The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) intends to list styrene as known to the State to cause cancer under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (known as Proposition 65). This action is being proposed under the authoritative bodies listing mechanism. OEHHA is the lead agency for Proposition 65 implementation. After an authoritative body has made a determination about a chemical, OEHHA evaluates whether listing under Proposition 65 is required using the criteria contained in the regulations.
” OEHHA is relying on NTP’s discussion of data and conclusions in the report that styrene causes cancer. Evidence described in the report includes studies showing that styrene increased the incidence of combined malignant and benign lung tumors in two strains of male mice (CD-1 and B6C3F1) and increased the incidences of malignant and combined malignant and benign lung tumors in female CD-1 mice.
Accordingly, NTP (2011) found that styrene causes increased incidences of combined malignant and benign lung tumors in two strains of male mice, exposed by different routes of administration (i.e., oral and inhalation), and increased incidences of malignant and combined malignant and benign lung tumors in female mice.
A prior Notice of Intent to List styrene as known to cause cancer was published on June 12, 2009, under the California Labor Code listing mechanism (Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(a)), based on a monograph published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer that identified styrene as a Group 2B carcinogen with less than sufficient evidence in animals but supporting mechanistic data. The proposed listing was withdrawn based on the Court of Appeal decision published on October 31, 2012 (Styrene Information and Research Center v Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (2013) 210 Cal.App. 4th. 1082). In January 2013, OEHHA proposed the listing of styrene under the Labor Code listing mechanism, based on the Report on Carcinogens (twelfth edition) published by the NTP. That notice was withdrawn in March 2013, pending the results of federal litigation and additional peer review of the NTP’s Report on Carcinogens by the National Academy of Sciences of the National Research Council. The litigation was resolved in favor of the NTP and the National Research Council review confirmed the NTP findings of the carcinogenicity of styrene. In the interim, certain provisions of the federal OSHA regulations were extensively amended. Those regulations no longer identify the NTP as a definitive source for identifying chemicals for listing via the Labor Code mechanism. Therefore, OEHHA is noticing its intent to list styrene via the authoritative bodies listing mechanism based on the NTP report.
How to Implement OSHA’s Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication Standard (GHS)
OSHA has issued a final rule revising its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. This means that virtually every product label, safety data sheet (formerly called “material safety data sheet” or MSDS), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on safety data sheets.
Houston RCRA and DOT Training
Jacksonville RCRA and DOT Training
San Antonio RCRA and DOT Training
Study Finds Long-Term Exposure to Ultrafine Particle Air Pollution Associated With Death From Heart Disease
A new study by the California EPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) demonstrates an association between long-term exposure to ultrafine particle air pollution and death from heart disease. Ultrafine air pollution particles are tiny—about 0.1 micron in diameter or roughly one-thousandth the width of a human hair. These particles are generated from gas and diesel motor vehicle engines, biomass burning, and energy production.
The study is the first to consider the effects on people of long-term exposure to ultrafine particles.
"This research provides an important contribution to our understanding of the progression of air pollution-related heart disease," said OEHHA Director Dr. George Alexeeff. "Research in this area is critical to furthering our understanding of the potential health impacts of the smallest air pollution particles and how they can best be addressed."
"Our findings suggest that ultrafine particles may have a significant impact on public health," said lead author Dr. Bart Ostro, former chief of OEHHA's Air Pollution Epidemiology Section. "This study also provides evidence about the relative importance of the different types and sources of microscopic air pollution particles and may aid in prioritizing and reducing the cost of pollution control." The study, titled "Long-term exposures to fine and ultrafine particles, species and sources: Results from the California Teachers Study Cohort," analyzed data from more than 100,000 middle-aged women whose health status was followed from 2000 through 2007. The findings, based on data from California teachers and administrators recruited from the State Teachers Retirement System, indicate that different types of tiny particles, including those formed from gas- and diesel-fueled vehicles, biomass burning, and other combustion sources, were strongly associated with death from heart disease caused by blocked arteries.
