Michigan fines 12 constructionrelated businesses for COVID-19 violations
NUCA of Florida Members — Please be sure you are following the latest CDC and OSHA guidelines to protect your employees in the office and at the job site from COVID-19 . This article illustrates how quickly fines can pile up if you are noncompliant .
By Kim Slowey @ kimslowey
Dive Brief :
■ The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( MIOSHA ) has issued citations to 19 companies for “ serious ” COVID-19-related safety violations and levied a total of $ 51,400 in fines against the offenders . Twelve of the companies are related to the construction industry , and their total fines were $ 29,900 .
■ MIOSHA cited the companies under the “ general duty ” clause , which , like federal OSHA , tasks all employers with providing a workplace free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees .
■ The companies have 15 days to contest the citations and fines and must prove to MIOSHA that the unsafe conditions listed in the citations have been abated .
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Dive Insight : The citations that MIOSHA issued included :
■ Failure to maintain social distancing when possible .
■ Failure to require face coverings when social distancing cannot be maintained .
■ Not having a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan .
■ Failure to designate a COVID-19 workplace supervisor .
■ Not training employees on COVID-19 .
■ Failure to maintain / retain records of daily health screenings .
General duty clause violations , which in Michigan carry a maximum penalty of $ 7,000 , are typically used when there is not a safety standard specific to the condition being cited , and COVID-19 falls into that category in most states and at the federal OSHA level .