Safety in the Field and in the Classroom: OSHA 30 Training

Kraus-Anderson’s Bemidji office collaborated with Bemidji State University and the local carpenters union to provide OSHA 30 construction safety training.

OSHA 30 is a 30-hour course covering Occupational Safety and Health Administration construction standards and subparts. The training is required for all KA project superintendents and encouraged for project managers and other field employees.

The classroom course was held on four consecutive Fridays at the Bemidji State University campus. Mike Harrom, business representative and organizer for the North Country Carpenters Union, led the instruction.

“This class has offered a great experience for the Carpenters Union to work with BSU students to understand today’s construction industry safety standards,” Harrom said.

What Does OSHA 30 Training Cover?

OSHA 30-hour courses provide detailed instruction on recognizing, avoiding, abating and preventing workplace hazards. The training also addresses workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and the process for filing complaints.

Course topics include:

  • Fall protection
  • Electrical safety
  • Struck-by hazards
  • Caught-in or between hazards
  • Other construction-industry safety risks

The class included 28 project managers, superintendents and Bemidji State University construction management students. Presentations, videos, group work and assignments encouraged collaboration among participants with a wide range of construction experience.

“It’s a great way to bring professionals together with BSU’s blue-chip construction management students and provide real-world exposure to safety considerations,” said Bob Fitzgerald, director of operations for Kraus-Anderson’s Bemidji office.

How Does Training Support Construction Career Development?

The OSHA 30 course continued a collaboration between Bemidji State University and Kraus-Anderson. A previous LEED Green Associate workshop, presented with KA University, also brought students and employees together for professional development.

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 Bemidji State University’s Engineering Technology Program.

“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 partnership with Kraus-Anderson and the Carpenters Union confirmed my classroom views, but also brought the reality of a construction career to students,” Brockman said. “Students could see themselves in a jobsite office, working with and learning from the KA employees. They could relate to the workers and imagine themselves having a successful career in construction. Through shared opportunities that bring knowledge out of the classroom and into reality, the next generation of professionals can be inspired.”

Learn more about construction safety culture, the Bemidji office, construction careers in northern Minnesota and professional credentialing and sustainability achievements.

For current OSHA outreach-training information, visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Outreach Training Program.

CATEGORY: Safety