Key findings included:
- Ultrafine and fine particles (2.5 microns in size, or about one-thirtieth that of human hair) contributed to heart disease mortality
- Certain constituents of ultrafine particles were strongly associated with death from heart attacks. These constituents included copper, iron, other metals, and elemental carbon (soot).
- For several constituents, the ultrafine particles were more strongly associated with death from heart attacks than those in the larger (but still tiny) fine particle size range
OEHHA's Dr. Ostro co-authored the paper with researchers from the Cancer Prevention Institute of California, the City of Hope National Medical Center, and the University of California, Davis. The latter developed unique methods to estimate long-term exposures to air pollution that were critical to the study.
Respirator Certification Final Rule
The final rule amends 42 CFR 84, Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices and creates two new fee schedules: one that specifies annual or fixed fees, and the other that specifies application-based fees.
The fee schedules will remain in effect for at least two years and will be revised as needed to reflect cost increases. Fee schedule updates will be published in the Federal Register and will be subject to public comment.
Oat Breakfast Cereals May Contain a Common Mold-Related Toxin
Oats are often touted for boosting heart health, but scientists warn that the grain and its products might need closer monitoring for potential mold contamination. The findings could have implications for consumer health.
Dojin Ryu and Hyun Jung Lee note that OTA is one of the most common toxic products released by molds in the world. Previous studies have found the toxin in samples of pork, dried fruits, wine, coffee, and other products. Scientists don’t yet know how the toxin affects human health, but the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, classifies it as a possible human carcinogen. Animals exposed to OTA in experiments developed kidney tumors. Although the US doesn’t currently regulate the contaminant, the European Union has set maximum limits for OTA in food. Ryu and Lee wanted to see how US breakfast cereals—a staple in many Americans’ diets—measured up to that standard.
The researchers tested close to 500 samples of corn-, rice-, wheat- and oat-based breakfast cereals purchased from US stores over two years. They found that in most samples, OTA levels were lower than the European threshold. But concentrations exceeded the EU standard in 8% of oat-based breakfast cereal samples. The researchers conclude that oat production, storage, and processing need careful review to better protect consumer health.
A & D Wood Products Fined $133,540 for Exposing Workers to Amputation, Explosion Hazards
An employee complaint led inspectors from OSHA to a wood pallet manufacturing facility in Elida, Ohio, operated by A & D Wood Products, where they found workers at risk of amputation, explosion, and other life-threatening hazards.
The force from such an explosion can cause deaths, injuries, and destruction of buildings.
"A & D Wood Products operates a manufacturing shop that exposes workers to real hazards daily, creating an environment that forces workers to make a choice between their lives and their livelihood," said Kim Nelson, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "With 27 violations, it's clear the safety and health of its workforce is not a priority for them."
The US Chemical Safety Board identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that led to the deaths of 119 workers, 718 injuries, and extensive damage to numerous industrial facilities.
A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard for the law's requirement, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.
Inspectors also flagged electrical safety hazards, as cabinets were not closed properly to prevent contact with energized wires. OSHA issues repeated violations if an employer was previously cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule, or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
A & D also failed to provide hearing protection and audiometric testing for employees, which can identify premature hearing loss. This exposure can cause permanent hearing loss that neither surgery nor a hearing aid can correct.
OSHA inspectors also noted additional machine guarding and electrical safety violations, poor hygiene conditions and unsafe practices related to forklift operations, including leaving forklifts running and unattended. The company also failed to train employees on fire extinguisher use and about hazardous chemicals and products used in the facility, and provided inadequate personal protective equipment. In total, 19 serious violations were cited.
A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Manhattan Duane Reade Store Fined $77,400 for Fire and Crushing Hazards
Employees of a Duane Reade store on 6th Avenue in Manhattan, NY would have been unable to exit the store swiftly and safely in the event of a fire or other emergency, a September 2014 inspection by OSHA found. As a result, OSHA has cited the company for one repeated and four serious violations of workplace safety standards. The retailer faces $77,400 in proposed fines.
The emergency exit lights were not illuminated, and one exit was not marked.
