 Heat safety is essential for protecting both indoor and outdoor workers. Learn how to prevent heat illness on the job 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.
In 2022, MIOSHA adopted a State Emphasis Program (SEP) to help identify and reduce exposures to indoor and outdoor heat-related hazards in the workplace. This program aligns with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) 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. This sample program 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 meets 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 Michigan.gov/heat.
Occupational safety goes beyond regulatory compliance. Across Michigan, employers are continuously working to foster safer, more productive environments for their employees. One effective way to do that is by participating in voluntary safety stand-down events.
What is a safety stand-down?
A safety stand-down is an opportunity for employers and employees to pause their regular work and focus on improving workplace safety and health. These events strengthen communication, reinforce safe practices and promote a strong safety culture across all levels of an organization.
Stand-downs can take many forms — toolbox talks, formal training sessions, safety demonstrations or presentations from outside experts. Each is a chance to identify potential hazards and recommit to a shared responsibility for worker well-being.
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 MIOSHA Construction Safety and Health Manager Nikki Clark speaks to construction workers during a Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction event in Grand Rapids on May 7, 2025.
This May, MIOSHA supported several events across the state as part of the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. Outreach included a site event at the Pine Rest Pediatric Center for Behavioral Health in Grand Rapids, where MIOSHA Construction Safety and Health Division Manager Nikki Clark addressed workers about fall hazards.
Additional stand-downs were held at the Kalamazoo Event Center, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, the state lab project in Lansing, and other construction sites across Michigan. These stand-downs provided meaningful opportunities to reinforce fall protection practices and re-engage workers in hazard awareness.
MIOSHA-Supported Stand-Down Events in 2025:
 MIOSHA Construction Safety and Health Division Director Dan Maki speaks at the National Work Zone Awareness Week event in Midland on April 28, 2025, encouraging safe driving, shared responsibility and workplace compliance.
Organizations can request MIOSHA participation in stand-down events across the state:
 The Sixth Annual Workplace Mental Health Conference will be held virtually August 6, and is hosted by the Eisenberg Family Depression Center at the University of Michigan.
MIOSHA alliance partner, the University of Michigan Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering (COHSE), is once again helping to organize the annual Workplace Mental Health Conference — hosted by the University of Michigan Eisenberg Family Depression Center.
Now in its sixth year, this half-day virtual event brings together professionals from across industries to explore real-world strategies for supporting mental health in the workplace.
Event Details
Date: Aug. 6, 2025
Format: Virtual
Credits: 4 continuing education unit (CEU) contact hours and 4 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) professional development credits (PDCs) available.
What to Expect
- Strategies to kick-start or elevate your workplace well-being efforts
- Personal stories, case studies and interactive Q&As
- Insights from respected academic and industry experts
- Access to session recordings and presentation slides
- Certificate of attendance available
Who Should Attend
- Employers and C-suite leaders
- HR professionals and workplace wellness champions
- Public, private and nonprofit organizations
- Anyone interested in supporting mental health at work
What Attendees Are Saying
"Full of practical, applicable content for employers across all industries."
"I left with tools and ideas I’m excited to bring back to my team."
Registration Rates
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Individual: $80
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U-M Individual: $35 (with valid umich.edu, med.umich.edu or UMHSparrow.org email)
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Corporate Pass (up to 5): $225
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Corporate Pass (up to 10): $400
🔗Register for the virtual conference today
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Billerud North America’s Quinnesec Mill recently welcomed safety staff from the Marquette Board of Light and Power (MBLP) for a mentoring visit through the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP). As a recognized MIOSHA MVPP Star site since 2001, Billerud's Quinnesec Mill serves as a model for excellence in workplace safety and health — and is committed to helping others do the same.
Located on 2,200 acres in the Upper Peninsula, the paper plant employs 410 people and manufactures coated free-sheet paper and bleached hardwood kraft pulp. The visit was initiated by MBLP’s safety and training supervisor, who contacted Quinnesec’s Safety Department to learn more about their safety programs and MVPP journey.
Six MBLP employees visited the mill, beginning their day with introductions and an overview presentation covering the facility’s operations and sustainability efforts. This was followed by an in-depth discussion of Quinnesec’s MVPP experience, including motivations for pursuing Star status, challenges encountered and the benefits of a behavior-based safety culture.
The group then toured the facility and joined the Quinnesec Lead Team for lunch and a Q&A session. MBLP expressed strong interest in setting clear safety goals and sees MVPP as a valuable framework for continuous improvement.
