Other Health and Safety Training

New York State Industrial Code Rule 56 (12 NYCRR 56) stipulates that "Any person employed on an asbestos project whose duties involve the removal, encapsulation, application or enclosure of any asbestos material or the disturbance of friable asbestos, must have an Asbestos Handler Certificate". State and Federal laws further mandate a minimum course length of four (4) training days. Total inclusive time must be at least thirty two (32) hours training time, and include lectures, demonstrations and a minimum of fourteen (14) hours of hands on exercises followed by a written examination (50 questions). NYSDOH approval is to the UB TRC. (32 Hours)

State law specifies that an individual holding an asbestos contractor/supervisor certificate be on site at all times during an asbestos abatement project. Further, such representation is required to obtain a firm's asbestos-handling license. A contractor may designate a supervisor to serve as his agent for the purpose of accreditation. Supervisors include those who provide supervision and direction to workers engaged in asbestos removal, encapsulation, enclosure and repair and may include those individuals with the position title of foreman, working foreman or leadman pursuant to collective bargaining agreements. The training course must comprise a minimum of five (5) training days and include lectures, demonstrations, at least thirteen (13) hours of hands on training, course review and a written examination (100 questions). NYSDOH approval is to the UB TRC. (40 Hours)

All asbestos certifications must be renewed annually as required by the New York State Department of Health and the USEPA. Refresher requirements stipulate one training day [eight (8) hours] for the handler and supervisor courses. (8 Hours)

Course teaches participants the regulations, procedures, and practices to work safely in spaces defined by OSHA as permit required confined spaces. The course is designed to teach the worker to recognize the spaces and their hazards, recognize the health effects of exposure, testing procedures for atmospheric monitoring, proper selection and use of PPE, and the duties and responsibilities for the confined space entrants, attendants and supervisors. Students will receive a State University of New York at Buffalo Toxicology Research Center certificate acknowledging training to meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 standards. Hands on as attendant/entrant and supervisor are a major component of the training that can be designed to incorporate the specific practices of our client. (16 hours)

Entrant/Attendant/Supervisor Course topics include:

• Recognizing Permit Space Hazards
• Confined Space Entry/Permits
• Atmosphere Testing/Monitoring
• Protective Equipment for Entry
• Duties of Entrant/Attendants/Supervisors
• Rescue Procedures
• Hands on Training/Equipment Use

Hands on training incorporates the use of inspection, monitoring, preparation, proper procedures, personal protective and rescue equipment for confined space entry. This includes use of gas/combustible/oxygen monitors, fall protection products, harnesses/belts and rescue devices. Participants can expect to become familiar with recommended recordkeeping methods as outlined in the OSHA standards.

This course is designed for anyone dealing with permit required confined spaces including; safety professionals, emergency personnel, firefighters, sanitary engineers, public works personnel, chemical workers, maintenance staff and waste water treatment employees.

Ample opportunity is available to incorporate facility specific information, procedures, and equipment into these courses.

This builds on the 16-hour course (which is a pre requisite) with a minimum of 8 hours training. The class covers OSHA regulatory guidelines and requirements, basic rope work and knots, Incident Command System considerations, use of rescue equipment and culminate with exercises designed to practice basic rescue. (8 Hours)

The rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) require that you be given special training if you are a "HAZMAT Employee". If your job involves activities in connection with the shipment, receipt or transportation of hazardous materials you are a "HAZMAT Employee".

What Kind of Training is Required?

As a HAZMAT employee, you are required to receive the following kinds of training:

1. General Awareness and Familiarization Training
   This training is designed to familiarize you with the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations. It is also designed to teach you how to recognize and identify hazardous materials based on the labels, placards, shipping descriptions and other communication standards contained in the HAZMAT Rules.
2. Safety Training
   This part of your training is designed to instruct you concerning the emergency response information required under the HAZMAT Rules, as well as methods and procedures for avoiding accidents. This portion of your training also includes information on various ways to protect you from hazards associated with the hazardous materials to which you may be exposed in your work place.
3. Function Specific Training
   Along with the General Awareness and Familiarization Training and the Safety Training, discussed above, your employer will give you training in the HAZMAT rules that apply specifically to your job activities having to do with the shipment, receipt or transportation of hazardous materials.
4. Driver Training
   If your job involves driving any type of motor vehicle (including an automobile) transporting hazardous materials, it may be necessary for you to receive special driver training, in addition to the three kinds of training discussed above.

