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Photo: Kentucky Labor Department

The Kentucky Labor Cabinet will host free OSHA training in Louisville from October 2-6.  The week-long workplace safety seminar is a part of the Labor Cabinet’s Population Center Training series which are held in various cities across the state throughout the year.

Population Center Training courses are for both employers and employees and are typically given over a one-week period at each location. The courses are designed to outline the requirements contained in the various subparts of the General Industry and Construction Standards, covering both safety and health issues. All classes are free of charge and open to the public.

 

What:            Louisville Population Center Training

When:           Monday, October 2, 2017 – Friday, October 6, 2017

Where:          University of Louisville Shelby Campus

Founders Union Building, Room 6

Louisville, KY 40218

Register online HERE

 

Monday October 2, 2017

Overview of the Kentucky OSH Program 8:30am – 11:30am

This course discusses the obligation to provide a safe and healthy workplace free from recognized hazards.  Topics of discussion include the operations of the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Program, including enforcement and voluntary compliance services, and safety and health topics currently being considered for future standards and policies.

Hazard Communication/Global Harmonization 1:00pm – 4:00pm

This course covers the basic requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200 and the revised provision of the standard as they relate to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).  Attendees will learn about the revised standard, which will include chemical hazard classification, written program requirements, container labeling and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and associated phase-in dates for the new requirements under GHS.

 

Tuesday October 3, 2017

Injury and Illness Recordkeeping 8:00am – 12:00pm

This course is for those persons responsible for maintaining the revised injury and illness records.  The forms 300, 301, 300A will be covered. The regulations and guidelines for recordkeeping will be discussed, as well as the compliance directive the Kentucky OSH compliance officer will use to evaluate your records.  A recordkeeping example workshop will be part of the course, time permitting.  Note: Students will receive an OTI certificate for this class.

Confined Spaces 1:00pm – 4:00pm

This course explains the regulations regarding entry into and working in confined spaces.  Topics include confined spaces found in the workplace and the hazards associated with them, the regulatory impact of the 1910.146 standard, developing a written program, training employees, permit systems, rescue, and employee participation.

 

Wednesday October 4, 2017

Fall Protection Part 1 8:00am – Noon

This course covers recent changes in the OSHA Federal and State Fall Protection standards for general industry and construction including the new and proposed changes to the ANZI Fall Protection Standards System. Topics include the requirements to provide a fall protection system, the description and requirements for the various types of fall protection systems, training, and associated requirements.

Fall Protection Part 2 1:00pm – 4:00pm

This course provides hands on training in Fall Protection Systems and include the care, use, inspections, cleaning, storage and certification of the components of Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) and Fall Restraint Systems as well as Retractable Life Lines, Lanyards and anchorages. Students should be prepared to don and doff harnesses, ladder belts and attached devices such as retractable lanyards and lanyards. Attendees are encouraged to bring gloves rated for rigging and climbing to use while handling devices. There is no climbing in the class.

 

Thursday October 5, 2017

Powered Industrial Trucks 8:30am – 11:30am

This course covers the basic requirements of 1910.178.  Attendees will learn about the basic aspects of powered industrial trucks (primarily fork lifts), operator training requirements, safe truck operations (including traveling & safety belts), equipment modifications, and associated hazards.  This course will not provide operator certification under 1910.178(L).

Bloodborne Pathogens 1:00pm – 4:00pm

This session covers the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1030 and the measures which must be implemented to protect employees from the hazards of occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials containing bloodborne pathogens, such as hepatitis B virus, (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  Topics of discussion include applicable definitions; infection control; engineering and work practice controls, including universal precautions, personal protective equipment, and housekeeping; medical evaluations; warning signs and labels; and training of employees.

 

Friday October 6, 2017

Wage & Hour Overview / KySafe eLearning Overview 8:30am – 11:30am

This session provides an overview of Kentucky wage and hour laws, such as minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, illegal deductions and payment of wages.  It also provides an overview of the free training modules and webinars available as part of the KySafe online training resource

Photo: Kentucky Labor Department

Last month, the Labor Cabinet conducted 27 free on-site visits, or “consultative surveys” for employers, identifying 128 serious violations affecting up to 729 employees, and saving participating companies potential enforcement penalties up to $896,000.