“Mentoring other companies is a key part of our commitment to maintaining MVPP Star Status,” said Quinnesec Mill Safety Supervisor Misty Nehring. “This initiative allows us to network and share valuable insights with other businesses. The MVPP application process can be daunting, so it’s helpful for others to know that we are here to assist and support them along the way.”
As part of continued participation in the MVPP, all Star sites are required to conduct outreach and mentoring beyond their own facility. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including mentoring other worksites interested in improving their safety and health programs. Billerud’s Quinnesec Mill fulfills this responsibility by providing practical guidance to organizations like MBLP, helping to strengthen workplace protections across Michigan’s industries.
“We are very impressed with what Quinnesec has accomplished,” said Josh Hendrickson, director of operations and maintenance for the Marquette Board of Light and Power. “We feel much more confident about our MVPP journey knowing we have great people we can reach out to for guidance.”
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The MVPP Star designation reflects the successful collaboration between employees, management and MIOSHA in achieving the highest standards in workplace safety and health. Of the more than 900,000 businesses in Michigan, only 26 currently hold this prestigious status.
Interested in achieving MVPP Star status? Learn more about the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program and how your workplace can qualify: Michigan.gov/MIOSHA-MVPP.
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 MIOSHA encourages employers to prioritize workplace safety with the message “Educate Before We Regulate.” Resources are available at Michigan.gov/cet.
There have been nine work-related fatalities reported to MIOSHA in 2025. The information below shares preliminary details about the 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 incidents and are not the result of any official MIOSHA investigation.
Preliminary Summaries of the 2025 incidents:
Two cement finishers were grinding and polishing a concrete floor in a customer's pole barn. When the employer had not heard from them by 8:30 p.m., he contacted the homeowner, who found both employees unconscious. The 43-year-old victim was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the second employee was hospitalized in critical condition. The employees had used propane-powered equipment in the enclosed barn without ventilation.
A 42-year-old laborer was pulling a trailer with a side-by-side utility task vehicle (UTV) when the trailer came off the hitch. The trailer’s tongue went underneath the truck causing it to collide with a stationary metal pole. The pole penetrated the cab of the truck fatally injuring the victim.
A 29-year-old roofer was working on a residential roof. The roof of this home was covered with plywood and tarps. The victim went on the roof to remove the tarp. While the victim was cutting the tarp, the victim fell approximately 20 feet onto their head. The victim was found on the ground wearing a harness. The victim was pronounced deceased at the worksite.
A 34-year-old senior foreman pipefitter was performing underground piping when the trench caved in burying the victim. The employee died as a result of the injuries at the worksite.
A 32-year-old roofer was installing a roofing membrane when they fell off the roof approximately 20 feet to the ground. The victim was transported to the hospital, placed on life support, and died as a result of the injuries on March 9.
A 63-year-old machine repairman was performing maintenance tasks near a conveyor line. During the task, a motorized arm pinned the victim to the conveyor causing fatal crushing injuries.
A 64-year-old truck driver was parked on a hill to unload a double trailer of aggregate for a water and sewer project. The rear trailer needed to be unhooked in order to dump the front trailer. After both trailers were emptied, the victim was in the process of hooking up the rear trailer when it began rolling down the hill, striking the driver, causing fatal injuries.
A 38-year-old Arborist was working at a logging site. After taking a break, the victim walked onto the property line and was struck by a tree affected by oak wilt, approximately 60 feet away and not part of the work area. The victim died at the scene.
A 71-year-old machine operator was cutting steel banding securing a bundle of 2-inch by 2-inch square metal tubing. After the banding was cut, the tubing collapsed and struck the victim’s legs, causing them to fall and hit their head. The victim was transported to the hospital and placed on life support but died from their injuries four days later.
May 1, 2025 – Intermittent Work Operations
May 14, 2025 – Communication of Inspection Findings
May 17, 2025 – Construction Partnerships for Worker Safety and Health
May 22, 2025 – Heat-related Illness - State Emphasis Program (SEP)
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.
Quick Links
Agency/Division Instructions/Memorandums
Air Contaminants Initiative
Asbestos Program
CET Request for Consultative Assistance Services (RCA)
CET Training Calendar
Construction Safety and Health Division (CSHD)
DVD/Video Library Service
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Fall Prevention Campaign (STOP FALLS. SAVE LIVES.)
General Industry Safety and Health Division (GISHD)
Hazard Communication/GHS
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Michigan Alliances
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Michigan Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP)
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MIOSHA Take A Stand Day
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