Free workplace safety courses
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
The Maine Department of Labor’s SafetyWorks! training and safety consultation program is offering free training courses for April at various locations statewide, including one in Presque Isle.
“As we get ready to do more work outdoors and construction projects pick up speed, we encourage businesses to make sure that their safety training is up to date so we can hit the road running,” said Gov. Paul R. LePage.
The Presque Isle meeting will focus on mining safety. The course, entitled “Mine Safety and Health Administration,” will be held April 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Presque Isle CareerCenter, 66 Spruce St., Suite 1. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires all surface mining (ex: stone crushing, gravel pit, etc.) employees to receive eight-hour annual training. However, site-specific training will also need to be conducted once you return to your respective job sites.
All other courses are held in the Central Maine Commerce Center at 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta unless otherwise noted. To register, call 623-7900 or visit www.safetyworksmaine.com. Businesses with several employees requiring the same training course should contact SafetyWorks! to ask about the free onsite training program.
Statewide courses offered and their locations include:
• Laws Governing Workplace Rights — April 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Lubec Town Office, 40 School St.
• 10-Hour Construction Standards Training — One-and-a-half-day course, April 10, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and April 11, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Seasons Event and Conference Center, 155 Riverside St., Portland.
• Personal Protective Equipment Assessment — April 15, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Lockout/Tagout Procedures — April 16, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Mine Safety and Health Administration — April 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Bangor CareerCenter, 45 Oak St.
• Welding/Compressed Gases — April 17, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• OSHA Recordkeeping — April 18, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Accident Investigation/Injury Analysis — April 29, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Mine Safety and Health Administration: New Miner — April 30, 8 a.m. to 5 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 www.safetyworksmaine.com.
