Free Workplace Safety Training Courses in March Bookmark and Share

March 7, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2014 Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, 207-621-5009

Courses offered in Presque Isle, Portland, Springvale, Augusta, Calais and Westbrook

AUGUSTA?The Maine Department of Labor?s SafetyWorks! training and safety consultation program announces free training courses for February.

?In addition to these free course, SafetyWorks! will come to a business and provide free training and health and safety consultations,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?Investing in safety protects employees, improves morale and reduces costs. It just makes good business sense.? All courses are held in the Central Maine Commerce Center at 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta unless otherwise noted. To register, call (207) 623-7900 or register online at http://www.safetyworksmaine.com . Businesses with several employees requiring the same training course should contact SafetyWorks! to ask about the free onsite training program.

March 10: Combustible Dust Safety Training ? It is now well known that OSHA is focused on enforcing current recognized and generally accepted engineering practices for dust prevention. This half-day course, running from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., provides an overview of OSHA standards and the hazards associated with combustible dust generation in the workplace.

March 11 and 25: Mine Safety and Health Administration: Refresher ? The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires all surface mining (i.e., stone crushing, gravel pit, etc.) employees to receive eight-hour annual training. This one-day course will cover generic MSHA training. However, site specific training will also need to be conducted once you return to your respective job sites. March 11 will be held at the Springvale CareerCenter and March 25 will be at Washington County Community College; both run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

March 11: Safety Officer Training ? This half-day training, running from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Seasons Event Center in Portland, is designed for the new Safety Officer. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, OSHA regulations, facility inspections, required training and policies and procedures.

March 13: Lockout/Tagout Procedures ? This half-day training session, running 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., covers the OSHA requirements and procedures to be used in the Lockout/Tagout process to ensure safety and protection during repair and maintenance of equipment.

March 14: Forklift Operator Training ? This half-day class is designed for new operators. The instruction will involve classroom and hands-on trainings. This training does not meet the requirements to qualify participants to be a ?qualified operator.? Only the employer can provide such certification. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 17 to 21: 30-Hour Construction Standards ? This five-day course introduces attendees new to construction safety and health to the OSHA standards (29 CFR 1926). Attendees who complete all five days will receive OSHA 30-hour construction course completion cards. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., day one through day five. Note: OTI charges $5 per card.

March 24: Scaffolding and Fall Protection ? In this full-day class you will learn the types of scaffolding and proper setup. While learning how to protect workers from falls and when you must use fall protection. The instructor will explain the OSHA requirements for scaffolding and fall protection, including the definition of ?competent person.? The eight-hour program will include a demonstration of the proper setup of scaffolding. Attendees must wear the appropriate PPE to class. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

March 25: Hazard Communication/Global Harmonization ? GHS stands for the ?Global Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.? GHS is a system that defines and classifies the hazards of chemical product and communicates health and safety information on labels and material safety data sheets (called Safety Data Sheets, or SDSs, in GHS). Come learn what you need to do to prepare for the GHDS and the impact it will have on you and your workers. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Presque Isle CareerCenter located at 66 Spruce Street.

March 27: Machine Guarding ? Participants in this half-day class will learn about the standards for metal and woodworking machines as well as various machine guarding techniques. We will be applying basic guarding practices when specific issues aren't covered in the regulation. OSHA Subpart O will be covered. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

March 27: OSHA Recordkeeping ? This full-day class provides thorough and comprehensive six-hour training for both new and experienced safety and human resources personnel. You will learn the OSHA rule (29 CFR 1904) regarding recording and reporting work-related injuries and illnesses as it applies to your organization. This class includes several hands-on activities on how to correctly fill out the required injury reporting forms. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m at Westbrook Public Safety.

March 28: Noise/Hearing Protection ? This half-day session will cover the effects of noise on hearing. Students will learn about the anatomy of the ear, the physics of sound the effectiveness of hearing protectors and show workers how they can protect themselves against hearing loss from the noise exposure on and off the job. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

SafetyWorks! is not OSHA and cannot issue fines or citations to private businesses. While SafetyWorks! helps businesses of any size, priority is given to small businesses. The program trains about 8,000 people and consults at nearly 1,000 worksites in Maine each year. Employers interested in learning more about the consulting and training services offered by SafetyWorks! should call 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) or visit http://www.safetyworksmaine.com .

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