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MNOSHA Compliance: Construction Seminars

About the seminars

Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) Compliance's free Construction Seminars feature a presentation about a specific construction safety or health topic – with time for questions, answers and input – plus an update from MNOSHA Compliance about what's currently happening regarding investigations.

There is no fee for the seminars and attendees are welcome to bring their own food and beverages.

Mark your calendars now and get placed on the seminar mailing list by calling 651-284-5375 or emailing osha.compliance@state.mn.us.

Location, format

The Construction Seminars are at the MnDOT Training and Conference Center, 1900 W. Cty. Road I, Shoreview, MN. The facility is state of the art and has plenty of free parking available for attendees. Directions and maps are available at www.dot.state.mn.us/hr/trngctr/contacts.html. Doors open at 6:30 a.m.; program begins at 7 a.m.

The Construction Seminars are set up for interaction with the audience, leading to better understanding of the topic and more practical learning, and providing a safe environment for participants to ask real worksite questions and get real worksite safety and health solutions.

2018/2019 dates, topics

Sept. 18, 2018 – Respiratory Protection

With the implementation of the new silica standards, many employees now have a requirement to wear respirators. This seminar will explain when an employer needs to have a respirator program and how to develop that program. Topics will include:

  • proper respirator selection;

  • employee training;

  • medical evaluations;

  • annual fit-testing; and

  • voluntary use of respirators.

Presenter:  Ron Anderson, Minnesota OSHA Compliance.

Nov. 20, 2018 – Ladder and Stair Requirements

Ladders and stairs are common on nearly every construction jobsite. Disregarding their danger can lead to serious injuries and fatalities.

This seminar focuses on how to prevent hazards related to ladders and stairs by learning how to properly select and use the right equipment and solutions for the job. The discussion will include some ladder accidents Minnesota OSHA Compliance has investigated, as well as hazards observed by employers and Minnesota OSHA Compliance.

Presenters:  Bob Darling, principal safety investigator, Minnesota OSHA Compliance; and Bob Williams, regional safety director, Adolfson and Peterson Construction

Jan. 15, 2019 – Mobile Earthmoving Equipment

Being struck by or backed over by heavy equipment or other vehicles on a construction site remains one of the leading causes of death or injury for construction workers. Because heavy-equipment operators have an extremely hard time seeing employees working nearby, blind spots behind or around vehicles can be deadly. These types of injuries and deaths can be prevented with pre-planning, the core for all effective construction site safety.

We will discuss how to remove "struck-by" hazards from construction sites and identify the best preventive steps employers, equipment operators and employees can take to keep workers safe around heavy equipment and other vehicles. Hear what other contractors are doing to prevent these accidents on their worksites. Minnesota OSHA Compliance will talk about citations and accidents that have occurred in these areas.

Presenters:  Robert Balsavich, principal safety investigator, Minnesota OSHA Compliance; and Blake Pfaffendorf, safety director, Carl Bolander and Sons

March 19, 2019 – Excavation Safety

Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous operations in construction. In Minnesota, there have been three excavation-related fatalities in the past three years and seven serious-injury accidents in the past five years.

This Construction Seminar will present the most common hazards associated with excavation or trenching work and how to protect workers. Common excavation violations and accidents that have occurred in Minnesota will also be discussed. A contractor will discuss a new program it is implementing about how to dig around utilities and how to work with other entities to ensure employees are kept safe while the job gets done.

Presenters:  Bob Darling, principal safety investigator, Minnesota OSHA Compliance; and John Hass, director of civil construction services, Veit and Company, Inc.

May 21, 2019 – Traffic Control

This Construction Seminar will focus on traffic control on construction sites. Attendees will learn how OSHA standards relate to traffic control on projects and to the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Working safely in work zones and the proper personal protective equipment will be discussed. There will also be an overview of work-zone safety, devices and flagging.

Presenters:  Lisa Hollingsworth, principal safety investigator, Minnesota OSHA Compliance; and Mike Leaf, marketing director, Warning Lites

More information, mailing list

For more information or to be placed on the seminar mailing list, contact us at 651-284-5375, 877-470-6742 or osha.compliance@state.mn.us.

View past presentations