New construction safety partnerships help reduce injuries by nearly half on major Michigan job sites

LANSING, Mich. – Three high-profile construction projects in Michigan are taking safety to the next level through formal partnerships with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).

The new agreements cover large-scale worksites in Kalamazoo and metro Detroit and bring together contractors, workers and MIOSHA in voluntary efforts to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses. Each partnership is tailored to the jobsite, emphasizing leadership involvement, proactive hazard identification, safety training and clear accountability.

The participating projects include:

• Kalamazoo Event Center (CSM Group and Barton Malow): The $515 million, 430,000-square-foot facility will be the future home of the Kalamazoo Wings and Western Michigan University hockey and basketball teams. Scheduled for completion in fall 2027, a construction livestream allows viewers to watch the arena take shape in real time.
• I-696 Reconstruction Project (Toebe Construction): An 11-mile overhaul of one of metro Detroit’s busiest corridors, involving concrete paving, bridge demolition and reconstruction and underground utility upgrades.
• Joe Louis Arena Hotel Project (Colasanti Construction Services): A high-rise redevelopment on the former Joe Louis Arena site in downtown Detroit. The project will deliver a 25-story hotel with six additional floors of podium and ballroom space.

A MIOSHA safety consultant and a construction project manager discuss progress at the Kalamazoo Event Center during the July 18 launch of the MIOSHA/CSM Group/Barton Malow construction partnership.

MIOSHA recently updated its partnership program to streamline assistance for construction projects focused on improving safety and health. These voluntary agreements reflect a growing commitment among Michigan contractors to go beyond compliance and foster strong safety cultures.

MIOSHA construction partnership sites have experienced a 48% reduction in injury and illness rates compared to the statewide average, a result that underscores the value of collaboration.

“These types of partnerships help ensure that everyone on these complex jobsites goes home safe,” said Bart Pickelman, MIOSHA director. “We’re proud to support contractors who are choosing to lead on safety, not just comply. These projects will set the tone for what a strong safety culture can look like.”

Stuart Mason, chief executive officer of CSM Group, highlighted the importance of personal responsibility during the July 18 kickoff of the MIOSHA partnership for the Kalamazoo Event Center with CSM Group and Barton Malow.

“It is really important to go home in a better condition than when we arrived,” Mason said. “This commitment to the partnership is all of us taking that personal responsibility oath to be the very best in the industry. More importantly, it’s how we work together and hold each other accountable to that promise that makes a difference.”

Tom Thelen, site safety manager for Toebe Construction and a former MIOSHA safety officer, echoed that sentiment:

“Having worked on both sides of the equation, I’ve seen firsthand how effective partnerships with MIOSHA can be,” said Thelen. “It’s not about enforcement — it’s about engagement, education and elevating safety together. This collaboration helps us stay proactive and protect the people who make these projects possible.”

Representatives from MIOSHA, Toebe Construction, MDOT, MITA and MISS Dig 811 mark the signing of a construction safety partnership for the I-696 Reconstruction Project.

Learn more at Michigan.gov/MIOSHApartnerships.