Maryland Center for Environmental Training Environment
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Occupational Safety and Health Programs  

Since 1982, MCET has provided site specific occupational safety and health services to industry, employers, and local and state government agencies through training, workplace hazard assessments, risk assessments, ergonomic assessment and strategies. Some of our programs are described here:

Annual Refresher- the Safe Operator 
Employers are required, under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards to conduct annual safety training for their employees. The safety training content is determined by the nature of the organization’s duties, tasks, and functions required of their employees. Participants will discuss case studies facilitated by the instructor and review the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926 and 29 CFR 1910 in the following areas: Confined Space Entry, Respiratory Protection, Lockout-Tagout and Excavation Safety.

Chemistry for the Non-Chemist
Employees will benefit by reviewing the basics of chemistry, chemical properties, reactions, and hazards of various chemical substances in this course. Topics covered in this program include: chemical terminology; toxicology; chemical compatibility; hazard classifications; and deciphering Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). Lecture, demonstrations, slides, and overheads will be used to provide a non-technical understanding of fundamental chemical principles essential to all personnel working in an industrial or treatment plant environment. No chemistry background is needed for this course.

Confined Space Entry
Employees who work in confined spaces may face increased risk of exposure to serious hazards. Participants in this course will be introduced to the requirements for permit-required confined spaces for both the OSHA standard and the Maryland-specific requirement as outlined in OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910. Topics covered will include entry permit programs, criteria for permit-required confined spaces, health and safety procedures for workers in confined spaces, hazard identification and equipment requirements, and rescue procedures. Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to determine if an area is a confined space; evaluate hazards associated with confined space entry, including lockout/tagout procedures; develop policies and procedures to address confined space hazards in the work place; and select suitable confined space entry equipment.

Controlling Electrical Hazards
Employees need to be able to work safely with electrical components in their daily work environment. This course is designed for employees and maintenance personnel who deal with electricity in the workplace. OSHA’s electrical safety practices will be covered in detail. Other topics will include identifying hazards and implementing safeguards for working with electricity, electrical systems, fuses and circuit breakers, grounding, overload and short circuits, double insulation, GFI, and polarized plugs. Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to identify electrical hazards; describe personal protection safeguards; discuss the standard procedures for working safely with electrical currents and when handling common electrical problems; and list the key elements of OSHA’s electrical safety guidelines. 

Electrical Safety
Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard. OSHA's electrical standards are designed to protect employees exposed to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. This lecture course will detail the OSHA “Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices” for those employees whose work may be at risk of coming into contact or being exposed to electrical parts operating at 50 volts or more to ground and their supervisors. Participants discover not only the “what’s” of the electrical work practices but also the “whys.” Industry best practices based upon the information presented in OSHA CFRs, NFPA 70, 70B, and 70E consensus industrial standards will also be covered.

Electrical Safety and Lockout/Tagout
According to OSHA, failure to control energy accounts for nearly 10 percent of the serious accidents in many industries. Employees who are exposed daily to electrical components are often required to have lockout/tagout programs in place. Participants in this course will be introduced to the components of 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S, Electrical Safe Work Practices and the lockout/tagout procedures outlined in 29 CFR 1910.147, Control of Hazardous Energy. Further focus will be on the safety hazards associated with working around electrical equipment and tools, with an overview of the main components of a lockout/tagout program. 

Emergency Response Planning and the Unified Command
Unified Command is an important component of the Emergency Response Plan. It is used to bring all related response agencies together during an incident. Built on the Fire Incident Command system, the Unified Command will include public works personnel should an event occur involving their systems or with the potential to involve them. This approach determines the structure developed for decision making during an incident and involves multiple agencies of which water and wastewater utilities are included. It allows for an integrated command post where shared operations result in informative decision-making, planning, logistical coordination, and resource allocation.

Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Safety and Health Program
Employers, managers, and employees are responsible for providing a workplace free of recognized safety and health hazards. During this session participants will be introduced to the elements of an effective Safety and Health Program and will participate in a “self-evaluation” of their organizations’ current program. Focus will be on identifying program strengths and opportunities for program improvement. The session incorporates a case study problem-solving session guiding participants through the development of a safety and health program.

