Michigan lawsuit over COVID risks for disaster cleanup workers ends in settlement - Detroit Metro Times

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Derek Smart'

Michigan Disaster Cleanup Workers Reach Settlement Over COVID Exposures. A confidential agreement has been reached in a lawsuit filed by workers who claimed to have been placed in hazardous conditions during early pandemic cleanup work in mid-Michigan.

The case, which was brought forward by the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, centered around over 100 out-of-state workers recruited for flood-recovery work following May 2020 dam failures in Midland County. According to the allegations, these workers faced unsanitary living arrangements of up to four people sharing a hotel room bed, crowded transportation, and inadequate COVID-19 safety measures.

The plaintiffs claimed that companies responsible for hiring and supervising the cleanup teams failed to provide proper training or equipment, leading to widespread infections among staff members. Furthermore, they were required to isolate themselves in cramped spaces during daily briefings without adequate social distancing measures in place.

The agreement reached this week resolves several claims against various defendants, including SERVPRO Industries LLC, contractors and subcontractors involved in the cleanup efforts, and organizations representing workers who contracted COVID-19 as a result of their employment.

Industry-wide reforms are expected to be implemented following this outcome. John Philo, executive director of the Sugar Law Center, stated that "worker safety must be safeguarded" and emphasized that companies responding to disasters must prioritize worker safety, especially during public health emergencies.

The settlement also highlights concerns about the lack of clear guidelines for essential disaster-recovery workers facing hazardous conditions with limited ability to speak up. Saket Soni, executive director of Resilience Force, which represented some of the affected workers, described the case as "about standing up for workers" and expressed hope that this outcome will drive meaningful industry-wide change in the future.

Named defendants include several local businesses with contracts to perform cleanup work following the dam failures.
 
🤔 I'm kinda surprised they got a settlement like this... I mean, can't you imagine being stuck in a hotel room with 3 other people and no way to get out? 😷 It's crazy how some companies just don't care about their employees' safety. And what's the deal with all these guys showing up from all over the country without any kind of prep or training? 🚧 I feel bad for them, but at the same time... I'm glad that someone is finally taking action to hold these companies accountable.

I wonder if this will actually lead to some real changes in the industry... Like, are they gonna start requiring better safety protocols and training for disaster workers? 🤞 It's definitely overdue. And yeah, it's also a reminder of how vulnerable all these essential workers can be when it comes to getting sick or injured on the job. 👊
 
Ugh I'm so relieved that these poor disaster cleanup workers finally got some justice 🙌💪! Can you even imagine having to share a hotel room bed with 3 other people and no one bothered to get you tested for COVID? It's disgusting! And don't even get me started on the lack of social distancing measures... it's like they wanted to spread the virus around like wildfire 🔥!

I'm so glad that companies are finally being held accountable for putting these workers' lives at risk. Worker safety should always be the top priority, especially during public health emergencies 🤝. It's not okay that these guys had to fight tooth and nail just to get recognized as employees who deserve basic rights.

This settlement is a huge step in the right direction, but I'm also kinda annoyed that it took so long for someone to speak up on their behalf 💔. These workers should never have been put in such hazardous conditions without proper training or equipment. It's like they were just disposable pawns to be used and discarded 🚮.

Industry-wide reforms are definitely needed, ASAP! We can't keep treating people like this and expecting them to just "suck it up" 💁‍♀️. These workers deserve so much better, and I'm glad that their voices are finally being heard 🔊.
 
You know how our communities come together during disasters? It's a beautiful thing, but it can also be super unfair if some people are put in harm's way without proper care or protection 🤕. I think we need to remember that everyone has a role to play in keeping each other safe, especially when things get tough. Those cleanup workers were doing their part to help others, and yet they were still exposed to all sorts of risks 💔. It's like they say: "you can't pour from an empty cup" - companies need to prioritize worker safety so that everyone can do their best work without getting burned 🌟.

And you know what really gets me? It's not just about the workers themselves, but also about the fact that many of them were forced to go through this alone 🤝. I mean, we all want to help each other out, but sometimes we need a little extra push from our leaders to make sure everyone is safe and sound 🙏. Industry-wide reforms are a great start, but it's up to us as individuals to keep pushing for change too 💪.
 
This settlement is a significant development in the fight for worker safety, especially during times of public health emergencies 🤝. It's essential that companies responding to disasters prioritize the well-being of their employees, ensuring they're not exposed to hazardous conditions without proper training or equipment 💡. The lack of clear guidelines for disaster-recovery workers has been a glaring concern, and this outcome highlights the need for industry-wide reforms 🔒.

