By Travis Halsted, Loss Control Consultant

If you ask any member of our Loss Control Department, what is one of the questions that we hear most often, our answer will be “how do you remember all of these rules”. While our answers to that question may vary, the most accurate answer, is that we take continuing education opportunities in the field of safety items, ergonomics and MIOSHA standards. These classes provide us with knowledge of new standards, changes in current standards, how rules can be interpreted in different manners, risk management efforts and an overall understanding of the current safety world. At MTMIC, we encourage our policyholders to also take part in continuing their education. As we are all aware of the need to manage costs, MTMIC offered this class to our policyholders at no charge to them.

On September 9th, 10th and 11th, MTMIC and MIOSHA partnered to offer MTMIC policyholders the MIOSHA 10-hour training. This three day course provided our policyholders with a basic understanding of a plethora of areas within the environmental, health and safety field. On our first day, we covered MIOSHA enforcement visits, recordkeeping, reporting of injuries, how MIOSHA works with different types of worksites and accident investigations. On our second day, the topics were health hazards recognition, air contaminants, respiratory protection, occupational noise exposure, first aid, eyewashes/showers, bloodborne infectious diseases and an introduction to ergonomics. The third and final day we covered written programs, fire exits, personal protective equipment hazard assessments, the control of hazardous energy sources, machine guarding and hazard communication. The third day ended with a test, a MIOSHA 10-hour card and a small gift from MTMIC. The networking that took place during breaks and lunches was enjoyable, but yet still beneficial. I witnessed a small group of people from different companies, exchange cards. I was interested to see if this was sales networking that took place, so I inquired. I was told that those companies are all in the same industry and were looking to work together as they face the same safety difficulties. At that moment, I knew that this training had served its purpose.

On a personal note, I have been to numerous MIOSHA courses and I have never witnessed such an interactive group as we had in this classroom. There were great questions, insightful assessments of group activities and an eagerness to learn. Some of these questions made them dig into the areas where their own company may be lacking, but they did so with the confidence that this was to be a better company. This training had employees from different industries and even a wider spectrum of positions within those industries, but their interaction and proactive safety approach, proved them all to be consummate professionals.

This was a successful venture into MTMIC’s continued partnership with MIOSHA. MTMIC looks forward to offering some more classes in 2020. As we are a company that takes pride in working for our policyholders, this is where you can play a vital role in your own continued education. We want to hear from you regarding which classes that you would you like to have? Contact your Loss Control Consultant and let them know which classes could benefit you and your company.