Michigan restaurants are gaining new guidance today from the state through updated expansion of the new MI COVID-19 Safer Dining Program.
Under the voluntary program, restaurants can utilize a licensed HVAC contractor or engineer to inspect their ventilation systems and receive recommended changes to improve circulation within their workplace and reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus. The state says the program’s parameters are based on the best guidance available from the CDC, EPA and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
State authorities say that the program, directed by the Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), will help make restaurants operate more safely – for their workforce, diners and local communities – and help diners identify restaurants committed to safer operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state is encouraging restaurants to have their HVAC system inspected to ensure effective ventilation, suggesting that “proper and efficient HVAC systems or other ventilation changes, along with compliance with MDHHS and MIOSHA orders and guidance, can lower the probability of transmission in indoor settings.”
Once restaurants successfully complete the voluntary process, they will receive a certificate to post at their establishment verifying their participation.
COVID-19 Workplace Safety Director Sean Egan says, “This voluntary program compliments the state’s outreach and educational efforts related to HVAC and other workplace safety programs,” and adds, “We remain committed to helping businesses implement processes and techniques to maximize safety through layered mitigation strategies, and this program is another opportunity for businesses to do just that.”
Businesses can begin the process by visiting http://Michigan.gov/COVIDSaferDining to download the program participation forms to comply with the Michigan Safer Dining program and further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in indoor dining locations.
The website also offers a variety of support resources for restaurants and other businesses, including resources to locate licensed HVAC contractors across Michigan.
People First Economy President Hanna Schulze says, “As our community members look to once again support our small, local businesses in person, building confidence that customer safety is being prioritized is going to be extremely important,” and adds, “The fact is, many of these businesses have been going above and beyond to provide safe environments for their customers and employees since the beginning of the pandemic – take the Michigan Restaurant Promise, for example. Opportunities like this ventilation certification will present another opportunity for businesses to communicate that they have been, and will continue to, take every care to serve patrons safely.”
Gov. Whitmer has proposed funding to support the Safer Dining Program as part of a $10 million supplemental budget request for restaurant support through MIOSHA.
The Safer Dining program builds on LEO’s existing suite of programs to support all types of Michigan employers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs include:
- MIOSHA’s Ambassador program, where safety and health experts have partnered with NSF and are visiting businesses statewide to offer free education and support, with a focus on workplaces with a higher risk of community transmission. Employers can schedule their free consultation online.
- LEO’s series of HVAC webinars to help educate businesses on HVAC needs, resources and recommendations, including utility rebates, incentives and financing.
- A set of online resources at http://MI.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety provides businesses with the guidelines they and their employees must follow and includes a sample COVID-19 preparedness and response plan and a reopening checklist to help businesses put safeguards in place. Businesses can also find posters for employees and customers, factsheets and educational videos and more.
