wiscosh: safety before profits
  • WisCOSH Adds DOT HazMat Training To Offerings

    If you saw the following warning placcards on vehicles at your workplace, or driving through your neighborhood, which one placcard should you be most concerned about?
      D.O.T. hazard placcard Dangerous   D.O.T. hazard placcard Dangerous When Wet Class 4   D.O.T. hazard placcard Inhalation Hazard Class 2   d.O.T. hazard placcard Poison Class 6   Spontaneously Combustible Class 4

    When Your Job Is Transporting Hazardous Materials Accidents Are An Issue

    Knowing OSHA and D.O.T. Regulations Can Save Lives

    WisCOSH is currently able to offer both OSHA HAZWOPER training and D.O.T./FMCSA HazMat training at no cost. These classes are open to workers and employers. Being prepared for emergency situations will ... More here

  • Disaster Response

    WisCOSH is pleased to announce that we are now able to add disaster response to our Disaster Preparedness Planning program. This course includes man-made and natural disasters; fire; flood; tornado; infectious disease; earthquake; and more!

    The best way to survive a disaster is to plan ahead for it.

    While some disasters are a complete surprise when they happen (such as when hurricane Katrina hit) the kind of disaster is well known and possibly even expected (such as wild fires or earthquakes in California). Other disasters (such as the BP Deepwater Horizon spill) are unexpected. WisCOSH recommends our newly expanded "Disaster Planning & Recovery" course to ensure that workers, and the community at large, remain safe when disaster strikes.

  • WisCOSH Now Offering 32-Hour HAZMAT-HAZWOPER At NO COST!

    Thanks to a new partnership between the National COSH and the International Chemical Worker's Union Council WisCOSH is now able to offer a Chemical Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 32-hour training at no cost to participants. In fact participants may qualify for a daily stipend for attending. All participants will receive training and reference materials and a Certificate of Completion.

    During this four day workshop participants will engage in small group activities and hands on participation as well as learn from experts in their field as they cover:

    • Labels and Placards
    • Using and Comparing Resources
    • OSH's HAZWOPER, Hazard Communication and Access to Records Standards
    • Respiratory Protection
    • Personal Protective Equipment
    • Toxicology
    • Decontamination
    • Incompatibles and Confined Space
    • Responding to an event
        Includes:
      • Hazard Identification
      • PPE Selection
      • Hazard Response
      • Decontamination

  • Institutional Capacity Building Around Workplace Heallth and Safety

    Training and Outreach

    WisCOSH continues to provide free training classes and outreach under the "Institutional Capcity Building Grant" the National COSH was awarded from the DOL funded and OSHA administered Susan Harwood Institutional Capcity Building Grant program.

    America has always been a melting pot and as such immigrants, migrant workers and workers here on work-visa's tend to have limited English prophicency [LEP] and have less exposure to what thier workplace safety and health rights are and/or how to use them effectively. They are also often ignored when it comes specific workplace training due to the language barrier. This leads to increased injury, illness and death. And not just amongst immigrant workers. ALL workers are at increased risk when even a single worker is unfamiliar with safe work practices or unhealthy working conditions!

    With this one grant WisCOSH will train hundreds of workers on what their workplace safety and health rights are and how to use them effectively. WisCOSH is seeking low-wage minority workers with LEP, low-wage high risk immigrant workers, low-literacy workers, young workers and workers in high-hazard or new industries. WisCOSH will also provide Train-the-Trainer training to community- and/or faith-based organizations to train both thier staff, volunteers and clients on a variety of occupational safety and health topics. Classes are available in other languages or bilingually but will take approximately twice as long.

    All workplaces have hazards. It's the nature of work.

  • Current FREE OHS Training Classes

    WisCOSH has classes available on may aspects of workplace safety and health. WisCOSH offers both free and "fee for service" training classes. Trainings performed under this grant are provided free of charge. These training classes do not meet OSHA's workplace specific training requirements for employers. WisCOSH can make trainings worksite specific but there is a cost involved. Trainings not currently covered under the grant can be provided at low cost. The current grant year started on Oct. 1st, 2013 and runs through Sept. 30th, 2014. [last updated 10/2/2014]

    Listed below are those courses WisCOSH gets the most requests for but there are many others available. If you don't see a class that suits your needs listed below please contact WisCOSH and we can discuss it further.

