Construction trainers busy in wake of statewide safety mandate

A new state law that requires mandatory safety training for Nevada's construction workforce has led to a large increase in the number of workers enrolling in training courses at northern Nevada training facilities.

The law, passed in the wake of 12 construction deaths in Las Vegas in a span of 18 months, requires workers take an OSHA-approved 10-hour safety course and construction supervisors to take a 30-hour course by Jan. 1.

Employers who hire employees without a completion card due no later than 15 days after they are hired and good for five years face fines of $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second, and up to $70,000 for a third offense, says Jan Rosenberg, chief administrating officer of the Safety Consultation and Training Section of the state's Division of Industrial Relations.

Dee Stueve, safety coordinator for the Nevada Chapter of Associated General Contractors, says the AGC has seen roughly a 300 percent rise in enrollment in the training courses from 2008 as a result of the new law.

"We have classes that seat a maximum of 50 people, and we have every class full until the end of the year," Stueve says.

Michelle Daugherty, vice president of Associated Builders and Contractors, says the rise in enrollment for safety training classes is "astronomical."

"Last year we had more than 200,000 employees in the construction industry statewide, and now we are down to 90,000 and all 90,000 need to have to have this training," Daugherty says. "Even if 50 percent got training, you still are looking at large sum."

In 2008 the state's Safety Consultation and Training Section offered just three classes and had 45 attendees. This year, SCATS has offered eight classes with 115 attendees. The majority of SCATS classes have been in Spanish. Through July 79 Hispanic workers had received training.

Daugherty says ABC, AGC and the Construction Training Center normally train about 500 people per year but have trained about 500 in the last two months.

Rosenberg acknowledges Safety Consultation and Training Section can't accommodate everyone. Its four trainers in northern Nevada can train about 400 workers per year. The 10-hour course runs two days, while the 30-hour course lasts five days.

A host of online resources also offers training classes for employees, and many give employers the opportunity to schedule an OSHA-approved trainer to visit their business. Curtis Chambers, vice president of Dallas-based OSHA-Pros Inc., says enrollment is down at some metropolitan centers throughout the county, but his company has seen a rise in online enrollment in Nevada, as well as requests for on-site training.

Through 2010, larger construction companies with safety committees and more than 25 employees can have a safety committee head get approval for an alternate course. But by Jan.1, 2011, all workers must have an OSHA 10-hour or 30-hour training card, Rosenberg says.

The AGC, ABC and SCATS all offer classes to train Spanish-speaking workers as well.

Ryan Dustin, project manager for Sierra Earthworks, says he was able to enroll the company's entire workforce of 60-plus employees, most of them Hispanics, in weekend classes.

"They are definitely catering to the Spanish workforce," Dustin says. "Sometimes there are more classes in Spanish than English."

Currently, workers and supervisors who enroll with the AGC, ABC or Construction Training Center receive their training for free thanks to a $50,000 grant from the State Contractors Board. Courses typically cost about $150 range for the 10-hour course and around $300 for the 30-hour course.

ABC and the Construction Training Center still have classes available, Daughtery says, and they offer night and weekend classes.

"When we find what people are requesting, we have been able to shape ourself to their needs," Daugherty says.

AGC's 10- and 30-hour safety training classes are offered once a month. The 10-hour course is a one-day program, while the 30-hour course is split over four days.

AGC also offers online classes for $139 and $295. Workers can enroll at www.nevadaagc.org. Safety training also is offered through independent OSHA-approved trainers, who can be found at www.outreachtrainers.org.

The Builders Association of Northern Nevada offers OSHA 10-hour classes on Sept. 15-16 and Dec. 10-11, and OSHA 30-hour courses on Oct. 5-9. Call BANN at 329-4611.

Truckee Meadows Community College also offers safety training courses. TMCC will hold 10-hour compliant courses (cost: $125) Sept. 17-18 and again on Oct. 28-29, as well as a 30-hour compliant course ($275) Sept. 28-Oct. 1. To register call 829-9010. TMCC also can provide training to area businesses. Call Scott Alquist at 857-4958.

How to find training resources

WHERE TO FIND OSHA 10- AND 30-HOUR TRAINING COURSES

Classes:

SCATS, 824-4630. Web registration preferred, www.NV1030.com

Associated Builders and Contractors, 358-7888, ext. 12,

www.abcsierrnv.org

Associated General Contractors, 329-6116, www.nevadaagc.org

Builders Association of Northern Nevada, 329-4611,

www.thebuilders.com

Construction Training Center, 353-1051

Truckee Meadows Community College: 829-9010, www.tmcc.edu

Independent trainers:

www.outreachtrainers.org

Online resources:

www.oshatrainingrenonv.com

www.safetytraineronline.com/1nevada.php

www.osha-pros.com