It's heartening to see organizations like Resilience Force taking a stand for these workers, advocating for their rights and pushing for meaningful change 🌟. The fact that over 100 workers were affected by COVID-19 as a result of their employment is a stark reminder of the risks they faced, and it's essential that companies take responsibility for ensuring their employees' safety during such critical periods ❄️.

Ultimately, this settlement sends a strong message to companies: worker safety must be safeguarded, and they have a responsibility to prioritize the well-being of their employees, even in the face of emergencies 💪.
 
OMG, 1st off I'm so relieved that these poor workers finally got some justice 🙌! Can you even imagine having to share a hotel room bed with 3 other people? It's like, no thanks 😂. And then they're expected to attend daily briefings in cramped spaces without proper social distancing measures? That's just crazy talk 🤯. I'm glad the Sugar Law Center is fighting for these workers' rights because it's about time someone took a stand for them 💪.

I mean, what's even more concerning is that companies were aware of these hazardous conditions but did nothing to stop it 🤷‍♀️. Like, how can you hire people and then not provide proper training or equipment? It's basic human decency 😔. Industry-wide reforms are the least they should implement after this, so workers don't have to go through what those 100+ workers went through 💼.

It's also super interesting that the settlement highlights the lack of clear guidelines for disaster-recovery workers 🤝. I mean, these people are out there risking their lives to help others, and they need some protection too 🙌. Kudos to Saket Soni and the Resilience Force for fighting for these workers' rights! 👏
 
this is crazy 🤯 i mean who puts people through that kinda crap during a pandemic? they're just trying to clean up after these disasters and companies are making them suffer like that.

i'm glad that something was done about it, but like 100+ people having to go through this? it's just not right. it's all about prioritizing profit over people's lives 🤑

anyway, i hope the reforms that come out of this will make sure something like this never happens again. worker safety is super important and companies need to start taking it more seriously 💼
 
[Image of a sad worker with a hazmat suit on, surrounded by trash and a overflowing toilet ] 🚽😷

[ GIF of a worker holding a "I'm with Stupid" sign, pointing to themselves ] 😂🤦‍♂️

[Image of a hotel room with 4 people sharing the bed, captioned "When you're stuck in a pandemic cleanup gig" ] 🤯😴

[ Meme of a worker with a COVID-19 test strip, captioned "I'm not lazy, I'm just conserving energy for my next isolation briefing" ] 🚫💪
 
I'm kinda shocked by this news 🤯. Like, companies are supposed to take care of their employees right? And during a pandemic no less! It's crazy that workers were literally packed into tiny hotel rooms and didn't get proper training or equipment. That's just not cool 😒.

But on the bright side, it sounds like this case is going to lead to some real change 🙌. Industry-wide reforms are a must, especially when it comes to worker safety during disasters. I hope companies are taking this as an opportunity to step up their game and prioritize their employees' well-being 💪.

It's also super important that workers are being recognized for speaking out and fighting for what's right 💕. Those affected by the COVID exposures deserve so much better than to be treated like they're disposable 🚮. Fingers crossed that this settlement brings some real justice and protects future workers from similar situations 🤞
 
I don't usually comment but... I think it's super concerning that these out-of-state workers were put in such harsh conditions just to help with the flood recovery efforts 🤕. Four people sharing a hotel room bed is just not right, you know? And the lack of COVID-19 safety measures is just crazy 🤢. It's like they were basically pawns in the cleanup effort without any consideration for their own well-being.

I don't think we talk about this enough, but worker safety during disaster recovery efforts should be a no-brainer 🙏. These workers are putting their lives on the line to help others, and it's just not okay that they're being treated like this. I hope this settlement brings some much-needed reforms to the industry and ensures that future workers have better protection 🤞.
 
I'm totally not surprised about this settlement coming through! I mean, can you blame those guys for wanting some compensation after going through all that trauma? They're human beings too, you know?

The whole system just needs a shake-up, imo 🤔. Companies need to start prioritizing worker safety, especially when it comes to disasters and public health emergencies. It's not like they can just sweep the problems under the rug and expect everything to magically go back to normal.

It's also wild that some of these workers were literally packed into hotel rooms with no social distancing 🤢. I mean, what kind of "training" does that even qualify as? The fact that they got infected is pretty obvious, but it's good to see some accountability coming through this settlement.

