The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday announced its first round of citations to businesses violating coronavirus safety measures.
“The MIOSHA investigations determined that these six employers were clearly not taking the appropriate steps to protect employees and their communities from the spread of COVID-19,” MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said in a press release.
“These citations are meant to reiterate the employer’s duty,” Pickelman said. “Precautions are necessary to establish and maintain a work environment where everyone can return home safe and healthy.”
MIOSHA, which regulates workplace safety in Michigan, issued the citations under the “general duty” clause requiring employers to provide workplaces free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or physical harm. The citation can carry a fine of up to $7,000 and there is no lesser charge when it comes to an appeal.
Citations were written for several reasons, including:
- Allowing people to work in a shared space without masks or staying distanced at six feet apart.
- Gathering of over 120 people without masks.
- Companies not completing daily health screening of employees.
- Companies did not provide free face coverings to employees.
- Didn’t train employees to recognize symptoms of COVID-19.
- Not having a COVID-19 preparedness response plan.
- Companies allowing workers within six feet of one another when it was feasible to work six feet apart.
Click here to view MIOSHA’s COVID-19 Workplace Guidelines.
If you have any questions about the COVID-19 workplace guidelines, please contact MITA’s Director of Safety and Compliance Greg Brooks at gregbrooks@thinkmita.org or call the MITA office at 517-347-8336.
