A Hazardous Waste Worker Training class is July 18-29, and five seats are still available for the free training at Truman Education Center here.
Known as HAZWOPER, for hazardous waste operations and emergency response, the skill set is a marketable option for anyone interested in work associated with cleaning up and disposing of contaminated matter.
Educators from Barton Community College's Grandview Plaza, Kan., campus will again teach the course. The campus specializes in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hazardous materials and emergency services.
Michael Dodds, Truman Education Center education services officer, said two classes have already completed the training here and all but one person finished the training requirements.
"I've received nothing but positive feedback from all the students who took the training," he said.
In an ever changing labor market, Dodds said the training could prove invaluable for Soldiers preparing to leave military service.
"This is a great opportunity for transitioning Soldiers to pick up these skills that are needed by employers that makes them immediately more employable and more marketable so when they leave the military they will have a better chance of getting a job to support themselves and their families," he said.
Dodds added jobs appear to be plentiful for workers with this type of training. Visiting three major employment websites -- monster.com, career builder.com and indeed.com, he did a job search of HAZWOPER and found more than 2,600 jobs on the three sites combined.
The 80-hour program provides students with three certifications, said Bill Nash, Barton College's Fort Riley (Kan.) dean of technical and military outreach. The first is the nationally recognized OSHA 10-hour card for industry general safety. The second is the OSHA 2015 Hazardous Materials certification, which covers handling and storage of hazardous materials in the workplace and regulations concerning their use. This certification can only be offered by an OSHA education center. Barton is one of 42 such centers in the United States. The third is the 40-hour HAZWOPER class, an OSHA requirement for people to work with hazardous chemicals or at a waste disposal site.
Dodds said course graduates represent close to the full array of people eligible to attend. He estimated about 90 percent were transitioning Soldiers but he also noted Soldiers who aren't looking to leave the Army soon, spouses, retired veterans and federal government civilian employees have completed the course.
Student and family member Lakese Cook spoke of the training she received in March.
"It was really good training and useful information," said Cook, who is looking for employment in that field. "The instructors were patient and very knowledgeable."
Adults of all ages are welcome to attend training, the main determinant of eligibility is if people can don the suit and work in that self-contained environment. Dodds meets with each applicant to explain the training and the application form. He also emphasized people should understand that though free, this is serious training and he wants students who are committed to completing the course. Civilian employees need supervisor approval, and Soldiers need approval from their first sergeant, and battery and battalion commanders. Dodds will also explain the self-contained breathing apparatus students must wear in the training.
"I haven't had anyone yet who wasn't able to meet this requirement," he said, "the training is open to anyone who is physically and mentally able to complete it."
Though free, students will receive five college credits for completing the training, Nash said. who added the training here carries a value of between $3,000 to $5,000, which is the cost students would likely pay at civilian schools.
Dodds said he is working with Barton to schedule classes in 2017 and has received approval for four next fiscal year, the first in October. For more information, contact the education center at 580-442-3201.
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