OSHA’s ‘SafetyFest of the West’ Set for March 23-24 in Denver

Providing affordable job safety training to entry-level workers and supervisors in Colorado’s construction industry is the focus of the “SafetyFest of the West” training conference March 23-24 at the Auraria Campus North Classroom in downtown Denver.

Co-sponsored by the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “SafetyFest of the West” has reportedly provided affordable safety and health training to hundreds of area workers and supervisors since it started in 2002.

“This conference, which is the result of the collaborative efforts of OSHA and key members of the construction industry, clearly will help reduce injuries, illnesses and fatal accidents in Colorado,” said Greg Baxter, OSHA’s regional administrator in Denver.

The “OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety and Health Course” will be offered in both English and Spanish from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days with registration beginning at 7 a.m. The training sessions include mandatory coursework through which participants can earn the OSHA Construction Safety and Health 10-Hour Card.

Course offerings include sessions on: Introduction to OSHA; Electrical Safety; Fall Protection and Alternative Guidelines for Residential Fall Protection; Tools; Scaffolding; Trenching and Excavation Safety; Materials Handling; Occupational Health, and Personal Protective Equipment.

A separate 10-hour “Focused Advanced Supervisor Training” (FAST) for frontline persons who are responsible for a jobsite and for communicating daily directions to workers will be offered in English only. Coursework will enable frontline personnel to identify hazards in the four targeted areas of falls, scaffolds, electrical and trenches, as well as educate workers at their work site in the assessment of these hazards. Participants who complete the training will receive a “FAST” completion card.

Registration for either the Construction Safety and Health course or the FAST course is $60 before March 15 or $75 after or at the door and includes all training events, a continental breakfast beginning at 7 a.m., lunch and paid parking. Register on-line at www.safetyfest.org or contact Danielle Trujillo at (303) 914-6767.

Along with OSHA, co-sponsors include: American Subcontractors Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of Colorado, Colorado OSHA Consultation Program at CSU, Homebuilders Association of Metro Denver, Pinnacol Assurance, the Rocky Mountain Education Center OSHA Training Institute and the Auraria Higher Education Center.