MICHIGAN - The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) says it has issued COVID-19 emergency rule or general duty citations to 20 businesses for "failing to protect workers and take safety precautions."

 

Under MIOSHA’s Emergency Rules, businesses that resume in-person work must, among other things, have a written COVID-19 preparedness and response plan and provide thorough training to their employees that covers, at a minimum, workplace infection-control practices, the proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE), and steps workers must take to notify the business or operation of any symptoms of COVID-19 or a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. 

 

Fines range from less than $1,000 to as high as $9,000. Most of the citations came from planned inspections, though one resulted from an employee complaint. Like other OSHA violations, businesses have 15 days to either contest or accept the citations.

 

Of the 20 businesses, 11 are home remodeling, construction, and roofing firms. They are:

 

• Construction firm D.J. McQuestion & Sons was fined $2,800 for not having a daily entry screening protocol, lack of social distancing, failure to increase cleaning and disinfection, failure to notify health department of an employee with a confirmed case of COVID-19, lack of recordkeeping, and lack of face coverings when workers could not consistently maintain six feet of social distancing. The inspection was in response to an employee complaint.
• Home remodeling firm F M Carpenters was cited for not having a preparedness and response plan. Total penalties were $800.
• Jose Torres Construction was fined $9,000 for not having a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 control strategies, lack of social distancing, and lack of face coverings when workers could not consistently maintain six feet of social distancing.
• Flooring installer D.F. Corp. was fined $1,000 for not developing a preparedness and response plan, not documenting daily health screenings, not requiring face coverings, and providing no training for COVID-19.
• United Construction Services was cited for not having onsite a preparedness and response plan and not documenting daily health screenings. Total penalties, including other workplace violations, were $800.
• JRN Construction Services was cited for not having a preparedness and response plan. Total penalties were $800.
• Home renovation firm Country Boy Builder was fined $2,100 for not having a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 control strategies, lack of social distancing, and lack of face coverings when workers could not consistently maintain six feet of social distancing. Total penalties, including other workplace violations, were $8,300.
• Remodeling contractor C&M Exterior was fined $2,800 for not having a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 control strategies, lack of social distancing, and lack of face coverings when workers could not consistently maintain six feet of social distancing. Total penalties, including other workplace violations, were $6,100.
• Home builder Eastbrook Homes Inc was fined $3,500 for not having a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 control strategies, lack of social distancing, lack of self-screening protocols for COVID-19, and lack of face coverings when workers could not consistently maintain six feet of social distancing. Total penalties, including other workplace violations, were $5,500.
• High Point Roofing was fined $2,100 for not having a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 control strategies, lack of social distancing, and lack of face coverings when workers could not consistently maintain six feet of social distancing. Total penalties including other workplace violations, were $5,300.
• Sid’s Professional Roofing & More was fined $2,100 for not having a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 control strategies, lack of social distancing, and lack of face coverings when workers could not consistently maintain six feet of social distancing. Total penalties, including other workplace violations, were $8,200.

 

See the full list of fined companies here. Last September, nine other similar businesses faced citations.