"An exit route should not be an obstacle course. Seconds count during a fire or other emergency. These obstructions steal away precious moments employees could use to save themselves," said Kay Gee, OSHA's area director in Manhattan. "This is especially troubling because we cited Duane Reade in 2013 for similar hazards at its 598 Broadway store in Lower Manhattan."
OSHA's inspection of the Duane Reade, Inc., store #14108 at 1150 6th Ave. came in response to an employee complaint about obstructed exits. Inspectors also found that boxes of merchandise and inventory in the store's second-floor stockroom were unsafely stacked in 10- to 12-foot piles that could tip, slide, or collapse, striking or crushing workers.
"These hazards from top to bottom, so they don't occur again here or at any other Duane Reade store. The lives and well-being of employees depend on it," Gee said.
A subsidiary of Illinois-based Walgreen Co., Duane Reade operates a chain of 250 pharmacies and convenience stores in the greater New York City area.
Oregon OSHA Cites Fleetwood Homes Inc. for Willful Safety Violations
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has fined Fleetwood Homes, Inc., $75,800 for five violations, including one willful violation. The citation was the result of an August 29, 2014, complaint inspection at the company's Woodburn plant.
The investigation found managers at the mobile home manufacturer were aware of employee exposures to falls but did not provide protection, despite concerns brought forward to managers by employees and by Oregon OSHA. The company manufactures a mobile home model with fall exposures 13 feet from the ground. Roofers had to climb over the guardrails of scaffolding onto the roof of the mobile home with no tie-off points to connect a fall protection harness. Employees brought up the issue three times with management in 2014 before a complaint was made to Oregon OSHA.
"Year after year, falls are one of the major sources of serious injury and death in Oregon," said Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood. "There is no good reason to disregard the need to protect workers from such risks. Yet, this employer consciously ignored fall protection rules that are designed to prevent injuries or deaths."
Oregon OSHA cited the business $70,000—the legal maximum—for the willful violation. Even after Oregon OSHA itself brought the issue to management's attention and management acknowledged the need to provide fall protection, work continued without such protection.
The following serious violations were also found during the inspection:
- Employer allowed employees to stand on the guard rail of scaffolding
- Employer failed to provide an access ladder or other safe access to scaffolding
- Employer failed to provide hard hats in an area where there was an exposure to falling objects
- Employer failed to inspect fall protection equipment
The company has 30 days to appeal the citation.
Worker Loses Toes in Kansas Grain Bin
He walked into the grain storage bin on his own two feet, but he left in an ambulance. The 35-year-old had been working for the Beattie Farmers Union Cooperative for about a year when one day he became entangled in an auger that was inadvertently turned on while he was cleaning out the bin. After identifying one willful, one repeated, and three serious safety and health violations, OSHA proposed penalties of $65,900.
"Beattie knows how to protect its workers, but failed to do so, and because of their negligence, this worker lost all the toes on his left foot," said Judy Freeman, OSHA's area director in Wichita. " Industry leaders must ensure their workers are trained on all necessary precautions to avoid these hazards."
OSHA's inspection found that Beattie employees were simultaneously cleaning out two steel grain bins in preparation for the fall harvest. The auger for one bin was turned on while the worker who was injured was inside cleaning out grain. The company willfully exposed the worker to caught-in and amputation hazards by failing to prevent the auger's unexpected startup. The employee has not been able to return to work since the incident.
Beattie was cited for this violation previously at its facility in 2010. OSHA issues repeated violations if an employer was cited previously for a similar violation within the past five years.
Three serious violations were cited.
In 2010, following the deaths of at least 26 US workers in grain bin entrapments, the highest number on record, OSHA focused its enforcement effort on the grain and feed industry's six major danger areas. OSHA has also published information related to common grain-industry hazards and abatement methods, proper bin entry techniques, sweep auger use, and many other grain-related topics.
San Juan Power Plant Fined $359,000.00 Following Fatality and Other Severe Injuries
Last summer the Puerto Rico Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (PR OSHA) responded to an accident at the San Juan Power Plant from the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). In this accident one worker died and two other workers were seriously injured when a hydrogen explosion occurred while performing a gassing and de-gassing process on the turbine on one of the boilers in the power plant.
