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Many utilities have submitted their 2019 VAPS annual reports to the Michigan Public Service Commission. Visit the MIACCA Code of Conduct Page to review reports submitted by DTE,Consumers Energy and Michigan Gas Utility. As more reports become available, we will post them on on our page.
Energy Rebates that are easy to process and drive more sales!
Consumers Energy is accepting new distributors to participate in their Business Instant Discount Program to provide rebates over the counter at time of sale. Participating distributors will also qualify to earn large bonus incentives (up to $30,000/qtr for Gas Measures and $70,000/qtr for Electric Measures) and other rewards programs available for limited time.
Click here for brochure listing currently available incentives. To enroll or inquire further, contact Todd Lohenry 517-512-0144 (todd.lohenry@cmsenergy.com) or Brandon Scott 517-243-1070 (brandon.scott@cmsenergy.com)
Webinar: Three Winning Strategies to Become the Preferred Contractor in Your Area
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The Construction Code Commission (CCC) met on July 22, 2020, and MIACCA's proposed statewide permit was on the agenda and discussed. MIACCA's Executive Director once again advocated the need for the CCC to prescribe the form on which all permits are to be applied for while allowing each authority having jurisdiction to set their own fees. The CCC and the Bureau of Construction Codes (Bureau) acknowledged the Director Hawks' response to MIACCA's Request for Declaratory Ruling on this subject; which indicated that the CCC has the statutory authority to prescribe such permit forms. After much discussion the CCC has decided to start the process of coming up with statewide permit forms by asking for feedback from stakeholders and municipalities. The Bureau made an initial suggestion to include the statewide permit forms as part of the upcoming code change cycles in 2020-2021. MIACCA would like more detail on how to include permit forms with the new codes when the CCC needs to approve the permit forms and the Director adopts the new codes.
MIACCA will be following the progress of this very closely as we are strong advocates of having a uniformed mechanical permit form across the state for our contractors.
Governor Whitmer Takes Swift Action to Save Lives, Signs Executive Order Requiring Mask Use in all Indoor Public Spaces
Following uptick in COVID-19 cases, Governor Whitmer Says “Mask Up, Michigan!”
LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed executive order 2020-147, which reiterates that individuals are required to wear a face covering whenever they are in an indoor public space. It also requires the use of face coverings in crowded outdoor spaces. Most significantly, the order requires any business that is open to the public to refuse entry or service to people who refuse to wear a face covering, with limited exceptions. Governors in the states of Kansas, Maine, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Washington have imposed similar requirements on businesses.
Governor Whitmer signed this executive order in response to rising COVID-19 cases in Michigan and across the country. Executive Order 2020-147 reinforces and expands upon the governor’s previous executive orders on safely restarting Michigan’s economy and ensuring workplace safety.
“The heroes on the front lines of this crisis have gone hours without taking their masks off every day – doctors, nurses, child care workers, grocery store workers. We owe it to them to wear our masks when we’re on a trip to the grocery store or pharmacy,” said Governor Whitmer. “Masks can reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19 by about 70 percent. By wearing masks, we can save lives and protect our family, friends, and neighbors from the spread of COVID-19. And by wearing masks now, we can put our state in a stronger position so our kids can return to school safely in the fall. For the sake of your loved ones, let’s all mask up, Michigan.”
Over the past week, every region in Michigan has seen an uptick in new cases, and daily case counts now exceed 20 cases per million in the Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Lansing regions. Research confirms that a big part of the reason is spotty compliance with the governor’s requirement, issued in prior orders, that individuals wear face coverings in public spaces.
Studies have shown that wearing a mask can save lives and significantly lover an individual’s chance of spreading COVID-19. A study on different regions in Germany, for example, suggests that the adoption of mandatory mask ordinances decreased the daily growth rate of COVID-19 infections by 40%. Modeling from the University of Washington similarly indicates that more than 40,000 lives would be spared nationwide if 95% of the population wore a mask while in public. Furthermore, a study conducted by Goldman Sachs concluded that a federal mask mandate could save the U.S. economy from taking a 5% hit to our GDP.
“Michigan's fight against COVID-19 is nowhere near over, which is why it’s so important that we all do our part and wear masks when we’re out in public,” said Chief Medical Executive and DHHS Chief Deputy for Health Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. “Wearing a mask or face covering can significantly decrease the chance of spreading COVID-19 and save lives. It’s important that all Michiganders wear masks properly - not down around the neck, not only over the mouth, but correctly over the mouth and nose. Please everyone stay patient, and remain vigilant.”
Under the governor’s order, businesses that are open to the public must refuse entry and service to individuals who fail to comply, and must post signs at all entrances instructing customers of their legal obligation to wear a face covering while inside. Those who are exempt from wearing a mask in Michigan businesses include people younger than five years old, those who cannot medically tolerate a face covering, and those who are eating or drinking while seated at a food service establishment.
The executive order takes effect at 12:01am on Monday, July 13. A willful violation of the order is a misdemeanor subject to a $500 criminal penalty, but no term of confinement may be imposed on individuals who violate the mask requirement. No individual is subject to penalty under the order for removing a mask while engaging in religious worship at a house of religious worship, although consistent with guidance from the CDC, congregants are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings during religious services.
To view Executive Order 2020-147, click the link below:
Read the June 2020 Newsletter Here
CodeNotes: Nail salon exhaust requirements in the I-Codes
The design of exhaust systems is extremely important to the occupants of a building. There are specific occupancies and activities — including manicure tables and pedicure stations — that have the potential for introducing hazardous substances into the indoor environment. Nail salons are one such occupancy. There are approximately 200,000 nail salons in the U.S. utilizing manicure and pedicure stations. These types of activities use chemicals like acetone, isopropyl alcohol and formaldehyde that may be exposed to the atmosphere when the station is not in use. To maintain safety to workers and customers, the fumes from these chemicals must be removed from the space. Section 502.20.1 Operation was added to the 2021 IMC to help accomplish this. Read more
As businesses begin to reopen, employees are encouraged to get a COVID-19 test if they are at risk of exposure. This includes employees who are in contact with the public or work in industries that have seen outbreaks, such as farming, food processing, animal industries, etc., even if the employee does not have symptoms. Increased testing will help determine where the virus is so we can stop it before it spreads and safely re-engage the economy.
Testing is NOT required for employees to return to work. Testing WILL help us keep workplaces safer by stopping the spread. Our goal is to test 30,000 people per day. Please help us meet this goal by encouraging your employees to get tested.
CLICK HERE TO FIND COVID-19 TEST CENTERS
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:
