Thank you to everyone who made our Helena 2021 SafetyFest event a success! Our next event will be held virtually, November 15th-19th, 2021. This training is absolutely FREE and registration can be found here: Virtual Fall 2021 SafetyFest.
Accountability
Kirk Smith, Montana State Fund
The word “Accountability” can have several meanings. In many instances, most workers might view it as more negative than positive. In this session, we will explore the true meaning of accountability and how it is used in the world of safety as it applies to workers, supervisors, and managers.
OSHA 10-HOUR: CONSTRUCTION
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
This training is designed to educate every construction worker on the recognition and avoidance of the top four hazards in your work environment. Topics include fall protection, personal protective equipment, health hazards, and more. It also includes an introduction to OSHA’s construction industry standards and requirements of the more frequently referenced and cited standards. Students receive an OSHA 10-hour card upon completion.
ADA/FMLA/Return to Work
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Employee Relations Division
Participants will learn about the importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and Montana's Return to Work/Stay at Work Program. The class will be taught by three experts in the subject matter.
Defensive Driving
Mike Anderson, Montana Department of Administration Risk Management & Tort Division
This 4-hour National Safety Council course educates drivers about common risks associated with driving. The course includes learning modules to help drivers understand their driving environment and avoid the most common causes of crashes. The course also emphasizes preparation for the driving experience and ways to be more aware and defensive in daily driving. The class is entertaining and contains valuable information for all participants. It uses slides, videos, and instructor comments to convey information. The 36-page course workbook is yours to take home and share with others.
Participants who sign up for this course will also be sent a link to register through the instructor’s platform so that they can receive the Defensive Driving Certification.
Employee Engagement
Kirk Smith, Montana State Fund
What is employee engagement and how does it apply to safety? We will discuss the keys of employee engagement and how it positively affects safety in your workplace.
OSHA 10-HOUR: GENERAL INDUSTRY
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
The OSHA 10 class helps develop the critical skill of Hazard Awareness - an analysis of cause & effects of the most common injuries happening on any job site. Benefits include increased productivity, fewer worker injuries, greater employee engagement. Topics include OSHA overview; employer responsibilities; employee rights; slips & falls; machine guarding; material handling; hazardous chemicals; ladders; electrical; effective safety management; ergonomics.
OSHA 30-HOUR: CONSTRUCTION
Berke Brown, Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
This class teaches safety awareness and hazard avoidance to those responsible for workplace safety: workers, Foremen and supervisors. It includes 30 hours of training that apply toward the 30-hour Construction Industry class completion card. The class is comprised of 25 sections each one or two-hours in length. Preventative measures for workplace accidents, use of personal protective equipment, fire protection, and hazards with working in or around excavation sites are included. In addition to certificates of attendance, OSHA 30-hour cards are issued upon completion.
OSHA 30-HOUR: GENERAL INDUSTRY
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
This class teaches safety awareness and hazard avoidance to those responsible for workplace safety: workers,
foremen and supervisors. It includes 30 hours of training that apply toward the 30-hour General Industry class
completion card. OSHA recommends Outreach Training Program classes as an orientation to occupational safety and health. In addition to certificates of attendance, OSHA 30-hour cards are issued upon completion.
OSHA 7300 Understanding OSHA’s Permit Required Confined Space Standard
David de Fer, Rocky Mountain OSHA University of Utah
This course covers the requirements of the OSHA Permit-Required Confined Space Standard. Course topics include safety and health hazards associated with confined space entry, and the evaluation, prevention, and abatement of these hazards. The course covers OSHA requirements and is designed for small employers or a designated representative (line supervisor or manager) with the responsibility to develop a permit-required confined space program. Upon course completion students will have a basic understanding of confined space hazards, evaluating and abatement of the hazards, and determining when a confined space shall be classified as a permit-required confined space.
OSHA 7405 FALL HAZARD AWARENESS FOR CONSTRUCTION
David de Fer, Rocky Mountain OSHA University of Utah
This one-day course provides information on identifying, evaluating and preventing exposures to fall hazards at construction sites. The goal of the course is to provide small business owners, trainers, supervisors and employees with information on recognizing potential fall hazards at their work sites and suggest ways to avoid, minimize, control and prevent these hazards whenever possible. The course focuses on falls to a lower level rather than falls resulting from slips and trips. Topics include identifying fall hazards, analyzing fall hazards, and preventing fall hazards, as well as OSHA resources that address fall hazards.
OSHA 7410 MANAGING EXCAVATION HAZARDS
David de Fer, Rocky Mountain OSHA University of Utah
In this one-day course, students will learn about the role and responsibility of the employer to assign a competent person to the excavation site and arm that person with the knowledge to perform the work properly. Topics include the understanding and application of definitions relating to OSHA's Excavation Standard (Subpart P), excavation hazards and control measures, soil analysis techniques, protective system requirements and emergency response. At the end of this course, the participant will understand the importance and duties of a competent person towards excavation work and will have the knowledge and skills that are required to perform those duties.
