The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited nine businesses for failing to take safety precautions and protect workers from contracting COVID-19.
Violations included a lack of health screenings, face coverings, employee training, cleaning measures and overall preparedness plans, according to a news release from MIOSHA.
The general duty citations carry a fine of up to $7,000. The cited companies will have 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest the violations and penalties or provide proof that abatement has been completed.
The following were cited, according to the MIOSHA release:
- Minority Auto Handling Specialists Inc. in Woodhaven, fined $3,000 for violations of COVID-19 workplace safety requirements including the lack adequate training and failure to routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces, provide paper towels and hand sanitizer.
- Bayside Hospitality Inc. dba Tawas Bay Beach Resort in East Tawas was fined $1,500 for lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19, assuming and not asking if patrons not wearing mask were not medically able to tolerate a mask, and not keeping everyone on the premises 6 feet apart.
- Value City Furniture in Flint was fined $1,500 for lack of a preparedness and response plan, failure to conduct a daily entry self-screening protocol for all employees or contractors entering the workplace, not keeping everyone at least 6 feet apart, not requiring face coverings when social distancing could not be maintained, not training employees on the steps the they must take to notify the business or operation of any symptoms of COVID-19 or a suspected or confirmed diagnosis, not posting signs at store entrances for customers and assuming customers not wearing mask had a medical condition.
- United States Lighting dba U B Tan in FentonI was fined $400 for lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19, not conducting daily self-screening protocols for COVID-19 and not posting signs informing customers not to enter if they are or have recently been sick.
- Lane Automotive in Watervliet was fined $3,500 for lack of face coverings when employees were within 6 feet of each other, allowing barriers to be removed in break rooms so employees could sit next to each other and not avoiding larger meetings when social distancing was possible.
- Red River Restaurant Group dba FireRock Grille in Caledonia will be fined $6,300 for lack of face coverings worn for customers, not closing waiting areas and not avoiding large gatherings.
- Andersons Service Center in Midland was fined $400 for lack of a preparedness and response plan, no training, not providing face coverings, lack of postings and posters, no designated worksite supervisor, no increase in facility cleaning, lack of cleaning supplies and failing to conduct the daily health screening including a questionnaire.
- Jerry’s Tire in Lake Odessa was fined $3,500 for lack of training for employees on the infectious disease preparedness and response plan; no postings on employees staying home if sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and hand hygiene; not conducting daily in-person or virtual health checks or having employees self-monitor; no face coverings when employees were within 6 feet of each other; and not routinely cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- River City Reproductions and Graphics in Kentwood will be fined $2,100 for lack of a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan, lack of employee training, not conducting self-screenings for employees and not enforcing face coverings and social distancing.