See MI Businesses Fined For COVID-19 Workplace Safety Violations

Joey Oliver
Updated ·7 min read

MICHIGAN — Nineteen Michigan businesses have been cited by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration for what the agency called serious violations in failing to uphold safety and health workplace guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The MIOSHA investigations determined that these employers were not taking precautions to protect employees and their communities from the spread of COVID-19,” MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said. “Failure to follow guidelines puts everyone at risk and these citations are meant to reiterate the employer’s responsibility to protect their employees.”

The businesses were given "general duty" citations, noting a violation of a clause requiring employers to provide a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm to the employee, the state said.

A general duty clause citation carries a fine of up to $7,000. The citations were distributed following on-site inspections by MIOSHA. The agency said deficiencies included a lack of health screenings, face coverings, employee training, cleaning measures and overall preparedness plans.

MIOSHA cited the 19 below companies for a serious violation of the general duty clause for the following issues:

  • American Eagle Home Improvement based in Bangor was fined $2,100 for violations including lack of social distancing and failure to use masks or face coverings.

  • Belle Tire location at 50720 Van Dyke, Shelby Township was fined $7,000 for violations including failure to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failure to train employees on COVID-19. An inspection was initiated due to complaints concerning employees not wearing face coverings.

  • Americus Grill based in Brighton was fined $400 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failing to designate a workplace COVID-19 supervisor, failing to follow the preparedness and response plan, failing to install physical barriers a cash register and host stand where six feet of distance could not be maintained, failing to post signs, failing to conduct the daily health screening including a questionnaire and failing to train employees. An inspection was initiated upon a complaint.

  • Dave’s Glass Service, Inc., based in Kalamazoo, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failure to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Portage, MI job site.

  • ABSR, Inc., Story Roofing Company Inc., based in Buckley, MI was fined $4,200 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failure to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Traverse City, MI job site.

  • B D Construction based in Pontiac, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failure to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, failing to maintain social distance where possible, the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at an Ann Arbor, MI job site.

  • Daniel Sanchez, a residential construction company based in Marietta, GA, working in Plainwell, MI, was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failure to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, failing to maintain social distancing, the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failure to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. Initiated as a programmed planned inspection.

  • D&D Roofing 4G, LLC., based in Fremont, MI was fined $2,800 for violations of COVID-10 Workplace Safety requirements including the lack of a preparedness and response plan and failure to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Saint Ignace, MI job site.

  • Fresh Pak, a produce packing facility based in Detroit, MI was fined $4,900 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failing to conduct a daily health screening protocol, failure to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, failing to provide cleaning supplies for high touch surfaces, failing to post signs, markings, barriers at the time clock, failing to maintain/retain documentation for training, entry screening and contact tracing. An inspection was initiated upon a complaint.

  • Gillespie Roofing based in Lansing, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failure to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, failure to maintain social distance, the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failure to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Grand Ledge, MI job site.

  • Home Depot location based at 25451 Michigan Avenue Dearborn Heights, MI, was fined $4,000 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failing to designate a COVID-19 workplace supervisor, failing to conduct a daily health screening, failing to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained and failure to maintain/retain documentation for daily health screening. An inspection was initiated upon a complaint.

  • Nain Construction based in Grand Rapids, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failing to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, lack of a preparedness and response plan, failure to maintain/retain documentation for daily health screening and failing to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Plainwell, MI job site.

  • Pilot Company, a fuel supplier location based at 6158 New US 223 Ottawa Lake, MI was fined $3,500 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failure to train employees on COVID-19 and failure to conduct a daily health screening and maintain records.

  • A&S Warren Foods Inc, Shoppers Market Warren in Warren, MI was fined $1,500 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to conduct a daily health screening protocol, failing to post signs at entrances, failing to maintain/retain records on training employees on COVID-19 guidelines.

  • Valentin Roofing, LLC based in Kalamazoo, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failing to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, not maintaining social distance when feasible, the lack of a preparedness and response plan and failing to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Plainwell, MI job site.

  • West Olive Nursery, Inc., a plant center and greenhouse location based in West Olive, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID Workplace Safety requirements including failing to require face coverings where social distance could not be maintained, failing to maintain social distancing where possible, failure to conduct daily health screening protocol, failure to train employees on COVID-19, lack of a preparedness and response plan. No other penalties were issued. Initiated as a programmed planned inspection.

  • GVC Painting Co., Inc, based in Milford, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failing to require face coverings where social distance could not be maintained, failing to maintain social distance where possible, the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at an Ann Arbor, MI job site.

  • Kauffman Construction, Inc., based in Newaygo, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including failing to require face coverings where social distance could not be maintained, failing to maintain social distance where possible, the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Twin Lake, MI job site.

  • Riverfront Animal Hospital location based in Lansing, MI was fined $2,100 for violations of COVID-19 Workplace Safety requirements including the lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, failed to designate a COVID-19 workplace supervisor, failing to conduct a daily health screening protocol and failing to post signs. An inspection was Initiated following a complaint.

The cited companies will have 15 working days from receipt of the MIOSHA citations to contest the violations and penalties. The citations include suggestions to fix the hazards to protect employees. Employers must provide proof to MIOSHA that abatement has been completed.

This article originally appeared on the Detroit Patch