The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
Self Help
The primary purpose of the Self-Help Program is to assist employers in conducting evaluations of hazardous exposures in their workplaces. This free service provides limited technical industrial hygiene guidance, monitoring and measuring equipment, sample analyses and general information.
Eligibility
The program is designed to assist small employers, typically with 250 employees or less. High-hazard industries will be given priority. High hazard is determined by matching the employer's primary or secondary North American Industrial Classification (NAICS) system code to a NAICS code list of current high-hazard industries.
Requesting Self-Help Services
An onsite health consultant will discuss the nature and scope of your request. The consultant will schedule the visit. Specific SDS's may be requested by the consultant to better prepare for the selection of monitoring equipment. While onsite, the consultant will discuss employee exposure sampling strategy (including a review of the work area, personnel and equipment), equipment operation, and the completion of monitoring paperwork. The consultant will ask that you sign an agreement stating that you will correct any problems that are revealed through the monitoring.
Once the air and/or noise monitoring is complete, the health consultant will submit the samples to the MIOSHA Occupational Health Laboratory for analyses.
When the analytical results are received from the laboratory, the health consultant will determine the exposures of the monitored employees and will compare them to the applicable MIOSHA exposure limits. This information will be summarized in a report to the employer.
Employee Over Exposure
Employers who have employee exposures in excess of an exposure limit will be provided with information regarding how to reduce the exposure and/or protect the employee from the exposure. An employee exposure that exceeds the exposure limit is considered a serious hazard.
When a serious hazard is noted, the consultant will notify the employer and discuss hazard control methods and a date for the hazard correction. The consultant will later follow-up with the employer to verify that the hazard has been corrected. Additional Self-Help exposure monitoring may be necessary to verify the correction.
How to Contact Us
Exposure monitoring is one component of an employer's total safety and health program and is a valuable tool for providing workplace protection to employees. The CET Division can help employers develop a safety and health program, improve an existing program, or find the help to solve tough safety problems.
CET services include: onsite consultation surveys and compliance assistance; safety and health development programs; training and education services, such as seminars, workshops and special programs; video and publications library; and responses to general MIOSHA or toxicological concerns.