PR OSHA personnel were present two hours after the explosion and during the extraction of the worker that died at the scene. The investigation started the same day of the event. The Assistant Secretary of PR SOHA, Jose I. Droz, held a meeting with the Bureau of Inspection Management for the purpose of identifying the best PR OSHA resources available to assist in the investigation for the incident.
The first step Assistant Secretary Droz took was to send a letter to the President of PREPA requesting all gassing processes cease until PR OSHA had observed and analyzed the tasks and procedures implemented by PREPA. This took many hours of studying the schematics, process flow charts, instructions, and procedures for the turbines and the processes. During the first two weeks, PR OSHA personnel were present at the plant verifying the confined space protocols and process to assure the safety of the workers at the plant. After that period PR OSHA sent a request to PREPA to be present in any gassing and de-gassing processes at the PREPA plant for the purpose of verifying that the process was done correctly and it was safe for the workers performing them. This was done for a three-month period.
After evaluation of those procedures by our team, PR OSHA requested that PREPA provide re-training on de-gassing and confined space for all the workers who perform these tasks before they were sent to do gassing procedures. PR OSHA held a meeting with PREPA management and union representatives to assure that the procedures and trainings given to the workers complied with the regulations and that they were working in a safe environment while performing the same procedures that had resulted in the San Juan Power Plant explosion.
PR OSHA’s role in this inspection went beyond that of an investigation, because they took an active role in providing guidance, identifying situations found to be hazardous, and making recommendations for possible solutions to problems observed during the inspections. This approach was taken with the intention of eliminating and/or controlling hazardous conditions, since shutting down the plant was not an option.
Assistant Secretary Droz announced there is clear evidence that injuries were caused by the unsafe conditions created by the PREPA. PR OSHA cited PREPA with three willful, 43 serious, and four other safety violations. All documentation requests and interviews were handled through PR OSHA’s legal division, which was extremely time-consuming, but they wanted assurance that all declarations were signed under oath.
The inspection was very complicated and time-consuming due to all the documentation and the processes that the CSHOs had to review, as well as having the Salt Lake City Lab examine the components involved in the accident. This was the first case where PR OSHA involved all of its available resources—the Bureau of Inspections, Technical Assistance, and the Legal Office. PR OSHA believes that this case will set precedence on how future fatal and catastrophic incidents are investigated. The case is currently being contested.
EP Heller Co. Fined $56,000 for Exposing Workers to Amputation Hazards
OSHA initiated an investigation at EP Heller Co., in Madison, New Jersey, on October 8, 2014, in response to a complaint. EP Heller Co., manufactures and services carbide steel cutting tools.
OSHA inspectors also identified 11 serious violations for hazards including workers not medically evaluated, fit tested, and trained on the respirators provided for protection against metal dust, and lack of guarding on grinding machinery.
The proposed penalties in this case reflect the severe nature of the cited hazards," said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's Parsippany Area Office. "OSHA remains committed to holding companies legally accountable for failing to uphold their responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace."
Bentley Laboratories Fined $53,000 for Exposing Temporary Workers to Chemical, Noise, and Machine Hazards
Bentley Laboratories, LLC, manufactures products for the beauty and pharmaceutical industries. OSHA initiated an inspection on October 16, 2014, in response to a complaint.
- Train workers on chemical hazards
- Maintain a hearing conservation program for employees exposed to excessive noise
- Develop procedures and training to control potentially hazardous energy
- Properly guard machines to prevent amputations
The staffing agency, Joul? was cited for three serious violations involving the lack of a hazardous communication program, and training related to hazardous chemicals and energy-control procedures.
"We see these kinds of violations frequently, especially in the case of temporary workers," said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA's Avenel Area Office. "Both the hiring company and the staffing agency are legally responsible for the safety and health of their workers."
William Trahant Jr. Construction Inc. Repeatedly Exposes Workers to Potentially Fatal Falls
OSHA’s Andover Area Office recently inspected William Trahant, Jr. Construction, Inc., roofing contractor in Lynn, Massachusetts, in response to a complaint.