Excavation Safety 
OSHA states
excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. They define an excavation as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal. Participants will be introduced to the requirements of the OSHA Excavation Standard, 29 CFR 1926 (Subpart P). Subjects covered will be the causes of trench failure, soil classification, trench protection systems, hazardous atmospheres and conditions, inspection techniques, and competent person responsibilities. This course will provide the basic training requirements for “competent persons.” Additional instruction will be given on: tests used to classify soil types in the field; the different methods of cave-in protection; selecting proper shoring methods using the provided OSHA tables; and the methodology used to minimize these and other hazards.

Fall Protection
Individuals working at heights require fall protection equipment. Participants will be introduced to fall-protection principles and codes including fall-protection systems and methodology.   Course topics include the requirements for safe work procedures in the construction industry, fall protection requirements, selection of protective equipment, rescue planning, pre-planning on-site fall protection, and use and limits of a fall arrest system.

Hazard Communication
The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) was designed by OSHA to ensure employees who have both a need and a right to know (RTK) are provided with information they need related the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to. When employees have information about the chemicals being used, in their work environment, they can take steps to reduce exposures, substitute less hazardous materials, and establish proper work practices. Topics covered will include
information regarding, labeling, chemical handling and material safety data sheet comprehension, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Injury Prevention Awareness Program for Supervisors
Front-line supervisors play an important role in injury prevention. It is important for them to understand the risk factors and job demands associated with the work performed in their areas. Front-line supervisors must learn to recognize and undertake interventions whenever risk factors are observed. Interventions might include identifying ways to help employees avoid fatigue through the application of proper body mechanics, use of recommended lifting techniques and performing flexibility exercises. Other interventions might involve engineering or administrative redesign of work tasks. These concepts are reinforced through workplace-specific examples, demonstrations and practice. 

Management’s Role in Safety
Effective safety programs are essential for all working environments. Personnel responsible for these programs have to determine the key elements that will become an effective, comprehensive, and enforceable safety program for their workplace. This course will analyze examples of different types of programs, identify elements of each example, and finally piece these elements together into a safety program that the participants can build on.

OSHA 10-Hour Construction
Orienting new personnel or serving as a refresher to construction safety and health standards, this course will provide an overview for participants on areas of construction safety and the OSHA guideline 29 CFR – Safety and Health Regulations for Construction. Topics discussed will include an overview of OSHA standards including toxic and Hazardous Substances; Stairways and Ladders; Scaffolding, Competent Person Requirements; Fall Protection; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); Hand and Power Tools; Lockout/Tagout; Signs, Signals and Barricades; Confined Space Entry; and Lift Truck Safety.

OSHA 30-Hour Construction
4-Day Course

The OSHA 30 Hour Construction Industry Outreach Training course is a comprehensive safety program designed for safety directors, foremen, and supervisors involved in the construction industry.  Topics covered will include 29 CFR 1926 specific to hazardous conditions, general safety and health; occupational health and environmental controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), fire protection, cranes and rigging, welding and cutting, electrical hazards, excavations, scaffolding, fall protection, ladders, and confined spaces.
Participants will receive the 30-hour construction card upon course completion.

PPE and Respiratory Protection Training
 Operators who are involved with chlorine, use personal protective equipment, and need respiratory protection will benefit from this course. Standard guidelines for daily operations and emergencies will be discussed. Topics covered will include chlorine characteristics, 1-ton cylinders, proper operation and handling of chemicals, emergency response procedures, stand-by chemical use, and first aid for chemical contact. Correct selection, use, care, and storage of PPE following OSHA standards also will be covered. The respiratory protection training is for personnel working at sites with potentially hazardous contaminated air and is designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to use personal protective equipment with minimal risk to their health and safety as required under OSHA Rule 1910.134. Course content will include hazardous atmospheres, respirator types, proper fit testing, and respirator care. 

Preventing Workplace Violence
Violence in the workplace is a serious public health problem. This course is intended to show both employees and managers how to deal effectively with potentially volatile situations. This session will focus on the employee’s role in helping to prevent violence in the workplace and ways to diffuse violent situations. Participants will be introduced to the stages of violent behavior: preventive measures; warning signs of workplace violence; security-conscious thinking; and measures required to take action.  

Our goal is to assist you determine your site-specific needs and develop training programs geared towards the prevention of accidents and minimize employee exposures to hazardous agents and conditions. For more information please call MCET at 301-934-7500 or e-mail us at  info@mcet.org