Michigan small businesses with 250 employees or less can now apply for a Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) matching grant up to $5,000 to make improvements to their workplace health and safety.
“MIOSHA’s ongoing grant opportunities provide essential support to protect Michigan businesses and workplaces,” said Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “Our investment in this area is a critical component to our state’s long-term economic success and the safety and well-being of our hardworking people.”
The grants are available through the Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health (MIWISH) grant program and enable employers to purchase safety- and health-related equipment and training that will support safer, healthier work environments and reduce the risk of injury and illness to workers in Michigan.
“This grant funding is significant because it enables more small businesses to access the equipment and training that ensures the safety and health of their teams,” said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman. “We invite all eligible employers to apply for funding to strengthen their safety cultures and protect their most valuable assets: their employees.”
Preference will be given to employers in high hazard industries identified in MIOSHA’s 2019-2023 strategic plan. All projects will be evaluated based on the specific hazards addressed. The grant period began Oct. 1, 2022, and will continue until grant funding is expended.
MIOSHA encourages new grantees to take advantage of this program. Fiscal Year 2022 grantees may apply for funds after Jan. 1, 2023.
To qualify for the MIWISH grant program, eligible employers must have:
- A qualified safety professional or safety committee conduct a site-specific evaluation justifying the equipment purchase.
- Knowledge and experience to complete the project and commitment to implementation.
- Match dollars for the grant money awarded and cover of all estimated project costs.
- Recommended actions must be in the form of equipment or work area modifications to be used to reduce workplace hazards. Only items referenced in the application can be considered eligible, within the proposed project.
Some equipment examples include:
- Residential fall protection systems
- Lifting equipment or portable lifting equipment for in-home care or small nursing/residential care facilities
- Monitoring equipment for confined space entry
- Noise reduction engineering controls
- Lock out/tag out systems
- Cooling systems for agriculture-based worksites
- Eyewash stations
For more information about the MIWISH grant program and how to apply, visit michigan.gov/mioshagrants, or contact MIOSHA’s Consultation Education and Training grant administrator at 269-275-7155.
For more information about MIOSHA, visit michigan.gov/miosha.
