The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) partnered with nearly 200 Michigan employers who voluntarily participated in the week-long Take a Stand initiative, demonstrating a shared commitment to improving workplace safety and health.
During MIOSHA’s 19th annual Take a Stand Day events, held from Aug. 12-16, MIOSHA safety and health staff “stood down” from their enforcement duties to conduct penalty-free worksite consultations without issuing citations or fines, provided that any serious conditions identified are corrected.
MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman emphasized the importance in fostering a culture of workplace safety and health across the state. "At MIOSHA, we believe that education is the cornerstone of workplace safety. 'Take a Stand' Day allows us to collaborate with employers directly, helping them create safer and healthier work environments for their employees. Our goal is to empower businesses with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses."
(Left to right) MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman observes a crash test dummy with Humanetics QMS Facilitator Josh Yingling during a MIOSHA Take a Stand Day consultative visit.
One Take a Stand participant was Humanetics Group in Farmington Hills, the world’s premier manufacturer of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) - commonly known as crash test dummies.
“At Humanetics, safety and well-being is at the heart of our purpose and mission to protect humans in motion. Our employees work very hard to live up to these values and the systems that uphold them. We strive for perfection but acknowledge there is always room for improvement. We are very proud to support MIOSHA’s Take a Stand initiative,” said Barney Loehnis, president & chief marketing officer for Humanetics Sensors.
MIOSHA focused its Take a Stand visits on high-hazard industries targeted by the MIOSHA Strategic Plan, which includes construction sites, manufacturing facilities, crop production, hospitals, nursing homes and more.
MIOSHA Workplace Safety Representative Jamie Kassuba (left) conducted a Take a Stand Day consultation at Driven Grow, a cannabis cultivation and extraction company in Frederic.
MIOSHA Consultative Resources for Employers
MIOSHA’s Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division offers over 2,000 annual workplace safety and health trainings and consultations across Michigan, helping employers proactively comply with safety rules, adopt best practices, and achieve program recognition.
- Free Onsite Consultations: Employers can request voluntary inspections without fines or penalties, conducted by MIOSHA safety consultants or industrial hygienists. Priority is given to manufacturing and construction employers with fewer than 250 employees.
- Hazard Surveys: Employers can request non-enforcement surveys to identify unsafe conditions and MIOSHA violations, with guidance provided on correcting deficiencies.
- Self-Help Program: Small employers (fewer than 250 employees) can receive free technical guidance and hazard evaluations, with priority given to high-hazard industries based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes.
Learn more about MIOSHA’s consultative services at Michigan.gov/cetrca.