The Labor Cabinet’s Division of Occupational Safety & Health Education & Training leads the Cabinet’s proactive efforts to create safe and healthful workplace conditions. This includes providing free consultative surveys to employers in an effort to increase workplace safety by improving injury and illness rates.

Employers and employees all across Kentucky and the nation also have access to cost-free safety and health eLearning programs on the Labor Cabinet’s eTrain website. The Division also offers cost-free OSHA training courses, or “Population Center Training” throughout the state. Proactive approaches to workplace safety, like the ones developed by the Cabinet’s education and training team, are proven methods that reduce workplace injuries and can help employers from paying increased workers’ compensation premiums.

In addition to consultative surveys and OSHA training, cost-free assistance from the Division consists of publications, required workplace posters and information on injury/illness recordkeeping requirements. The Division is also responsible for overseeing the Partnership Programs as well as conducting the Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and the OSHA Data Collection.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Kentucky employers recorded the lowest incident rate for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in the state’s history last year.

Along with the Kentucky Safety and Health Network, the Division of Education and Training also co-hosts the Governor’s Safety and Health Conference and Exposition each year. The 33rd annual conference will take place at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington from May 8-12, 2017. For more info and to register for the conference, please visit kshn.net.

Additional information is available at http://labor.kentucky.gov.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Kentucky employers reported the lowest incident rate for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in the state’s history.

Based on a mathematical calculation that describes the number of recordable incidents per 100 full-time employees, Kentucky’s rate improved from 3.8 in 2014 to 3.7 in 2015 – reflecting the most recent data available. This rate has steadily declined since it was first calculated in 1996, when a rate of 8.4 was reported.

“Improving workplace safety for all 1.9 million workers in the Commonwealth is the Labor Cabinet’s top priority,” Labor Secretary Derrick Ramsey stated. “While setting an all-time low for the number of workplace injuries and illnesses is an important feat, it is also important that we stay steadfast in our mission to make the Commonwealth the safest place to work and do business in the country. We want every Kentuckian to go home safe and sound at the end of a day’s work, and maintaining a culture of workplace safety is an important foundation to accomplish Gov. Bevin’s goal of making Kentucky the engineering and manufacturing hub of excellence in the nation.”

According to the BLS report, approximately 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported nationally by private industry employers in 2015 – resulting in 48,000 fewer injuries from the prior year. This produced a national injury and illness rate of 3.0.

Five sectors in the Commonwealth saw significant improvements in industry-specific incident rates. Comparing data from 2014 and 2015, Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing improved by 9.8 points; Sawmill and Wood Preservation improved by 9.2 points; Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing improved by 5.6 points; Wood Product Manufacturing improved by 2.0 points; and, Machine Shops improved by 4.0 points.

The Labor Cabinet’s Division of Occupational Safety & Health Education & Training leads the Cabinet’s proactive efforts to create safe and healthful workplace conditions. This includes providing free consultative services to employers across Kentucky on ways to increase workplace safety – including how to improve injury and illness rates. Services include free on-site consultations to small employers, as well as other compliance assistance, educational materials, and class-style and online training for all employers.

Last year, the Division conducted 334 consultative surveys identifying and ensuring the abatement of 3,154 serious hazards. Also, 129 training courses were conducted, reaching approximately 4,400 attendees in response to training requests from employers.

Employers and employees all across Kentucky and the nation have access to cost-free safety and health eLearning programs on the Labor Cabinet’s eTrain website. Since the launch of this program, 100,000 participants have utilized this service. This free initiative saves employers money and reduces workplace injuries. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with small and medium-sized businesses to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and help employers establish injury and illness prevention programs.

In addition to these training and education programs, the Division of Compliance is responsible for the enforcement of safety and health standards. Compliance officers inspect workplaces for hazardous conditions and issue citations where violations of standards are found. Inspections may be the result of regular scheduling, imminent danger reports, fatalities, and worker complaints or referrals. Overall, both the education and enforcement responsibilities of the Cabinet comprise a comprehensive goal to “Plan, Prevent and Protect” Kentucky’s workforce.

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