Michigan workers and employers to get free safety training through $900,000 in MIOSHA grants

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan workers and employers will have access to free workplace safety and health training in 2027, including Spanish-language instruction, construction fall prevention and farm safety programs. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) awarded $900,000 in Consultation Education and Training (CET) grants to 16 organizations to deliver the training, with an emphasis on reaching small and midsize employers.

“Preventing workplace injuries starts with knowing how to recognize hazards and what to do about them,” said Susan Corbin, director, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “By partnering with organizations that understand the industries and communities they serve, we can bring practical safety training directly to more Michigan workers and employers.”

Among the 2027 recipients is first-time grantee Catholic Charities Southeast Michigan, which will provide community-based workplace safety training in Spanish through its La Casa Amiga program. The project will serve caregiving, service and manufacturing workers and include culturally responsive safety education and OSHA 10-hour instruction focused on workplace hazards, worker rights and prevention strategies.

“The CET Grant Program allows MIOSHA to extend the reach of our education and training efforts into workplaces and communities throughout Michigan,” said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman. “By working with organizations that have specialized expertise and established connections with Michigan workers and employers, we can provide training that responds to real workplace hazards and helps build safer workplaces.”

With all grant agreements now fully executed, employers and workers can access grant-supported training on a wide range of workplace safety and health topics across industries including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, public service and transportation. Training topics include tree care and chainsaw safety, excavation and electrical hazards, workplace violence prevention, ergonomics, agricultural emergencies, mental health, and safety for young and neurodivergent workers, with some programs offered in Spanish and other accessible formats.

“Language should never be a barrier to understanding how to stay safe at work,” said Luz Acosta Borbolla, director, La Casa Amiga Community Programs at Catholic Charities Southeast Michigan. “This grant will allow us to bring practical, culturally responsive safety training directly to Spanish-speaking workers and help them better understand workplace hazards, their rights and how to protect themselves on the job.”

Grant Recipients

• Alpena Community College — Safety training for high-risk rural workplaces, including electrical, fall, confined space and work zone hazards.
• Associated General Contractors of Michigan — Construction safety training covering fall protection, scaffolds, excavation, silica and other hazards.
• Bay College — Chainsaw, hazardous tree removal and other high-risk outdoor work safety training.
• Catholic Charities Southeast Michigan — Spanish-language workplace safety and OSHA 10-hour training for caregiving, service and manufacturing workers.
• Center for Workplace Violence Prevention, Inc. — Workplace violence prevention, de-escalation, personal safety and emergency response training.
• Eastern Michigan University Organization for Risk Reduction — Excavation safety and hazard recognition training.
• Emergency Services Rescue Training — Hands-on training for first responders addressing farm-related emergencies.
• Great Lakes Safety Training Center — Arc flash awareness training for construction and manufacturing workers.
• Incompass Michigan — Neurodiversity-conscious safety training for workers with different learning and communication needs.
• Michigan Green Industry Association — Tree care, chainsaw, rigging, electrical hazard and first aid training.
• Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) — Training on roadway and trenching hazards, tool safety, suicide prevention and opioid addiction.
• Michigan State University — Farm safety outreach, technical assistance and educational resources addressing agricultural hazards.
• Parents for Student Safety Employment Standards (PASSES) — Workplace safety training for students and educators involved in co-op employment programs.
• UAW — Workplace safety training, needs assessments and labor-management safety committee support.
• University of Michigan Center for Ergonomics — Ergonomics training and technical assistance for small and medium-sized employers.
• Wayne State University — Workplace mental health training for workers and employers in high-risk industries.

The CET Grant Program supports organizations that develop and deliver occupational safety and health training and services, with an emphasis on reaching small and medium-sized Michigan employers. Training is offered in a variety of formats, including classroom instruction, hands-on demonstrations, webinars, online learning and on-site programs.

Employers and workers interested in grant-supported training can view the full list of 2027 CET grant recipients, available programs and contact information at Michigan.gov/MIOSHAGrants.

About MIOSHA

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. MIOSHA’s mission is to help protect the safety and health of Michigan workers through enforcement, consultation, education and training.