Preventing Distracted Driving
Mike Anderson, Montana Department of Administration Risk Management & Tort Division
This is a 2-hour course designed to educate drivers on the risks associated with distracted driving. It is primarily intended for drivers who have completed a general Defensive Driving class, but anyone can attend. New research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that 80-percent of all crashes involved distracted driving. That is almost 5 million crashes per year and roughly $184 in damage caused by distracted drivers! The course discusses distractions such as electronic equipment, passengers, vehicle controls, things outside your car, and eating, reading and grooming and offers tips on how to reduce those risks.
radon & asbestos in Montana
John Podolinsky, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Asbestos, radon, and meth labs are popular media topics and public concerns. Come join the Department of Environmental Quality and learn about radon, asbestos, and meth labs and how they’re regulated in Montana.
Run, Lock, Fight
Corporal Noal Petty, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office
In this interactive class, you will learn survival techniques to use during the time that violence begins, and law enforcement arrives.
Last Updated 7/23/21Ethan Anderson
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Ethan was born and raised in Great Falls, MT. He graduated from Montana Tech of the University of Montana with a B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health in 2017. Throughout his college career, he has gained safety and health knowledge through education, surface coal mining and underground metal mining in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Michigan. He currently is a Compliance Specialists for the Department of Labor and Industry. Ethan enjoys spending his free time with family and friends; fishing, boating, and hiking/backpacking.
Matt Berg
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Matthew was born and raised in Butte, MT. He graduated from Montana Tech with a B.S. in Occupational Safety & Health in 2016. Matthew joins the Compliance team after three years of working in the commercial construction industry throughout Wyoming & Colorado. In his free time, Matthew enjoys watching/playing sports and spending time with friends and family.
Breeinna Bosch
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Breeinna is a native Montanan and earned her B.S. in Occupational Safety & Health with an option in Applied Health from Montana Tech of the University of Montana. Throughout the past years, she gained knowledge and experience while working in the construction and mining industries. With the desire to strengthen the safety culture within the workplace and ensure that workers can return home to their families each day, Breeinna became a Compliance Specialist for the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. In her spare time, Breeinna enjoys any adventure that the breathtaking state she is proud to call home has to offer.
Berke Brown
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Berke is a native Montanan. He was born in Helena and was raised in the Laurel area. Berke has worked for Stillwater Mining Company, where he learned rules and regulations. Berke has applied his knowledge & experience to work for Mine Safety & Health Administration and the State of Montana, Safety & Health Bureau as mine trainer/inspector. Berke is currently an authorized OSHA Outreach Construction trainer for the State of Montana, Safety & Health Bureau. Berke now has 14 years of safety experience. Berke and his wife resides in Billings with their children and stepchildren.
Billy Chilton
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Billy grew up in Missoula where he graduated from Loyola Sacred Heart High School. He then attended Montana Tech, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health. He loves to ski, hunt, and fish.
DAVID DE FER
Mountain West OSHA Education Center, University of Utah.
Dave started his career in 1974 at 16 years old working for a large engineering firm and the city of Sparks, Nevada as a civil drafter where he also learned basic land surveying. In 1979, David went into construction and worked for over 27 years as a carpenter, supervisor, and superintendent on numerous projects in California, Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii. In 2007, David accepted a position as Training Director for the Montana Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Training Council where he taught 95% of all classes. Since 2012, he worked for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry Safety and Health Bureau as an Occupational Safety & Health Specialist and Trainer, before joining Mountain West OSHA. David is an authorized OSHA Construction and General Industry instructor.
David Evans
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
David was born and raised in Montana and earned a M.S. in Industrial Hygiene and a B.S. in Occupation Safety and Health from Montana Tech of the University of Montana. Through his education and work experience David has gained safety knowledge in a variety of different industries including construction, mining and general industry. David also has experience in the industrial hygiene field conducting many different types of exposure assessments including aerosol sampling and noise monitoring.
Andria Hardin
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Human Rights Bureau
Andria Hardin is the trainer and targeted equitable relief coordinator for the Montana Human Rights Bureau. Prior to taking on this newly created role, she investigated and mediated cases of discrimination in employment, governmental services, public accommodations, housing, and other protected areas of Montana law. Before joining the Human Rights Bureau, Andria worked as a staff attorney for Georgia Legal Services Program, practicing law primarily in the area of family law. Andria received her Juris Doctor from University of Denver and her undergraduate degree in International Business from San Diego State University.
CJ Holland
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
CJ was born and raised in Montana. He earned his B.S. in Occupational Safety & Health from Montana Tech of the University of Montana in 2017 and his M.S. in Industrial Hygiene from Montana Technological University in 2019. CJ gained his safety & industrial hygiene knowledge by interning in the mining industry for the Eagle Mine in Michigan and Rio Tinto Minerals in California. He also interned for Northwestern Energy. CJ enjoys outdoor activities like fly fishing, hunting and snowboarding.
