USAG Daegu Safety Office is now OSHA Certified

By Intern Shin, Hyo-juJuly 18, 2017

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The members of United States Army Garrison Daegu Safety Office pose for a group photo at Camp Henry USAG Daegu command conference room, July 6, 2017. All seven staffs of USAG Daegu Safety Office earned Occupational Safety Health Administration Author... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

USAG DAEGU, South Korea -- Every Safety Office puts a lot of effort to make a safe workplace. Also United States Army Garrison Daegu Safety Office has made many great accomplishments on making a safer work environment such as conducting safety inspections, spot checks at worksites, conducting safety training and earning the Army Safety Excellence Streamer Award for the Garrison. Furthermore, all seven members of USAG Daegu Safety Office earned Occupational Safety Health Administration Authorized General Industry Trainer certifications from OSHA Training Institute Education Center Eastern Kentucky University, June 16, 2017.

OSHA is a government organization to assure safe and healthful working conditions for workforce by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. The primary program is the OSHA Outreach Training Program for educating employees who usually work in construction or general industry.

"The purpose of the program is to promote workplace safety and health and to make workers more knowledgeable about workplace hazards and their rights," said Joe Cabrera, USAG Daegu & Area IV Safety Manager. "We have been conducting safety training to members of USAG Daegu and Area IV for a long time. The OSHA Authorized Trainer certificate demonstrates to the public and our coworkers that we are qualified and competent. It proves us to take pride in our profession and in maintaining up-to-date skills and knowledge."

Utilizing a 'train-the-trainer' model, people who completed the required OSHA Training Institute courses to become an OSHA Outreach Authorized trainer are authorized to conduct 10-hour and 30-hour training courses for employees working at construction and general industry. Also, they can issue cards to the employees for verifying their successful completion of the training. "Establishing a well-defined and standardized curriculum ensures that each employee receives similar training no matter their unique work situation," said Cabrera.

The prerequisites for the OSHA #501 Trainer Courses which all members of USAG Safety Office completed are successful completion of the OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry course and having five years of safety and health work experience in general industry. A degree in occupational safety and health, a Certified Safety Professional or a Certified Industrial Hygienist designation may be substituted for two years of work related experience and all safety staffs have met the requirement. The trainees should obtain guidance on whether they meet this requirement from the OSHA Training Institute Education Center, and this time the instructor of the training was from Eastern Kentucky University.

"I shared and gained valuable experience and knowledge from the other students who were safety and occupational specialists from U.S. Forces Korea, U.S. Army Material Support Command - Korea, and some from Japan," said An, Yong-taek, USAG Daegu Safety and Occupational Health Specialist. "We are all happy to finally be recognized as qualified Authorized OSHA General Industry trainers."

According to the OSHA General Industry Standards, all members of USAG Daegu Safety Office focused specifically on the most risky topics required by the 10-hour and 30-hour OSHA programs. As a part of the course requirements, employees needed to develop and briefly explain the topics using an effective pedagogical approach, visual aids, and handouts. In addition, people need to prepare a presentation on the OSHA General Industry Outreach Training Program topic and they should pass the written exam at the end of the course.

"I was just a trainee in the past, but now I can provide systematic training to all USAG employees as a trainer," said Yi, Sung-pok, USAG Daegu Safety and Occupational Health Specialist. "Although we finally obtained this certification, we should continue to refresh and develop our capability as both trainers and specialists. Also, we will strive to provide good education and become a professional safety specialist."

Through the training and certification, USAG Daegu Safety Office staffs gained and brushed up on their basic and professional instructor skills, how to organize a class and individual speech skills, and met international instructor standards in safety professional fields in order to protect the employees from mishaps, incidents, and daily hazards at workforce including industrial focused job.