MIOSHA Announces $865,000 for Worker Protection Grants

Lansing, MI (Workerscompensation.com) - Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Deputy Director Rob Nederhood announced today the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has awarded 19 Consultation Education and Training (CET) Grants for Fiscal Year 2013 totaling $865,000 to promote worker safety and health across the state. The MIOSHA program is a LARA agency.

"We are pleased to expand the reach of the MIOSHA program by offering this additional investment to protect the safety and health of Michigan's working men and women," said Nederhood. "Employers who create a safe and healthy working environment protect their most valuable asset - their workers."

The Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division provides outreach services to employers in a variety of formats. The MIOSHA CET Grant Program provides additional options for safety and health education and training to employers and employees. Most of the grants focus on the performance goals identified in the FY 2009 - 2013 MIOSHA Strategic Plan, with a particular emphasis on hazard recognition and prevention for high-hazard industries.

The 19 statewide projects will include a wide range of training activities and proficiency levels, and many will offer interactive computer-based training modules. Training topics include: machine rescue operations; workplace violence prevention; healthcare and long-term care hazards; asbestos awareness; ergonomics; youth safety; fall protection; road construction; and construction site walkthroughs.

"Protecting workers is the mission of the MIOSHA program," said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. "Working collaboratively with the CET Grantees, we can provide Michigan employers and workers with creative and powerful tools to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses."

CET grants are awarded on a competitive basis to nonprofit organizations, such as universities, management/employer groups, labor/employee organizations, hospitals and service agencies. Grant recipients must detail in their proposals how their efforts will meet specific objectives.

Grant recipients file quarterly activity and financial reports with MIOSHA to ensure compliance with CET Grant reporting requirements. MIOSHA representatives monitor the proposal programs and observe on-site each program's operations.

For many years, the CET Grants have increased the awareness of safety in the workplace. The FY 2013 CET Grants continue MIOSHA's commitment to greater training of safety practices and fewer workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Information on the CET Grant Program is available on the MIOSHA website at www.michigan.gov/mioshagrants.