William Trahant, Jr. Construction, Inc. was cited by OSHA for one willful, one repeat, and three serious violations of workplace safety and health standards. An additional fall hazard stemmed from using a damaged portable ladder, with split rails and bent rungs, to access the roof. Finally, an employee working on the ground beneath the roofers lacked a hardhat, exposing him to falling objects.
The willful and repeat citations stem from this employer's history of fall protection violations. William Trahant, Jr. Construction, Inc., was previously cited by OSHA for similar violations in August 2014 for a worksite located in Revere, Massachusetts, September 2012 for a site in Peabody, and July 2011 for another site in Peabody. Proposed Penalties total $43,560.
"Trahant Construction continues to demonstrate a wanton disregard for employee safety, exposing its employees to deadly or disabling injuries on multiple occasions," said Anthony Covello, OSHA's acting area director in Andover. "Falls are the leading cause of death in construction work. This employer must take steps to effectively train and enforce a culture of safety for himself and his employees."
Federal Judge Orders US Postal Service to Pay Employee $229K in Damages for Safety Whistleblower Retaliation
He started working for the US Postal Service as a mail carrier in 1995. Managers praised his work consistently and regularly promoted him, eventually to management positions. His career led him to become a Postal Service safety specialist, where he excelled as he provided safety advice at more than 300 small postal facilities and area offices throughout Washington. In 2008, everything changed after the safety specialist dared to help a co-worker stand up for her rights.
Seven years ago, he advised a co-worker to call OSHA about her workplace health concerns. Soon after, the safety specialist found himself working in an increasingly hostile work environment. In a matter of months, the worker was transferred to another office, forced to work in an unheated storage room, demoted, restricted on his movements, publicly humiliated, and subjected to four openly antagonistic interviews as part of workplace investigations. He was also issued a disciplinary letter and refused a promotion. In April 2008, the specialist filed his first whistleblower complaint with OSHA in Seattle. Several more complaints would follow as hostilities increased.
An OSHA investigation later confirmed the employee's complaints and acted on his behalf. On February 13, US District Judge Ricardo Martinez in Seattle agreed with OSHA's findings.
"This employee suffered grave public humiliation by his Postal Service supervisors and was the target of ridicule simply for doing his job and for standing up for the rights of a co-worker," said Ken Atha, OSHA regional administrator in Seattle.
The court found that the employee is entitled to $229,228 in damages. The ruling also requires the Postal Service to promote him to the same pay rate he would have now, had he not been denied a promotion. Judge Martinez also enjoined the Seattle-area Postal Service from discriminating against employees who complain to, or cooperate with, OSHA, and from failing to take action against managers who interfere with employees exercising their rights under the OSH Act.
"This 20-year veteran Postal Service employee is a true hero, and we hope that this court decision will be of some comfort to him for the retribution he suffered and a lesson to those employers, large or small, believing that they can act with impunity and without consequences," said Janet Herold, the department's regional solicitor in San Francisco.
The OSH Act prohibits managers from retaliating against an employee who gives another employee OSHA's telephone number. Workers have a right to contact OSHA and to assist others to connect with OSHA.
CPUC Issues Citations to PG&E and West Coast Gas Company for Safety Violations
Two Citations were issued to PG&E and one to West Coast Gas Company as follows:
- $150,000 citation to PG&E for lack of written quality control and quality assurance procedures to guide its personnel during normal operation and maintenance activities. Further, PG&E did not sufficiently address the federal requirements relating to abnormal operations in its emergency response procedures.
- $50,000 citation to PG&E for failure to set a pipeline relief valve within the allowable pressure limit
- $100,000 citation to West Coast Gas Company for three violations for failure to perform annual maintenance of a regulation station; failure to administer a required drug and alcohol testing for one of its employees; and failure to provide necessary employee assistance training for a supervisor to recognize the physical, behavioral, speech, and performance indicators of probable drug use and/or probable alcohol misuse
The utilities have 10 calendar days to pay or contest the Citations.
In September 2013, the CPUC finalized its internal procedures for its Gas Safety Citation Program, establishing the foundation for a program intended to make safety central to a utility company’s bottom line. The CPUC requires, first of all, the immediate correction of any unsafe condition. The CPUC’s Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) has staff-level authority to issue Citations to natural gas companies for violation of CPUC or Federal gas safety codes and regulations. The financial penalty can range up to $50,000 per day of violation.
