a phenomenal safety record, including a safety incident rate below the industry average and zero recordable work-related injuries or illnesses in the past three years.
"EnovaPremier demands a higher level, we recognized that right away. The company is showing other people in the industry that it is possible. They are effectively making helping make the entire state of Michigan safer," MIOSHA CET Onsite Supervisor Reo Rodriguez said during the company's CET Gold Award ceremony presentation on May 30.
To become eligible to earn a CET Gold Award, an establishment must have its current and last two complete years' Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) and DART rates below the industry average.
“It is an honor for our team to receive this award," said EnovaPremier Michigan Safety Site Coordinator Anton Richardson. "Motivated by a culture of care, our team has diligently assessed work areas, identified risks, and eliminated hazards. Our culture empowers each member to be proactive, take ownership of safety, and hold each other accountable. This has been our recipe for achieving outstanding results health and safety."
Howmet Aerospace Earns MVPP Recertification
Howmet Aerospace in Whitehall recently received recertification of the MVPP Star Award — MIOSHA’s highest workplace safety and health award. STAR recognition exemplifies the result of successful efforts by employees, management, and government in partnering for excellence in workplace safety and health.
Howmet, a part manufacturing for the aerospace industry, was first awarded MVPP STAR recognition in 2004.
“I congratulate our employees on their outstanding efforts resulting in our sixth MVPP Star Award, the state’s highest workplace safety and health designation,” said Howmet Aerospace Airfoils Human Resources Director Amy Heisser. “This award is a proud moment for all our employees and proof of our continued commitment to excellence in our environmental, safety and health practices.”
The MVPP program is open to all qualifying Michigan employers with injury and illness incident rates below the industry average for each of the last three years.
Learn more about becoming an MVPP Star site at Michigan.gov/MVPP.
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