Rende Mackay
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Human Resources
Rende currently serves as the MT Department of Labor and Industry’s Human Resource Director. She has over 25 years of human resource management experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. She has worked in all areas of human resources including generalist, labor relations specialist, training, benefits, and senior leadership roles. Rende received her Bachelors of Human Services from the College of Great Falls and her Professional of Human Resources (PHR) certification through the national Human Resource Certification Institute.
Rende also believes in giving back to her community and is very active on several non-profit boards. She has served on both the local Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) chapter as well as the Montana State Council SHRM. In addition, she has been President of the Premiere Dance Company Board of Directors and served on the Elkhorn Credit Union board. When Rende is not working or volunteering her time, she enjoys such pastimes as boating, wake surfing, pottery, singing, and taking in the arts and entertainment offered in the Helena community. She is married to her husband of 30 years and they have one daughter who is an RN at Kalispell Regional Hospital.
Shawn Mclain
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Shawn is an Industrial Hygienist who works with the state of Montana’s safety and health bureau. Shawn started with the health and safety bureau in October of 2018 and is excited to be part of the Montana consultation program. Shawn served in the US Army from 2002 to 2008 at Fort Lewis, in Washington state. Prior to joining the State of Montana consultation program, Shawn worked with the USDA in Helena, Montana while attending school at Montana Tech. A graduate from Montana Tech in Butte, Montana, Shawn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health and a Master’s degree in Industrial Hygiene. When not hard at work, he enjoys hunting, ice fishing, and camping around Montana.
MOntana DEPartment OF ADMINISTRATION risk management & tort division
The Risk Management & Tort Defense Division provides training programs designed to assist state agencies to reduce their risks and prevent exposure to claims/losses
John Podolinsky
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
John’s has been with the Department of Environmental Quality for just over 24 years. He’s worked in the Underground Storage Tank Program, Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board, Asbestos Control Program, Federal Superfund Program, and now the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program where he also runs the Radon Control Program. Before coming to Montana, he worked in the Midwest as a consultant conducting environmental and industrial hygiene testing. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science from St. John’s University in Minnesota. Today he’s going to present information on radon, the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Tyler Sanders
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Tyler Sanders was born and raised as a Montana kid. He attended Capital High throughout high school and went on to graduate from Montana Tech In 2018 with a B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health while also being a 4-year starter on the football team. Tyler gained his hands-on safety knowledge by interning in industrial construction as well as underground coal mining throughout his previous internship in New Mexico. Tyler enjoys all the outdoor activities that Montana has to offer such as hiking, fly fishing, hunting, and skiing.
Drew Sheehy
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Drew grew up in Lolo and then attended high school in Missoula, MT. He later attended the University of Montana and received a B.A. in Biology. After a few years away from school, Drew went back to school at Montana Tech and earned a M.S. in Industrial Hygiene in 2014. Drew worked as an Industrial Hygienist and Safety Engineer in the semiconductor industry for three years in Idaho, focusing on chemical safety and risk assessment. Drew returned to Montana to work in the Consultation Program with the Department of Labor and Industry as an industrial hygienist in 2018. On the nights and weekends, Drew enjoys spending time on the rivers and in the woods; specifically rafting, camping and snowshoeing throughout Southern and Western Montana.
KIRK SMITH
Montana State Fund
Kirk joined Montana State Fund in 2009 as a safety services specialist. He previously was a safety and health specialist with the MT Safety and Health Bureau for 13 years. His training included trenching and excavation requirements, scaffold safety, and 10-hour construction courses. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1996 after a 20-year career. He has an Associate degree in Safety from the Air Force’s Community College.
Chris Tacke
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Chris is a 2011 graduate of Montana Tech of the University of Montana, earning a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health and a minor in Biology. After graduating from Montana Tech, Chris started his safety career as the Health and Safety Manager for the Grand Teton Lodge Company in the Grand Teton National Park. While working for the Grand Teton Lodge Company, Chris also worked for Jackson Hole Fire/EMS as a Firefighter/EMT-Basic.
In February of 2014, Chris and his family moved back to Montana and he started working for the Montana Department of Transportation as a Safety Consultant in the Billings and Great Falls Districts.
Currently, Chris is a Safety and Health Specialist with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry- Safety Bureau in the Great Falls Field office.
Kristi Witt
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Safety & Health Bureau
Kristi graduated from Montana Tech with a B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health in 2009 and graduated in May of 2011 with an M.S. in Industrial Hygiene. She has worked for the State of Montana’s Safety and Health Consultation Program since 2011. Prior to working for Montana’s Department of Labor and Industry, she worked as a Health and Wellness Tech at St. James Hospital in Butte and as an economic consultant for Conoco at their Thompson Falls facility. Kristi played Volleyball for Montana Tech and continues to enjoy her lifelong love of athletics by coaching at Montana Tech.
Cindy Zimmerman
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Workers’ Compensation Claims Assistance Bureau
Cindy Zimmerman is the Program Manager for the Stay at Work/Return to Work program and graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing. She is an interactive and engaging speaker who brings enthusiasm and knowledge to her presentation while providing employees with skills to help them become more successful in their job and life. Last Updated 7/22/21There are no current events