    Most Commonly Requested Free Trainings Offered Under ICB Grant
    Basic OSHA Rights and Responsibilities Teen/Youth Worker Rights On The Job
    Hazard Identification At Work OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements
    Preparing For An OSHA Inspection Introduction To Ergonomics
    OSHA Whistleblower Rights Starting and Maintaining An Effective Workplace Health and Safety Committee
    Emergency Preparedness Planning Preparing for and Handling Retaliation in the Workplace
    Hazards We Face In Helping Others Focus Four Hazards For Construction Workers

    Basic Occupational Safety and Health Rights

    This class is the cornerstone to understanding both the worker's and the employer's rights and responsibilities in the workplace. It covers what OSHA is and where it came from, what OSHA does and how to contact and use OSHA to ensure safe and healthy work and working conditions. It also covers some other Federal workplace laws which provide workers rights.
    This class lasts 2 to 2½ hours including time for questions and answers.

    Teen/Youth Worker Rights On The Job Training

    This class is similar to the "Basic Occupational Safety and Health Rights" class with a focus on teen/youth workers. As young workers getting their first job outside of the home teens and youths are at twice the risk of injury or death as adult workers. Teens and youth workers also have additional protections and regulations designed to protect them. Work permits, hours and length of work during the different parts of the year and types of work by age are also covered. Also covered are other Federal and WI State laws which provide workplace rights to workers
    This class lasts 2 to 2½ hours with time for questions and answers.

    Hazard Identification At Work

    Now that workers and employers understand their workplace rights and responsibilities this class helps them understand what a hazard is, the basic OSHA hazard categories and the methods of protecting workers from injuries, illnesses or death due to hazards in the workplace.
    This class lasts 2 to 2½ hours with time for questions and answers.

    Understanding OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements

    OSHA has a number of records that it requires employers to keep and maintain. This class will help you understand what you need to record, how to record it, how long to keep the records and who has access to them.
    This class lasts 2 to 2½ hours with time for questions and answers.

    Preparing for An OSHA Inspection

    Due to budgetary constraints and staffing levels OSHA is unable to go door to door inspecting workplaces for compliance with the OSHA Standards. However, you should be prepared in case OSHA does knock on your door. This class explains what workers and employers should know about an OSHA Inspection and what they can and should do to be ready.
    This class lasts 2 to 2½ hours with time for questions and answers.

    Introduction To Ergonomics On The Job

    This class is an introduction to ergonomics, what it is, how it affects workers and work processes, how to recognize ergonomic issues in the workplace and ways to eliminate or reduce their presence. This class does not go into detail on specific workplaces, processes or means of classifying ergonomic hazards.
    This class lasts 2 to 2½ hours with time for questions and answers.

    OSHA Whistleblower Rights

    When workers have attempted to work with their employer to eliminate or reduce hazards in their work environment but have been unable to solve the issue they have a right to contact OSHA and ask for help. Likewise if a manager or foreman knows that their company is falsifying documentation or ignoring workplace hazards they have a right to ask OSHA for help. OSHA has protections in place for these situations to prevent retaliation for the exercise of their OSHA Rights. This class covers these Whistleblower Rights, how to use them properly to protect yourself from retaliation and what to do if you think you are being retaliated against for using your OSH rights.
    This class lasts 2 to 2½ hours with time for questions and answers.

    Starting and Maintaining An Effective Workplace Health & Safety Committee

    The best way to identify and thus eliminate or reduce exposure to hazards is to have a committee committed to finding hazards and formulating a means of eliminating them or reducing their severity. This class covers methods of forming an effective OHS Committee as well as reinvigorating one that is currently less effective than it should be. This class is most effective with multiple individuals from the same employer or organization.
    This class lasts 7 to 9 hours and can be scheduled in multiple sessions of at least 1 hour in length.

    Emergency Preparedness Planning

    This class covers preparing workers and workplaces for a multitude of potential emergencies. Items covered include severe weather, chemical spill, fire, workplace violence and more. This class covers evacuation plans, shelter from weather events and preparing for workplace violence situations. This class is most effective with multiple individuals from the same employer or organization.
    This class lasts 4 to 5 hours and can be scheduled in multiple sessions of at least 1 hour in length.

    Hazards We Face In Helping Others

    The training is intended for community outreach organizations to train their staff and volunteers on the potential and likely hazards in their work environment. OSHA does not cover volunteers except to the extent that an unpaid worker [volunteer] may put a paid worker at risk of injury or illness. Paid workers injured on the job are eligible for Worker's Compensation. Volunteers are not eligible for W.C. but may sue in court to recover medical expenses and lost wages. WisCOSH can help you protect your workers and organization. This class is meant to be customized for those taking it so as to cover only their work assignments and the associated hazards. This class is a minimum of 1½ hours and includes resource materials.

    Immegrant Worker Rights Training

    WisCOSSH is working with immegrant and refugee community centers and organizations to provide training and advocacy for immegrant workers and refugees. Now more than ever corporations are putting workers with language and cultural barriors in jeopardy by refusing to provide proper training, materials and protective equipment nor safe working conditions. WisCOSH is working to provide training and information in bilingual trainings when possible. to set up a multilingual training.

