Maine Department of Labor announces its no-cost trainings for August 2025.

Upcoming classes:

How to Conduct a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Assessment – August 8, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Every workplace is required to assess the workplace for hazards which require personal protective equipment. This course assists employers in how to assess a workplace, hazard recognition, determining the appropriate personal protective equipment, and the elements of a Certificate of Hazard Assessment.

Fire Service Respiratory Protection  - August 11, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This half-day class will cover the OSHA respiratory protection standard, state statutes, and agency rules relating to the fire services use of SCBAs. Other topics include written programs, medical clearances, fit testing, facial hair, two-in and two-out, annual training requirements, flow and hydrostatic testing requirements, weekly/monthly checks, the OSHA and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) rules for breathing air compressors, licensing, maintenance and recordkeeping.

Vehicle Ergonomics – August 12, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Program participants will have an improved understanding of the importance of proper driving posture, varying work activities, stretching and activity breaks, limiting exposures, and how to make regular corrective adjustments to driving positions.

Hazard Communication/Chemical Substitution – August 13, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Employees have the right to receive information and training regarding hazardous substances in the workplace. This course provides employers with the elements of a written program, container labeling, safety data sheets, and training requirements. Also included are the basics of chemical substitution as a tool to decrease the risks of hazardous substances in the workplace.

Public Sector Compliance – VIRTUAL – August 14, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This course reviews the regulatory standards for public sector compliance, the programs, training, and inspection requirements, as well as common hazards identified in public sector workplaces. Also included is an outline of the resources provided by SafetyWorks and the SHAPE program which exempts public sector workplaces from programmed enforcement inspections. 

Lockout/Tagout – August 18, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This class will review the lockout/tagout standard to ensure participants understand the requirements of a lockout/tagout program and the development of energy control procedures. Students have an optional virtual reality portion of the course.

Confined Space Entry: General Industry – August 21, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

A confined space is 1) large enough to enter, 2) has limited access, and 3) is not designed for human occupancy. This course helps employers understand the permit-required confined space standard including identifying confined spaces, written program elements, permit requirements, duties of personnel, and rescue services.

safeTalk – August 27, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

LivingWorks safeTALK is a 4-hour training that equips people to be more alert to people thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with further help.

Impairment Detection Training for Employers – August 28, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This one-day training session is designed to help owners, managers, and supervisors recognize and respond appropriately to employee-impairment in the workplace to reduce worker accidents and injuries. Participants will be taught procedures to detect impairment regardless of the substance or cause. This class is designed to fulfill the federal DOT requirements for reasonable suspicion training of supervisors. In addition, participants will learn how to develop and implement policies that address impairment in the workplace and are in compliance with Maine's Substance Use Testing Law.

Register and browse more SafetyWorks! classes:

https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

If you have questions about safety or upcoming classes, reach out to SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE-345 or general.bls-safetyworks@maine.gov.

If you have questions about Wage and Hour compliance, please reach out to the Wage and Hour Division at 207-623-7900 or bls.mdol@maine.gov, or visit www.maine.gov/labor/bls/.  

SafetyWorks! is also a host site for the Region 1 OSHA Training Institute Education Center.  To register go to https://oshaedne.com/osha-503/ or call 800-449-6742. 

Please note, the below classes have a registration fee to attend. The next classes will be:

August 4 & 5, 2025             NCOS 488 Prevention by Design

August 6, 2025                    NCOS 7005 Warehouse & Storage