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The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) within the Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) launched a new online COVID-19 Workplace Safety site – Michigan.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety – the site provides guidance and a toolkit of resources to keep workplaces safe as sectors of the state's economy reopen.
With the continued risk of COVID-19 spread, everyone in the workplace must take necessary precautions. The site includes MIOSHA issued guidelines, posters for employees and customers, factsheets, educational videos and a reopening checklist – all of which will help businesses safely reopening their doors.
"As we reengage our economy and begin the long road back to our normal routines, it's critical that we do so safely," LEO Director Jeff Donofrio said. "Michigan.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety is designed to make the process of reopening safely easier and equip businesses and their staff with the resources necessary to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19."
In addition to the general workplace guidelines for employer and employees, MIOSHA provided further clarification on necessary steps several other sectors must take when reopening, including:
The site also provides guidance on how employers create and make available to employees and customers, a written exposure control plan which includes exposure determination and outlines measures that will be taken to prevent employee exposure to COVID-19, including as appropriate:
"Our first priority is to protect workers from the spread of COVID-19," MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said. "Employers, employees, and customers who follow these guidelines will help ensure that everyone returns home safe at the end of the day."
Best practices that employees should follow to be vigilant in protecting themselves from exposure to COVID-19:
Those with questions regarding workplace safety and health may contact MIOSHA using the new hotline at 855-SAFEC19 (855-723-3219).
To report health and safety concerns in the workplace, go to michigan.gov/MIOSHAcomplaint.
Learn more about MIOSHA and their efforts to protect Michigan's workforce at Michigan.gov/MIOSHA and routinely check the COVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidance toolkit for the latest materials at Michigan.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-100 to extend Michigan’s Safer at Home order until June 12, 2020.
The governor’s order also extends the temporary closure of certain places of public accommodation such as theaters, gyms, and casinos.
The governor also signed Executive Order 2020-99 to extend the state of emergency declaration related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was upheld by Judge Cynthia Stephens on May 21, 2020. Since COVID-19 was first discovered in Michigan, Governor Whitmer has taken swift action to protect Michigan families and workers.
Cases in some counties in Western and Mid-Michigan are now doubling approximately every 10 days. To continue to protect Michigan families from both the public health and economic impacts of the virus, and to lower the chance of a second wave, the governor’s emergency declaration is extended until June 19, 2020.
“While the data shows that we are making progress, we are not out of the woods yet. If we’re going to lower the chance of a second wave and continue to protect our neighbors and loved ones from the spread of this virus, we must continue to do our part by staying safer at home,” said Governor Whitmer. “If we open too soon, thousands more could die and our hospitals will get overwhelmed. While we finally have more protective equipment like masks, we can’t run the risk of running low again. We owe it to the real heroes on the front lines of this crisis – our first responders, health care workers, and critical workers putting their lives on the line every day – to do what we can ourselves to stop the spread of the virus.”
Executive Order 2020-100 also clarifies and, as necessary, extends the duration of a number of previous executive orders designed to protect Michiganders and to provide them the support they need.
The extended orders cover protections for workers who stay home and stay safe when they or their close contacts are sick, restoring water service to those whose water has been shut off, the affirmation of non-discrimination policies in the provision of COVID-19 care, and more. For a full list of extensions under Executive Order 2020-100, click the link to the order at the bottom of the page.
“All of us know the importance of getting people back to work and the economy moving again,” said Governor Whitmer. “We’ve already loosened some restrictions on construction, manufacturing, landscaping, retail, and more. But the worst thing we can do is open up in a way that causes a second wave of infections and death, puts health care workers at further risk, and wipes out all the progress we’ve made.”
Most recently, Gov. Whitmer signed executive order 2020-96 to reopen retail businesses and auto dealerships by appointment statewide on Tuesday, May 26, as part of her MI Safe Start plan. Effective on Friday, May 29, the governor also lifted the requirement that health care providers delay some nonessential medical, dental, and veterinary procedures statewide. And the governor also authorized small gatherings of 10 people or less starting immediately, as long as participants practice social distancing.
Businesses that the governor has authorized to reopen must provide COVID-19 training to workers that covers, at a minimum, workplace infection-control practices, the proper use of PPE, steps workers must take to notify the business or operation of any symptoms of COVID-19 or a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, and how to report unsafe working conditions.
To view Executive Orders 2020-99 and 2020-100, click the link below:
Your operations are a critical part of your profitability, including emergency plans. On May 28th, watch Service Nation 101 with OSEA to keep your operations running smoothly and stay prepared. This webinar includes:
In a recent Executive Order, Governor Whitmer laid out regulations for employers to provide a comprehensive written COVID-19 Response & Preparedness Plan.
