Advocacy News – November 24, 2020
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) announced last week it is increasing its focus on workplace safety in the construction and manufacturing industries through two State Emphasis Programs (SEP). The goal of these programs, similar to the SEP for offices, is to ensure compliance with workplace safety rules related to COVID-19.
The construction and manufacturing SEPs will be in effect through Feb. 8, 2021. Under the SEPs, MIOSHA staff will conduct random enforcement inspections at construction sites and manufacturing establishments. If the inspections determine deficiencies in the employer’s COVID-19 preparedness and response plans, citations and penalties up to $7,000 may be issued.
In the requirements posted at Michigan.gov/COVIDworkplacesafety and according to requirements of the CDC guidelines and OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, some of the steps that construction and manufacturing businesses must take include:
- Conducting daily health screenings of employees and contractors
- Isolating those with symptoms and quarantining close contacts
- Requiring employees to wear face coverings
- Implementing enhanced cleaning protocols when employees or the public become sick
- Maintaining compliance with social distancing
- Developing and using a preparedness and response plan.
The state’s full press release on the SEP plan can be found here.
Please contact Wendy Block at the MI Chamber with any questions at wblock@michamber.com.