State fines two Oakland County businesses for COVID-19 safety violations
The State of Michigan has issued its third round of COVID-19 workplace safety citations, including two against Oakland Countybased businesses.
On Friday, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) issued an additional 10 COVID-19 “general duty” citations following on-site inspections of companies that allegedly committed serious violations by failing to implement necessary precautions to protect employees from contracting COVID-19. Deficiencies included a lack of health screenings, face coverings, employee training, cleaning measures and overall preparedness plans.
The MIOSHA “general duty” clause requires an employer to provide a workplace that is free fromrecognized hazards that are causing, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harmto the employee. Ageneralduty clause citation carries a fine of up to $7,000.
Here’s who was cited locally and why according to MIOSHA:
Oakland County
• Merlo Construction Company, Inc. based in Milford: Fined $5,600 for violations of COVID-19 workplace safety requirements including failure to require face coverings for employees when social distancing could not be maintained, failing to train employees and failing to develop and follow a preparedness and response plan. A programmed inspection was conducted at a Livonia jobsite. Citation can be found here: https://www.michigan. gov/documents/leo/Draft_ Citation _-_ Merlo_ Inc .__1483556_703827_7. pdf.
• Tel-12 Cloverleaf BP Inc., a gas station located at 28995 Telegraph Rd, Southfield: Fined $2,100 for C OVID -19 workplace safety requirements including the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failure to require face coverings for employees when social distancing could not be maintained, and failing to conduct the daily health screening including a questionnaire. The inspection was initiated as part of the COVID-19 Retail State Emphasis Program. The citation can be found here: https:// www. michigan. gov/documents/ leo/Citation_-_ Tel_ 12_ Cloverleaf_ BP_ Inc_703808_7.pdf.
The additional eight businesses are based in Bay City, Port Huron, Romulus, Saginaw, Freeland, Eastpointe, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. To date, MIOSHA has handed out 35 COVID-19 workplace safety violations.
Cited employers will be required to provide proof to MIOSHA administration that they’ve removed the cited hazards. The citations also include suggestions to fix the hazards to protect employees.