All businesses or operations that are permitted to require their employees to leave the homes or residences for work under Executive Order 2020-92, and any order that follows it, must, at a minimum:
Our team has created a template for you to personalize based on your type of business.
Download Your Template
For more COVID-19 resources and upcoming webinars please visit the SBAM Resource Page
Federated Insurance Offers Complimentary
Review of Business Succession and
Estate Planning for MIACCA Members
Dear MIACCA Members:
In this time of uncertainty, families and businesses want to ensure that their financial affairs are in order. As a longstanding partner of the MIACCA, Federated Mutual Insurance Company is extending a unique opportunity to all association members: a complimentary review of business succession and estate plans by a member of their independent attorney network*. Whether you have a plan that is outdated, or no plan at all, a review via video conference with one of these attorneys can help provide you peace of mind.
Referrals to this independent attorney network are normally reserved for Federated Insurance clients, but are available to all MIACCA members during this time of crisis. If you and your family and/or business partners are interested in scheduling one of these video conferences, contact Nate Hoyle by e-mail nthoyle@fedins.com or phone 989-560-2818.
We wish you and your family safety and peace during these troubling times.
Now available: Recording of Michigan Saves' Peer-to-Peer Webinar on Returning to Work Safely Amid COVID-19. Watch Here
On May 1st, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-70 which serves as a Temporary requirement to suspend activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life Rescission of Executive Order 2020-59.
READ FULL ORDER HERE
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Wednesday she will allow the state’s construction industry to return to work on May 7 as the Midwestern state works to reopen its economy amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“We are comfortable taking this step because it is a lower-risk enterprise,” Whitmer said at a news conference of both the residential and commercial construction sectors.
Whitmer added there could be other things to announce, but offered no details. She did not address reopening the manufacturing sector in the state.
Ohio on Monday outlined its reopening plan, which included reopening the construction and manufacturing sectors on May 4. Whitmer has not set a reopening date for manufacturing yet, and the influential United Auto Workers union, which represents many hourly auto workers in Michigan and other states, has said early May is “too soon and too risky” to reopen.
Michigan is part of a coalition of Midwestern states that agreed to coordinate the reopening of their economies. Other states involved are Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Kentucky.
Whitmer on Friday extended her stay-at-home order through May 15, but lifted restrictions so some businesses can open and the public can participate in outdoor activities like golfing.
The measure also allowed use of motor boats and traveling between residences in the state, as well as allowing garden stores, nurseries, and lawn-care, pest-control and landscaping operations to resume business.
The new order by Whitmer, a Democrat, came amid criticism by some Michigan residents and Republican lawmakers that she had been too restrictive in her lockdown of the state to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. She has emphasized a phased approach to reopening the state, addressing regions and businesses that are less affected or better protected.
Whitmer has been mentioned as a potential running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and has been a target of criticism from Republican President Donald Trump. Michigan, which Trump narrowly won in 2016, is considered a crucial swing state in the November presidential election and the state’s COVID-19 infections rank among the highest in the country.
As of Wednesday, Michigan had more than 40,000 COVID-19 cases and 3,670 deaths, and Whitmer said the rate of infection has slowed.
Whitmer also announced a $130 million fund to provide grants to child care providers to aid that sector as the state economy reopens and workers need access to child care.
Today, Federated announced their COVID-19 Client Relief Credit, providing premium reductions for their customers in our industry and others throughout the country.
Federated's COVID-19 Client Relief Credit will provide a 15% credit based on Business Auto premium, Auto Dealer/ Garage Coverage Part premium, and Businessowners Policy (BOP) premium from March 15 to June 15. Policies must be in force at the time relief credit is applied. These actions are subject to regulatory approval. Policyholders will automatically see the COVID-19 Client Relief Credit applied in the upcoming months.
Please read Federated's Press Release here
Please read Federated's Client Letter here
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday extended her stay-at-home order through May 15 while relaxing restrictions so some businesses can reopen and the public can participate in more outdoor activities like golf and motorized boating.
Whitmer, a Democrat whose national profile has risen in recent months, has been under heavy pressure from Republicans and conservatives in her state to ease the stay-at-home guidelines, which are among the strictest in the nation.
"We will consider this the preliminary stage of economic reengagement," said Whitmer at a press conference Friday, adding that these changes will be dependent on the coming days. "If we continue to see our numbers decline, we can responsibly consider additional steps we can take. If we see an increase, we may have to be nimble enough to go backward on occasion."
Trump, ever the salesman, is peddling dangerous cures for coronavirus
The Democratic governor's order says people are now required to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces such as grocery stores if they can medically tolerate it.
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