Christman Company, Daniels Building Co., Inc. and MIOSHA Sign Partnership to Protect Workers
The Christman Company (Christman) Daniels Building Co., Inc. (Daniels), the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and partnering subcontractors signed a formal partnership recently with the goal of enhanced safety and health protection, and zero worker injuries during the construction of the state’s new State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).
“MIOSHA is pleased to once again partner with Christman and for the first time, Daniels, in what is the agency’s pilot level three construction partnership,” said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. “This designation signifies Christman’s prior MIOSHA partnership experience and long-standing record of safety and health, as well as the expectation that both companies, which are jointly serving as the project’s general contractor, act as mentors to other partnering companies in the future.”
The new SEOC, which will be used by the state of Michigan to coordinate emergencies and disasters with local, state, and federal agencies, is a $22 million project consisting of a 27,000 square foot addition to the General Office Building located at 7150 Harris Drive in Dimondale. It will also include 37,000 square feet of renovations to two floors of the building adjacent to the new addition.
The building’s hardened design complies with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements and will be built to withstand strong storms and tornadoes.
The project began November 10, 2014, and is expected to be completed by December 30, 2015.
Signing partners included MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder; Christman Vice President and Safety Director Don Staley, Senior Vice President John Holmstrom, and Project Superintendent Robert Winquist; as well as Daniels President Michael Daniels and 42 subcontractors working on the project.
Partnerships are an important emphasis in the MIOSHA Strategic Plan to improve the health and safety of workers through cooperative relationships; they move away from traditional enforcement methods and embrace collaborative agreements.
The safety and health of the SEOC project’s workers are fundamental to this partnership with MIOSHA. The leadership of Christman, Daniels, partnering trade contractors, LARA and MIOSHA are aligned and committed to achieving the objective of worker protection by providing a workplace with an effective safety management system that is hazard-free.
”We are honored to have been selected to take part in this first-ever level three safety partnership,” said Don Staley, Christman vice president and safety director. “We take seriously the challenge to not only commit to the success of the SEOC project, but to commit to improving the effectiveness of the use of a job hazard analysis, a leading industry wide safety planning tool, and mentoring other companies in the future.”
All partners agree to commit their leadership, time, and resources to achieve this valuable goal.
The active integration of the safety and health programs of Christman and Daniels, along with the partnership with the subcontractors and MIOSHA, will endorse the ultimate goal of zero unsafe conditions and work practices. As a level three partnership, the primary goals are limited in scope to a specific focus.
The goals of the partnership include:
- The establishment of metrics to review the effectiveness of subcontractor usage of job hazard analysis (JHA) at the start of the project and at key milestones throughout the duration of the project. A primary focus will be on how the content of the JHA is communicated to the workers and identifying communication techniques which will help to universally improve their overall effectiveness. Additionally, the team will work to identify improvements for typical JHA formats being used.
- Assuming direct responsibility of no less than the minimum level of performance set forth in the Project Safety and Health Program, which means full compliance with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Standards, and all applicable federal, state and local regulations
- Developing, promoting, and maintaining a positive safety climate at all times
- Giving consideration to all safety factors during the planning and scheduling of work operations to control potential injury and property damage hazards (JHA or Pre-Task Analysis required)
- Providing and enforcing the use of all necessary personal protective equipment, which includes but is not limited to: hard hats, safety glasses, earplugs, face shields, respirators, safety harnesses, lanyards, fall protection devices, and anchorage systems, etc.
“The MIOSHA program is committed to partnering with employers to continually improve Michigan’s workplace safety and health,” said Martha Yoder. “Through these important partnerships, MIOSHA can offer employers a voluntary, cooperative relationship to help eliminate serious hazards and achieve significant safety and health management goals.”
The partnership does not preclude MIOSHA from enforcing its mission of addressing complaints, fatalities, or serious accidents, nor does it infringe on the rights of employees to report workplace hazards.
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