    Focus 4 Hazards Training for Building and Construction Trades Workers

    WisCOSH is offering Focus 4 Hazard Training for Building and Construction Workers. WisCOSH can offer this in Spanish if requested ahead of the training date.

    WisCOSH can provide training to building and construction workers on the most often reported injuries in the construction trades. They are : fall hazards, electrical hazards, caught-in hazards and struck-by hazards. These trainings are open to those who are currently working in the building and construction trades or who are taking training classes to become a member of the building or construction trades. You do not need to belong to a union to receive this training. This course includes information about scaffolding, Lock-Out/Tag-Out and more. An excellent introduction to an OSHA 10 Hour Safety and Health Training.

    Currently WisCOSH is looking for contact with building contractors to train their employees and supervisors as well as contacting unions to provide this training to their members. Individual or groups of workers are encouraged to get this training as well. The training will consist of 4 modules targeted on each of the 4 hazards. Upon successful completion of all 4 modules the trainees will recieve a Certificate of Completion.

    If you, a group of coworkers, your business or union would like additional information about this training please Contact WisCOSH.

    Preventing Retaliation for for Safety and Health Activism in the workplace

    It's against the law. It's punishable by fines. All to often workers are victims of retaliation for requesting safer and healthier workplaces. Learn how to prepare for retaliation for enforcing your workplace safety and health rights. Being prepared is one of the best ways to prevent retaliation. It will certainly help you if you have to defend yourself against accusations by the employer. Sign up to have a class.

    Occupational Safety and Health Training for Community- and Faith-Based Outreach Organizations

    WisCOSH has training materials for use in training workers, volunteers and clients of community- and faith-based organizations. This training is essential for those who are working with the vulnerable population [i.e.: homeless shelter, food pantry, community health facilities, church or community outreach groups, etc..] which may put the workers, volunteers and clients in vulnerable situations. WisCOSH is awaiting OSHA reapproval of the materials. Once reviewed by OSHA, WisCOSH will be hosting small group trainings and Train-the-Trainer training sessions.

    WisCOSH will be work with workers, and employers, to include policy [both current employer, desireable] where appropriate and be available to customise materials for various groups and organizations without expensive, complicated training classes. Information will be able to be customised on a per trainee or potential hazard faced. WisCOSH has worked with many community- and faith-based groups to identify typical hazards faced in the organizations daily activities. Train-the-Trainer classes will be offered so that organizations can continue to monitor hazards in the workplace and respond appropriately on all levels and facets of the organization.

    Other Workplace Safety and Health Trainings

    While we are focused on the OSHA grants at the current time, we are glad and able to schedule a class in many workplace safety or health subjects that will fill your needs. You don't need to be in a union or a member of WisCOSH to recieve training from us. We are willing to have a training class for your civic, religious, cooperative or community group. If you are an employer who wants his employees to be better informed of thier rights and responsibilities in the workplace we can help you. A well informed and well trained workforce is a more productive workforce and less prone to workplace injury. And that's a plus for everyone in these times of skyrocketing health care costs.

    Effective Workplace Safety and Health Teams or Committees

  • Institutional Capcity Building: Occupational Safety & Health Training and Outreach

    Hazard Identification, Basic OSHA Rights and How To Use Them To Remain Safe and Healthy on the Job and More!

    Recently [officially 2010-10-01; contractually 2010-12-05] WisCOSH was contracted to provide training and outreach under the "Institutional Capcity Building Grant" the National COSH was awarded from the retooled Susan Harwood grant program. This grant has been returned to a 3 or 4 year grant program it started out as many years ago. America has always been a melting pot and as such immigrants, migrant workers and workers here on work-visa's tend to have limited English prophicency and have less exposure to what thier workplace safety and health rights are and/or how to use them effectively. The grant started on Oct. 1st, 2010 and runs through Sept. 30th, 2011. With this one grant WisCOSH will train hundreds of workers on what their workplace safety and health rights are and how to use them. WisCOSH will also provide Train-the-Trainer training to community- and/or faith-based organizations to train both thier staff, volunteers and clients on a variety of occupational safety and health topics. Under this grant WisCOSH will also target low-wage minority workers, low-literacy workers, young workers and workers in high-hazard or new industries.

    WisCOSH currently offers classes at the WisCOSH Office and Worker Training Center [1535 W. Mitchell St., Milwaukee] (3427 W. St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee), at your facility or another suitable location. Call WisCOSH at (414) 933-2338 or 1-888-947-2674 toll free for more information. There are many trainings which WisCOSH can provide under this grant. Please call to find out more.