Maine Department of Labor announces its upcoming no-cost trainings for January 2026.

Upcoming classes:

Forklift Operator Safety – January 6, 2026 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This course is for students who have not completed a forklift safety program. Classroom training includes the basics of a forklift, understanding forklift operation, and how to perform a forklift inspection. The SWTI Lab includes a forklift to practice inspecting a forklift, and the simulator provides a hands-on opportunity to practice operating a forklift. This class does not "certify" operators.

10-Hour Construction Standards – January 8 & 9, 2026 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Day 1), 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Day 2) SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This one-and-a-half-day course teaches hazard identification and controls on a variety of construction industry safety and health topics (29 CFR 1926). This is an entry-level course and attendees who complete this course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate.

Bloodborne Pathogens Train-the-Trainer – January 12, 2026 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. VIRTUAL

This half-day class provides guidance on what is needed to be compliant with the bloodborne pathogen standard. This course will review written program requirements, training, documentation, Hepatitis B, and SHARP logs.

Scaffolding & Fall Protection – January 13, 2026 l 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Falls are one of the leading causes of death and injury in the workplace. This course provides the construction and general industry standards that regulate walking-working surfaces, including scaffolding, and the fall protection control measures that are available to protect your employees.

How to Conduct a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Assessment– January 20, 2026 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 assessing a workplace, hazard recognition, determining the appropriate personal protective equipment, and the elements of a Certificate of Hazard Assessment.

Wage & Hour Compliance – January 21, 2026 l 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Joseph L. Ferris Community Center, 318 Wilson Street, Brewer

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

Hazard Communication/Chemical Substitution – January 22, 2026 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.

Wage & Hour Compliance – January 27, 2026 l 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Bridgton Community Center, 15 Depot Street, Bridgton

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

10-Hour Shipyard Standards – January 29 & 30, 2026l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Day 1), 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Day 2) SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This one-and-a-half-day course offers basic information on a variety of shipyard/boat building industry safety/health standards (29 CFR 1915). Attendees who complete the course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate.

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/.