Signature project

Strategic plan: In FY 2008, MIOSHA developed a new five-year strategic plan to guide enforcement and outreach activities during fiscal years 2009-2013. This is MIOSHA's third plan.

The new plan helps target resources to protect worker safety and health. Previous plans identified injuries, illnesses, and industries separately. The new plan focuses on specific industries then looks at the most prevalent injuries and illnesses within each industry.

The overall strategic goals and emphasis areas were developed by the MIOSHA Strategic Plan Implementation Team. The team reviewed BLS and workers' compensation data, inspection experience, workplace trends, and other information to identify areas to be covered. Workgroups throughout MIOSHA developed annual strategies.

Stakeholders across Michigan were also asked to provide feedback. A special stakeholder meeting was held April 29, 2008, to hear first-hand from nearly 100 representatives from businesses, employee organizations, universities, trade associations, and government agencies.

Since implementation of MIOSHA's first strategic plan in 1999, overall trends in injury and illness rates for the targeted industries and fatalities showed steady decreases. Michigan's overall injury and illness rate has dropped from 8.1 in 1999 to 5.1 in 2007. MIOSHA program-related fatalities fell from 87 to 31 during that same period.

Emphasis program

Fall Protection Initiative: On March 10, 2008, MIOSHA launched an extensive campaign to alert 8,000 general industry and construction employers that they must provide appropriate fall protection and training for employees exposed to fall hazards. MIOSHA initiated the campaign to increase awareness of fall hazards, to highlight the need for appropriate fall protection, and to help ensure that employees receive the training required by MIOSHA rules.

"Because of the high rate of injuries and fatalities related to fall hazards, reducing these hazards is a priority of the MIOSHA Program," said MIOSHA Director Doug Kalinowski. Incidents caused by falls can be anticipated and prevented. MIOSHA rules for construction and general industry employers require that they address the variety of fall hazards in their workplace."

Fifteen recent MIOSHA Training Institute (MTI) graduates were recognized by MIOSHA and Macomb Community College officials.

MIOSHA Training Institute (MTI): In fiscal year 2008, MIOSHA implemented a new safety and health training program, the MIOSHA Training Institute (MTI). Seminars offered through the MTI provide the public an opportunity to attend a series of programs to achieve Level One and Level Two Certification. Participants can receive certification in one of two tracks: General Industry Safety and Health, or Construction Safety and Health. More than 120 courses were offered in FY 2008 throughout the state.

The MTI has quickly become the premier provider of workplace safety and health training in Michigan. Real-world safety training solutions have been provided to nearly 3,200 individuals enrolled in the MTI statewide. Since October 2007, 92 students have qualified for Level One Certification.

Connecting MIOSHA to Industry: MIOSHA is continuing a very successful initiative, "Connecting MIOSHA to Industry." The goals are to support proactive safety and health systems, decrease workplace safety and health hazards, expand partnership opportunities, and increase the competitiveness of Michigan employers. "Connecting MISOHA to Industry" is increasing our program effectiveness by ensuring that interventions are educational, informative, and useful.

Enforcement

Pretco Technologies: On July 17, 2008, MIOSHA compliance officers carried out a Cease Operation Order against Pretco Technologies in Mt. Morris for continuing to run operations without required eye wash facilities, a chemical safety program, or personal protective equipment. This action stemmed from violations first identified in 2005 because of a complaint inspection. The company failed to submit abatement information and MIOSHA conducted three follow-up inspections. The company received failure-to-abate citations following each inspection.

In addition to the follow-up inspections, MIOSHA contacted the company on nine separate occasions from 2005 to 2008 to discuss abatement methods and offer help. On each occasion, the firm continued to conduct operations without the required protections. On July 17, 2008, a return visit to the firm found the violations had yet to be fixed. During this return visit, the Cease Operation Order was issued. The citations were abated when MIOSHA visited the facility on July 21, 2008, and the tags were removed.

Severstal Inc.: In November 2008, Severstal Inc. of Dearborn received 152 MIOSHA citations, with proposed penalties totaling $679,890, alleging the company failed to adequately protect employees from serious safety hazards. Severstal North America, Inc. is the fourth largest integrated steelmaking company in the U.S. On Jan. 28, 2008, two safety officers conducted an inspection covering the entire blast furnace process. There were 152 violations found during the inspection: 102 serious, 12 repeat-serious, and 38 other-than-serious. There were multiple instances of the same violation throughout the blast furnace process area. MIOSHA and Severstal are negotiating a settlement agreement.

Durant Hotel Project: On Sept. 9, 2008, a crew of 12 employees was working on the seventh and eighth floors of the Durant Hotel in Flint, removing debris and interior walls. While throwing debris through a window, a 23-yearold employee fell more than 80 feet from a window opening that was not properly guarded. The employee landed on a debris pile, and survived the fall with multiple fractures and lacerations.

An employee working on the roof of this five-story building fell to his death through an unsecured roof cover.

Four companies received citations alleging they failed to adequately protect employees from fall hazards, with proposed penalties totaling $162,000. MIOSHA concluded that the four companies at the site all had responsibility for the window hazards that caused the accident. Every employer was cited for failure to guard the window openings. The employer of the injured worker was cited for failure to use a material chute when removing debris material.

Wayne State University: On June 23, 2008, MIOSHA cited five construction companies $40,350 in proposed penalties for a fall-related fatality at Wayne State University. A crew was on the roof of a five-story apartment building being constructed on the WSU campus. A 19-year-old worker fell to his death through an unguarded floor opening. Because of the MIOSHA investigation, five contractors on site were cited for failure to protect their workers against fall hazards.

Outreach

MIOSHA's Consultation Education and Training Division (CET) focuses outreach on companies with the greatest need. During May and June 2008, more than 5,000 letters were sent to Michigan employers offering assistance through the CET Division. Michigan is required to report its CET activities annually to the Michigan Legislature. CET Division consultants provided the following outreach services during fiscal year 2008:

Acument Global Technologies − the Holly Operations Gainey Drive facility received the Michigan VPP Star Award on June 20, 2008.

• 3,034 safety and health consultations
• 728 on-site surveys
• 1,187 training sessions, with an attendance of 19,078 participants

The Michigan Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP) has 27 Star sites and three Rising Star sites. MIOSHA also has 17 SHARP companies.

MIOSHA awarded 20 CET Grants in fiscal year 2008, totaling $1 million. The CET Grant Program provides additional options for safety and health education and training to employers and employees.

Partnerships

Michigan Sugar Company: On May 21, 2008, Michigan Sugar Company; the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM); and MIOSHA signed a formal partnership to improve worker safety and health at Michigan Sugar Company facilities.

The Michigan Sugar Partnership was signed by all partners at the company's Bay City headquarters.

This partnership is an outgrowth of a 2005 compliance case in which MIOSHA cited the company with $277,650 in proposed penalties for seven willful violations and 24 serious violations at its Caro plant. The partnership covers all Michigan Sugar Company locations and involves enforcement and compliance staff. Sharing safety and health information is a key component of the agreement and will help identify emerging issues in the food processing industry.

Kamminga & Roodvoets: On April 14, 2008, MIOSHA signed their sixth construction partnership with this contractor around a $3.3 million road construction project that includes sewer and water main construction. In October 2008, the project was completed with more than 14,900 hours worked and no recordable or lost-time incidents.

Alliances: The MIOSHA Alliance program was officially launched in fiscal year 2004 and MIOSHA currently has 17 active alliances. These alliances have generated hundreds of opportunities to improve the worksites represented by the signing organizations.