Safety Training Season
by Kirk Lloyd, Risk Management Services, Inc.

Even without a calendar, the short days and bad weather tell us the time of year. Yes, that’s right, it is safety training season! There are a few annual things that employers must do to meet OSHA requirements, and there are a few things that are not required that we strongly encourage everyone to do. The goals of these requirements are to protect life and limb, reduce losses for our members, and preserve the financial integrity of our insurance programs. Safety training has an important role to play in reaching all of these vital goals.

First the required material: If your farm, ranch, or agri-business employs any workers who drive tractors or operate forklifts, Oregon OSHA requires annual refresher training. The employer may provide this training, so it does not require sending employees to a school or bringing in a professional trainer. A review of potential dangers and the best practices for safety should not take a long time, and it is time well spent. Depending on the work being done, additional training topics may also be mandatory, such as respirator use or chemical safety training.

Beyond the regulatory mandate, we strongly encourage Agri-Business Council members to provide training on the general topic of avoiding unnecessary risk during work activities. Last fall, each ABC member was mailed a copy of our new 16-minute DVD titled “THINK; Make Safe Choices.” Please show it again and discuss how it applies to your business. This is important material that will help everyone improve their skills for recognizing and responding to the potentially dangerous situations we encounter every day.

And don’t miss the annual Ag Safety Seminar series offered each winter by SAIF Corporation. This series is offered each year from October to March, so there are still a number of opportunities to attend a program. These classes are appropriate for anyone working in agri-business and are especially recommended for owners, managers, and supervisors. There is no charge to attend and you will even get lunch and an hour of pesticide education credit out of the deal! January locations include Salem, Clackamas, Hillsboro, Eugene, and Hood River. February sessions are in Salem, Wilsonville, The Dalles, Klamath Falls, and Medford. The final presentations of this season are in Salem and Bandon during March. Additional seminars are presented entirely in Spanish and are offered in Wilsonville, Salem, Hillsboro, and The Dalles.