Michigan Updates OSHA Poster

In June 2021, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) updated its Michigan Safety and Health Protection on the Job labor law poster. Michigan employers must post this notice in a central and conspicuous location or face a penalty.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about this labor law poster and an explanation of what the update means for your company.

What’s the Point of the MIOSHA Poster?

The MIOSHA poster summarizes the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act, or the MIOSH Act for short. The purpose of this law is to require public and private employers to provide safe, healthful working conditions to protect employees from on-the-job injuries and illnesses.

The MIOSHA labor law poster sets forth a series of employer requirements. Employers must:

• Ensure the workplace is free of recognized hazards that could cause serious harm or death.

• Follow all MIOSHA rules, standards, and orders.

• Post this notice and other related notices to inform employees about the requirements of the MIOSH Act.

• Notify the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity within 8 hours of a work-related fatality and within 24 hours of work-related inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye.

• Allow employees to access their medical records and health data.

• Allow employees to attend all meetings related to an appeal of a citation by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

• Allow employee representatives to attend the inspection or investigation of their employer without retaliation.

• Provide personal protective equipment at no cost when required by a MIOSHA standard.

• Prohibit employees from operating equipment or engaging in a process that has been deemed an imminent danger.

• Notify employees who have been exposed to toxic materials or chemicals at levels that exceed MIOSHA standards.

The poster also sets forth a procedure for employee complaints about unsafe and unhealthful workplace conditions and about discrimination or retaliation under the MIOSH Act. It provides contact information for various complaint and injury reporting hotlines as well as training assistance.

Finally, the poster warns that it is an “important document” that should not be covered.

What’s New in the Updated MIOSHA Poster?

The new poster changes a series of references from the old agency that administered the act, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Now, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity will be the agency responsible for conducting on-site inspections and investigating accidents to ensure that companies comply with the state’s safety and health standards.

The name of the new agency appears nine times throughout this Michigan labor law poster.

What Should Michigan Employers Do Next?

Michigan employers should ensure they have the most recent version of the MIOSHA poster. The newest poster will say “MIOSHA/CET 2010 (06/21)” at the bottom.

If you don’t yet have this poster, you can get it as part of our Michigan labor law poster package. And to stay in compliance year-round, sign up for our one-year compliance plan. Learn more about our compliance guarantee here.