We have split our course into a 4 hour general awareness (includes blocks 1 and 2) and 4 hour function specific blocks. These can be conducted independently or in combination.

Under DOT requirements, you must be retrained and retested at least once every three years; even if there have been no changes in the HAZMAT Rules affecting your job function.

A 4 hour presentation which concentrates on radiological fundamentals, biological effects, radiation limits and ALARA to provide the student a basic understanding of radiological concerns.

Personnel working at DOE sites are required to successfully complete one of the two courses outlined below. We conduct these courses for DOE sites in the area under an agreement with DOE through NIEHS. These courses are readily adaptable to provide radiological safety training for any of your personnel.

Based on the courses required by DOE we offer the following:

• Rad I: 8 Hours (Day 1 topics only)
• Rad II: 16 Hours (Day 1 and 2 topics)

Day 1

• Radiological Fundamentals
• Biological Effects
• Radiation Limits
• ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) Program
• Personnel Monitoring Programs
• Radiological Postings and Controls
• Radiological Emergencies

Day 2

• Radiological Contamination Control
  This block includes practical exercises in donning and doffing anti-contamination clothing and proper decontamination techniques.

Reviews the topics covered in either the Rad 1 or Rad 2 initial course. Required by DOE every 2 years.

The intent of this 4 hour course is to provide a general knowledge of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), its requirements and provisions, and enable personnel to recognize biological hazards on a variety of job sites. They will also learn how to protect themselves with appropriate equipment and universal precautions. This basic course can be modified to provide more facility specific training as required under the standard.

All employees, including maintenance and contractor employees, involved with highly hazardous chemicals need to fully understand the safety and health hazards of the chemicals and processes with which they work for the protection of themselves, their fellow employees and the citizens of nearby communities. Training is conducted in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 and will help employees to be more knowledgeable about the chemicals they work with as well as familiarize them with reading and understanding an MSDS. This basic course can be modified to provide more facility specific training as required under the standard.

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the reported cases of ergonomic related disorders in the workplace. The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) reported a three-fold increase in disorders associated with repeated trauma. In response to this, OSHA has issued a proposed regulation designed to prevent, eliminate and reduce occupational exposure to ergonomic hazards. OSHA defined ergonomic disorders as those of the musculo skeletal and nervous systems occurring in either the upper or lower body extremities including the back. These may be caused, or aggravated by; repetitive motions, forceful exertions, vibrations, sustained or awkward positions or mechanical compression's of the hand, wrist, arm, back, neck, shoulders, and legs over extended periods or, from other ergonomic stressors. These disorders include among other, carpal tunnel syndrome, various tendon disorders and lower back injuries.

The 8 Hour program includes:

• Regulations OSHA and NIOSH proposals
• Definitions Ergonomics, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cumulative Trauma Disorders, Repetitive Motion Injuries
• Hazard Assessment Signal Risk Factors
• Back Injuries and Lifting NIOSH Lifting Equation\
• Tool Selection and Design
• Ergonomic Personal Protective Equipment
• Work Station Design
• VDT's and Office Ergonomics
• Fitting the Job to the Worker
• Evaluating the Task, the Worker, the Environment
• Health Surveillance
• Exercise and stretches to promote “work hardiness”

This guideline for an ergonomic program in the workplace can reduce both the numbers and severity of injuries, leading to reduced compensation costs.

Worker exposure to crystalline silica dust is very common in industries that utilize silica-based products. Any of the work involved in these industries will produce airborne crystalline silica dust. Exposure to this dust results in various occupational diseases especially silicosis. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that more than one million workers risk developing silicosis.

This 8-hour (sessions of varying lengths available based on client need) training program will provide workers information and training that will help them to protect themselves from the hazards of silica and developing silicosis. The second phase will be to select, based on their performance and interest, a core number of workers to participate in a train-the-trainer course. They can continue to train their fellow workers in silica and general safety hazard recognition and control. The train-the-trainer course will be 16 hours.