I hope industry-wide reforms come out of this and we actually start seeing some meaningful changes in the future 💪. These workers deserve better, and companies need to step up their game! 👍
 
Ugh 😩 just think about those poor guys 🤕 working in cramped spaces without proper training or safety measures 🚫💉 and still having to share hotel rooms 🛋️ with multiple people 🤯 it's crazy 💥 they deserve so much better 💖

and yeah 🙌 industry-wide reforms are a must 🔒 prioritizing worker safety is not optional ⏰ especially during public health emergencies like COVID-19 🤧 companies gotta step up their game 🚀 and provide clear guidelines for disaster-recovery workers 👊 who can't just speak up because they're in the middle of nowhere 🌄

anyway 💪 glad this settlement came through ✅ hope it brings some real change 🔄 to those industries 🔩
 
🤝 I feel so sorry for those Michigan disaster cleanup workers who had to go through all that crap during the pandemic 🤕. It's crazy how some companies just didn't care about their safety and well-being 💔. I'm glad that a settlement was reached and industry-wide reforms are on the way 📈. It's high time we prioritize worker safety, especially in disaster situations like that 🚨. Hope these changes make it to all industries so nobody has to go through what they went through 😩.
 
OMG, like y'all won't believe what's happening now! 🤯 So these Michigan disaster cleanup workers were literally exposed to COVID and they're finally getting some justice 💪 I mean, can you even imagine having to share a hotel room bed with 3 other people? 😷 And no social distancing measures in place during daily briefings? 🚫 It's wild. The settlement is a major win for worker safety and it's about time companies prioritize their employees' well-being 🙌 Industry-wide reforms are gonna be implemented now, so that's a good thing 🤞 I'm all about standing up for workers and making sure they're protected 💕
 
ugh this is crazy how companies can just do whatever they want without worrying about their employees' safety 🤯 especially during a pandemic when people are most vulnerable. i mean, 4 people sharing a hotel room bed? that's not even humanly possible 🙅‍♂️ and the fact that they were expected to isolate themselves in cramped spaces without proper distancing measures is just gross 😷 glad that some of these workers finally got justice, though. industry-wide reforms are long overdue. hope this settlement leads to more accountability and better working conditions for all disaster relief workers 💼
 
🤔 This news is a huge deal, especially considering how many people were affected by these working conditions. I mean, four people sharing a hotel room bed? That's just crazy talk! 😱 And not having proper training or equipment in place for COVID-19 safety measures? It's like they expected workers to be superheroes or something 💪.

But what really gets me is that companies were aware of these hazards and chose to put profits over people. I'm talking about the lack of clear guidelines for essential disaster-recovery workers, who are often the ones on the front lines of cleanup efforts. It's like they're just thrown into the deep end without a lifeline 🌊.

Now, with this settlement, it seems like some accountability is being taken, and that's a good thing! Industry-wide reforms are expected to be implemented, which should help prevent similar situations in the future. But we need to see more concrete actions taken, not just words 💬.

I'm hoping that this outcome will drive meaningful change, especially when it comes to prioritizing worker safety during public health emergencies. It's time for companies to take responsibility for their employees' well-being and ensure they're protected from harm 🚑.
 
Ugh, another scandal waiting to happen 🤯... I mean, what's new? These disaster relief workers are just pawns in a game where companies don't care about their employees' safety as long as they get paid 💸. It's like they're asking for it with those cramped hotel rooms and no social distancing measures 🚽. And now the courts have stepped in to make them apologize, but what about all the other workers who didn't sue? Are they still stuck in these hazardous conditions? 🤔... just great, another settlement that'll probably just be pocketed by some big corporation 💳...
 
idk how this is gonna change things... companies just gonna slap some guidelines on their website & think they're good? like, what about actual accountability? these workers were put in harm's way by ppl who got paid to do a job 🤔💼
 
🚨 OMG, just heard about this major settlement between Michigan disaster cleanup workers & companies they're suing 🤯! It's about time someone held those companies accountable for putting these workers' lives at risk during COVID-19 💉. I mean, who wants to be stuck in a tiny hotel room with 3 other people for days on end? 😷 And no social distancing during daily briefings? That's just gross 🤢. But seriously, it's amazing that these workers are finally getting the justice they deserve 👏. Industry-wide reforms are gonna make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else in the future 💪. Let's hope companies learn from their mistakes and prioritize worker safety above profits 💸.
 
🤕 just heard about the settlement for those Michigan disaster cleanup workers who got exposed to COVID... it's crazy how they had to share hotel rooms and didn't have proper training or equipment 😷 what's even crazier is that they were expected to isolate themselves in small spaces without social distancing 🙅‍♂️ hope this outcome leads to more regulations being put in place so these kinds of situations don't happen again 💪
 
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