Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA has scheduled a public hearing for March 4 to discuss proposed updates to its concrete construction rules.
The agency says the changes to Construction Standard Part 25, Concrete Construction, are designed to strengthen worker protections and modernize requirements to reflect current practices.
MIOSHA, which operates as a State Plan program under federal OSHA, initiated a review of the standard after receiving requests to evaluate whether existing rules – which reference voluntary standards dating as far back as 1983 – adequately address hazards associated with modern concrete construction activities. The review included comparisons with standards used in other states and input from subject matter experts.
The meeting, set for 10 a.m. at the Michigan Library and History Center in Lansing, will include discussions on:
- Definitions and terminology to improve clarity and consistency, including updates on tendon tensioning, flying forms, and pre- and post-tensioned concrete.
- Reinforcing steel requirements, including clarifications related to support and stability.
- Concrete mixing, pouring and floating operations, with added emphasis on suspended loads and worker exposure.
- Forms, shoring and reshoring, including inspection and documentation requirements before concrete placement.
- Flying forms operations, with revised language addressing worker positioning and rigging procedures.
- Site access and layout, adding requirements to better control hazards in active work areas.
- Tendon tensioning operations, clarifying equipment loading limits and manufacturer requirements.
- New training that would require employers to ensure and document that employees are trained by a qualified person on task-specific hazards.
Additional sections of Part 25 were updated to align with other MIOSHA construction standards and to reflect current industry practices.
Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on March 4.
