Michigan House Bill 4440 was introduced, which would require the creation of an infectious disease worker safety commission to determine the best practices for employees during an emergency declared because of an infectious disease.

Guidance established by the commission would include but not be limited to:

• Appropriate personal protective equipment for use by employees
• The number and placement of handwashing and hand sanitizing stations
• Distancing requirements between employees and between employees and the public
• Any process or protocol that the commission believes is needed to protect the safety of employees and the public

Members of the commission would be selected by the Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, as must consist of:

• Two members representing labor unions from any of the following: healthcare, law enforcement, food delivery
• A member representing the private sector
• A me the public sector
• Three individuals who work in healthcare and specialize in epidemiology or contagious diseases
• Two individuals who work in health care and specialize in occupational safety and health.

Considering the many challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, having a framework in place for another potential outbreak of a highly-contagious infectious disease could do much to keep essential workers safe.