CIS Awards Worker Safety & Health Grants

Lansing (Sept. 19) —The Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (www.cis.state.mi.us) has awarded 17 Consultation Education and Training (CET) grants for 2002 totaling $1 million to promote work place safety and health. The CET grant program is a program of the CIS Bureau of Safety and Regulation (BSR), which is responsible for administering the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA).

Many of the grants support projects that focus on the five high-hazard industries identified by MIOSHA's strategic plan: construction, nursing and personal care facilities, metal forgings and stampings manufacturers, fabricated structural metal products, and companies and the meat products industry. Most of the programs will develop educational materials and provide training on a wide range of safety and health services, including workplace violence, safety and health training for workers affected by new technology, fall protection, safety work habits and hazard recognition, and health issues in the construction industry.

"The safety and health of our workers is vital to our state's overall well-being," CIS Director Kathleen Wilbur said. "These grants are an excellent investment by the state to help employers protect their most valuable asset: their workers."

The 17 statewide projects are intended to emphasize prevention strategies to reduce injuries and illnesses. Of particular interest to the Michigan construction industry are the following projects:

• Alpena Community College safety training seminars in four "high-hazard occupations," including manufacturing, construction, health services industries and maintenance, custodial, secretarial and support staff in publicly funded educational institutions. The program targets the five-county sparsely populated area served by Alpena Community College.
• Associated General Contractors will provide on-site training on health issues in the construction industry and will develop a construction health newsletter for managers and safety directors, alerting them to the health problems within the industry. Scheduled topics include: respiratory protection, heating protection, lead hazards, asbestos hazards, silica hazards, and heat and cold stress.
• Eastern Michigan University will develop a 2-day seminar on fall protection and rescue from heights of 6 ft. or higher.
• Michigan Road Builders Association will provide interactive presentations, workshops and courses for contractors, management, supervisors, and line workers. The training will include heavy/highway contractor safety administrator course, heavy/highway contractor update, bridge contractor safety seminar, technical assistance, and a quarterly safety and health newsletter.
• Michigan State University/Labor Program Service will provide a series of training programs for contractors and fire service personal who may be exposed to the hazards of trenching and excavation operations.
• Michigan AFL-CIO will provide workplace safety and health training for workers affected by new technology and new work process, equipment or operation. Training topics will include back injuries, lifting techniques, workplace hazards and recognition, right-to-know, and hazardous substances. Programs can be customized to meet the needs of particular worksites.