Safety in the Field and in the Classroom: OSHA 30 Training
Kraus-Anderson’s Bemidji office recently collaborated with Bemidji State University (BSU) and the local carpenter’s union to provide OSHA 30 training.
A 30-hour training covering all OSHA standards and sub parts, OSHA 30 is required for all KA project superintendents and is encouraged for project managers and other field employees.
The classroom instruction course was held over four consecutive Fridays on the BSU campus and was conducted by Mike Harrom, North Country Carpenter’s Union business representative and organizer.
This class has offered a great experience for the Carpenters Union to work with BSU students to understand today’s Construction Industry Safety Standards,” said Harrom.
The OSHA 30-hour courses provide more in-depth information and training on an expanded list of topics associated with recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of workplace hazards; as well as information regarding workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and filing complaints. Training covers a gamut of construction industry hazards including fall protection, electrical hazard safety, struck-by, caught-in or–between hazards, and more.
The class of 28 students included project managers, superintendents and BSU construction management students. The format included presentations, videos, group work and assignments, allowing for further collaboration among participants representing a wide range of construction experience.
“It’s a great way to bring professionals together with BSU’s blue-chip CM students to provide real-life exposure to safety considerations,” said Bob Fitzgerald, director of operations for Kraus-Anderson’s Bemidji office.
The collaboration is similar to the LEED Green Associate workshop that was presented to BSU students and Kraus-Anderson employees a few years ago in conjunction with KA University. Each learning event provided “an outstanding opportunity for our construction management students to participate in a real world construction experience and network with the construction industry,” said Dr. Tim Brockman, associate professor and coordinator of the Engineering Technology Program at BSU.
“In today’s classroom I try to stress the importance of learning skill sets, but also learning how to learn,” Brockman said. “With the increasing demand for new technologies and products, there is an equally increasing responsibility for continuing education and training for a future that is unknown. For today’s professional workforce, ongoing training is as important as building. It is a necessity for profitability in today’s market.”
“The partnering with Kraus Anderson and the Carpenter’s Union confirmed my classroom views, but also brought the reality of the construction career to the students,” Brockman said. “The students could see themselves fitting into a jobsite office working with, learning from, and being successful with the images of the construction industry as represented by the KA employees. The students could relate to the workers and imagine themselves having a successful career in the construction industry. It is through shared opportunities, which brings knowledge out of the classroom and into reality, that the next generation of professionals will be inspired,” Brockman said.