In its continued effort to crack down on businesses that are in violation of COVID-19 safety guidelines and practices, the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration (MIOSHA) has fined 19 businesses, including multiple roofing contractors.

MIOSHA is citing the companies under the general duty clause, which requires 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. On-site inspections conducted by MIOSHA determined the companies committed "serious violations" by failing to implement the necessary precautions to protect employees from COVID-19, including a lack of health screenings, face coverings, employee training and cleaning measures.

“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 general duty clause violation carries a fine of up to $7,000. In all, MIOSHA issued $51,400 in fines among the 19 companies.

The roofing and construction companies fined were:

• American Eagle Home Improvement, location based in Bangor, Mich. was fined $2,100 for violations including lack of social distancing and failure to use masks or face coverings. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Mattawan, Mich. job site. View the full citation.
• ABSR Inc., Story Roofing Company Inc., based in Buckley, Mich. 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, Mich. job site. View the full citation.
• B D Construction, based in Pontiac, Mich. 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, Mich. job site. View the full citation.
• Daniel Sanchez, a residential construction company based in Marietta, Ga,. working in Plainwell, Mich., 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, and failure to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. Initiated as a programmed planned inspection. View the full citation.
• D&D Roofing 4G LLC, based in Fremont, Mich. was fined $2,800 for violations of COVID-19 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, Mich. job site. View the full citation.
• Gillespie Roofing, based in Lansing, Mich. 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, Mich. job site. View the full citation.
• Nain Construction, based in Grand Rapids, Mich. 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, Mich. job site. View the full citation.
• Valentin Roofing LLC, based in Kalamazoo, Mich. 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, Mich. job site. View the full citation.
• Kauffman Construction Inc., based in Newaygo, Mich. 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, and failing to train employees on COVID-19 guidelines. A regular programmed inspection was initiated at a Twin Lake, Mich. job site. View the full citation.

The cited companies 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.

Over the summer, roofing contractors in particular faced the dilemma of attempting to follow COVID-19 best practices while also adhering to heat safety guidelines during record-breaking heat waves.