6 MiMfg Magazine July 2020
Keynote
Conversation
Bart Pickelman
Director
MIOSHA
Q:
How does your background
help you work with
manufacturers in your
current role?
Pickelman: I was born and
raised in Saginaw where
manufacturing was the
lifeblood of the community
providing jobs and a good
standard of living for many and
giving me a true understanding
of the value of this industry sector. Over my three
decades of work as a health and safety professional,
I have toured and inspected hundreds of
manufacturers which has provided me exposure to
a vast array of different types of manufacturing
and allowed me the opportunity to learn how to
protect employees in various work environments.
Q:
As the state and businesses reopen,
there are more regulations and protocols
being put in place. How will these
expanded regulations be enforced?
Pickelman: MIOSHA intends to provide the guard
rails to help ensure the appropriate precautions are
implemented to protect workers and mitigate the
spread of COVID-19. The approach allows
maximum flexibility for employers to work with
their employees to determine the best measures to
use in their specific workplaces.
MIOSHA will enforce the requirements in the
Governor’s executive orders related to workplace safety
along with applicable guidelines from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA). The first step is for employers to
determine the risk category of their employees
using the OSHA guidance and then develop a
written COVID-19 preparedness plan detailing
the precautions being put in place such as health
screening, social distancing, cleaning protocols,
engineering controls, personal protective equipment
(PPE) and the requisite training for employees.
11Began his MIOSHA career as a compliance officer
and also served as Ergonomic Specialist, Safety
and Health Manager and MIOSHA Deputy Director
before being appointed Director in 2016.
11Oversees all aspects of the MIOSHA program, which
includes occupational safety and health compliance
in general industry and the outreach activities of the
Consultation Education and Training Division.
11A Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) with over 30 years
of experience in the private and public sectors.
Q:
How is your department helping manufacturers
stay informed of changing, expanded or new
regulatory requirements?
Pickelman: MIOSHA’s motto is to “educate before
we regulate” and we are very fortunate in Michigan
to have a very robust Consultation Education and
Training (CET) division within the agency and great
support from the Department of Labor and Economic
Opportunity communications staff. The CET
division has developed PowerPoint presentations
for employers and employees covering general
expectations and other presentations for specific
industry sectors as they are permitted to reopen
under the executive orders. In addition, a template
for a COVID-19 preparedness plan for employers
with low and medium risk employees has been
created. These presentations, the COVID-19 plan
template and other helpful handouts, posters, and
fact sheets can be found online at Michigan.gov/
COVIDWorkplaceSafety. Finally, a MIOSHA
COVID-19 hotline has been launched to answer
questions and provide guidance to both employers
and employees. The new hotline is 855-SAFE-C19
or 855-723-3219.
Q:
Where do you see Michigan and manufacturing
heading as the state continues efforts to
revitalize Michigan’s economic engine?
Pickelman: Michigan has a very long and proud
history of manufacturing and I believe this pandemic
will once again prove the importance of this sector.
Manufacturing will reopen, resurge, in some instances
reinvent and retool in order to greatly contribute
to the economic vitality in this great state. 6