MICHIGAN (WPBN/WGTU) -- Grants are now available for small businesses to apply for to help improve workplace safety and health.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) said small businesses with 250 employees or less can apply for grants matching up to $5,000.
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 related training that will provide a safer and healthier work environment and reduce the risk of injury and illness to workers in Michigan.
As of October 7, MIOSHA has provided $592,681 in MIWISH grants, with a grantee match of $788,320.
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 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
Applications for the grants can be found online.