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December 4, 2014  | Vol. 6, Issue 26
In This Issue
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MIOSHA
MIOSHA Awards Grants To Reduce Workplace Hazards
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) announced December 3 the first five small Michigan businesses to receive a matching grant to improve workplace safety and health.

The MIOSHA Safety and Health Improvement Program (MiSHIP) was first announced in early October, offering qualifying employers matching grants of up to $5,000 to purchase safety and health-related equipment. The grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

"We are proud to help Michigan's small businesses advance their safety and health management systems," said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. "And best of all, because MIOSHA is matching the grants, a total of $1 million is being invested in the state's workplace safety and health."

One of the first five companies to receive MiSHIP grants includes ABC member The Bouma Corporation. The MIOSHA release notes that Bouma Corporation was "awarded $5,000 to be used to purchase additional fall protection harnesses, lanyards and lifelines. Over the past two years, Bouma Corporation has implemented a policy that every employee requiring a harness on a jobsite will have one specifically fitted to them by a qualified person. The grantee's safety survey found older equipment on some of the jobsites in need of replacement, in addition to the need for more."

Other recipients include:
  • Lenawee Medical Care Facility
  • Davis Construction
  • Stanley Engineered Fastening
  • Schnepp Senior Care & Rehab Center
For more information about the MiSHIP and how to apply, please visit www.michigan.gov/mioshagrants.
Senate Rejects Proposal to Lower Truck Weight Limits
The Michigan Senate voted on December 2 to reject a proposal that would have lowered the weight limit for trucks on Michigan roads by more than half.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D-Warren), and would have cut the maximum weight load a truck could carry from 164,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds.

Proponents of the bill, which was mainly supported by Democrats, noted that Michigan's weight limit is much higher than other states', and that Michigan should get more in line with the "norm." But opponents, who ultimately prevailed, argued that lowering the weight restrictions as laid out in this bill would burden small business owners by requiring them to replace thousands of trucks.

The Detroit Free Press notes that although many Michigan residents see imposing weight restrictions as helping to solve the problem of crumbling roadways, the different limitations might actually exacerbate the problem: "typically, the larger trucks spread their load weight over 11 axles, while the 80,000-pound loads are spread over only five. And, with lighter loads, there also could be more trucks on the road, requiring additional maintenance of the roads by MDOT." 

Both the House and Senate continue in a Lame Duck session to attempt to iron out differences between the chambers' road funding bills. The Legislature has two more weeks of session, with December 18 as its final day before the new legislature convenes.
Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available for ABC of Michigan 2015 Legislative Day
As we look back at the legislative gains of the past four years and look forward to the new legislative session, it is vital that we do not lose momentum. That's why we're asking you to sponsor our annual ABC of Michigan State Legislative Day as we press forward to encourage growth and the continued revitalization of Michigan's construction economy.

 

Did you know ABC of Michigan was named Michigan's most effective construction industry association by Capitol insiders? But we need your help and your continued engagement with the political process so that the Merit Shop construction industry can continue to be influential in Michigan! Your advocacy of the Merit Shop is the the single most powerful tool we can use to show legislators the everyday impact of the legislative and regulatory decisions they make.

 

Our annual Legislative Day in 2015 will feature a morning breakfast with legislators (like last year's event); we'll also hear from the Michigan House and Senate leadership as a keynote address. Our centerpiece this year, though, is you! We're planning visits with Representatives and Senators in their offices, so that ABC members can make personal connections and stay personally engaged with Merit Shop policy goals.


Luncheon will feature the presentation of the prestigious ABC of Michigan Liberty Award as well as presentation of the ABC of Michigan Legislator of the Year Award. 

Would you like to see your company featured at this event? We have four sponsorship levels tailored for every budget, and if you don't see one that works for you, we can create a custom sponsorship package. 

The sponsorship reservation form is attached. Please give Elise Layton a call at (517) 853-2545 or email at layton@abcmi.com if you have any questions.
ABC National Reviews OSHA's 2015 Regulatory Agenda
Federal OSHA's latest semiannual regulatory agenda was released on Nov. 2. It lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release this year. 

CONFINED SPACES
What to Expect: According to the agenda, OSHA plans to release a final rule on confined spaces in March 2015. 

About the Proposal: The proposal updates and expands a rule that OSHA issued in the early 1990s for the general industry that the construction industry has followed to protect employees who enter confined spaces. The general industry rule was not originally extended to construction because of the unique characteristics of the industry's worksites, but the rule has proven effective. A 2007 settlement forced OSHA to issue a separate proposed rule for construction workers in confined spaces. 

ABC's Actions: ABC and other construction groups weighed in on the proposal, arguing that OSHA had not demonstrated that the general industry standard was not working for construction, and stated that the adoption of the proposed rule would actually reduce employee safety rather than increase it. ABC recommended that OSHA incorporate existing standards instead of adopting a new standard.  

ELECTRONIC RECORDKEEPING
What to Expect: OSHA plans to issue a final rule in August 2015. 

About the Proposal: Under the new rule, employers would have to electronically submit detailed injury and illness records to the agency on a quarterly or annual basis that would be posted on an online publically searchable database. OSHA would require establishments that have employed between 20 and 249 employees at any time in the previous calendar year electronically submit a form (OSHA Form 300A) on an annual basis. Establishments that employed 250 or more employees in the previous calendar year would be required to electronically submit the OSHA 300A form annually and submit the OSHA Forms 300 and 301 quarterly.

ABC's Actions: ABC submitted comments to OSHA requesting that it withdraw the proposed rule and supplemental notice stating it exceeds the authority delegated to the agency by Congress and does nothing to achieve its stated goal of reducing injuries and illnesses. In addition, the ABC-led Coalition for Workplace Safety (CWS) expressed serious concerns over the proposal in writing and at an OSHA public meeting. 

CRANES AND DERRICKS CERTIFICATION 
What to Expect: OSHA plans to issue a proposed rule in March 2015, to clarify issues surrounding crane operator qualification.

About the Proposal: This rulemaking is in response to the agency issuing a three year extension (Deadline is Nov. 10, 2017) for employers to ensure that crane operators are certified by an OSHA-recognized accredited certification body. The proposed rule will address the "type and capacity" requirement from the 2010 final construction cranes standard.  

ABC's Actions: ABC submitted comments and testified at an informal public hearing supporting the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health's (ACCSH) recommendation of postponing the certification indefinitely until OSHA has clarified the "type" and "capacity" issue and continuing the same employer duties for that same period. 
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