Department of Labor Offering Workplace Safety Classes in January

*Space is available for classes in Augusta and Bangor where noted.*

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards is hosting its no-charge safety courses for employers and employees throughout January. Visit the class registration page at www.safetyworksmaine.gov or call 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) to register for any class.

"A no-cost, confidential, onsite consultation by the Department of Labor's health and safety experts can help employers provide a safer workplace for their employees and reduce worksite injuries, illnesses and even fatalities, not to mention save costs related to workers' comp, reduced productivity or finding replacement workers," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "A worksite that's safe for all is good business for companies, their workers and those workers' families."

Courses are held at no charge to employers and their employees in the SafetyWorks! Training Institute at the Maine Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta, unless otherwise noted.

**Accident Investigation/Injury Analysis: Wednesday, January 4, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

When work doesn't go as planned, accidents and near-misses happen. Investigating these incidents can prevent similar or even more serious problems from happening. Learn how to conduct a thorough accident/incident investigation and how to use your results to prevent future accidents.

**Forklift Operator Safety: Monday, January 9, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.**

This class is designed for new operators. The instruction will involve classroom and hands-on training. Training will include performing a forklift inspection and use of the department's forklift simulator. This training does not meet the requirements to qualify the participants to be a "qualified operator;" only the employer can provide such certification.

**Trenching and Excavation: Tuesday, January 10, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Bangor CareerCenter, 45 Oak St # 3, Bangor, ME**

You will learn the dangers to employees, soil classifications, OSHA requirements, and the types of protective systems to prevent cave-ins. You will also learn what is meant by "competent person." Space is limited, reservations are required.

**10-Hour Construction Standards: Thursday, January 12, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., through Friday, January 13, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

This one-and-a-half-day course offers basic information on several of the OSHA standards for construction (29 CFR 1926). Attendees who complete the course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on day one and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on day two.

**Mine Safety and Health Administration: Refresher: Wednesday, January 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.**

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires all surface mining (i.e., stone crushing, gravel pit, etc.) employees to receive eight-hour annual training. This one-day course will cover generic MSHA training. However, site specific training will also need to be conducted once you return to your respective job sites.

**How to Conduct a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Assessment: Thursday, January 19, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

This course is designed to assist you in developing a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) program and how to organize your PPE needs. Employers must conduct a hazard assessment before requiring employees to use PPE. The assessment provides information needed to select the appropriate PPE for the hazards at the workplace. Learn how to conduct a hazard assessment in this hands-on class.

**Hazard Communication, Global Harmonization and Chemical Substitution: Monday, January 23, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

Hazard Communication (HazCom) is one of the top three most frequently cited OSHA standards. In 2012, it was updated to reflect the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Manufacturers must now evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce (old and new), classify them, and communicate them in accordance with specific criteria set by OSHA. Employers must train employees on GHS and on any new hazards identified based on manufacturer reevaluation of existing chemicals. Half of this class covers HazCom/GHS and the other half focuses on chemical elimination/substitution. This is the first step in addressing chemical hazards. Eliminating a hazardous chemical or substituting it for something less hazardous not only reduces employee health and safety risks, but can improve your company's bottom line.

**Safety Officer: Tuesday, January 24, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

Designed for the new safety officer. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, OSHA regulations, facility inspections, required training, and policies and procedures.

**Impairment Detection Training for Employers: Wednesday, January 25, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.**

This training session is designed to help owners, managers and supervisors recognize and respond appropriately to employee impairment in the workplace in order to reduce worker accidents and injuries. Participants will be taught procedures to detect impairment regardless of the substance used or physical conditions such as illness, fatigue, etc., that might be the cause. This class is designed to fulfill the federal Department of Transportation 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 Abuse Testing Law.

SafetyWorks! is not OSHA and cannot issue fines or citations to private businesses. While SafetyWorks! helps businesses of any size, priority is given to small businesses. The program trains about 8,000 people and consults at nearly 1,000 worksites in Maine each year. Employers interested in learning more about the consulting and training services offered by SafetyWorks! should call 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) or visit www.safetyworksmaine.com .

The Bureau of Labor Standards is Maine's regulatory agency overseeing labor and employment law and workplace safety; it provides both consultation and enforcement services. The division promotes and achieves compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of Maine's workforce.

The State of Maine is an equal opportunity provider. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.

Department of Labor Offering Workplace Safety Classes in January

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards is hosting its no-charge safety courses for employers and employees throughout January. Visit the class registration page or call 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) to register for any class.

"Federal OSHA fines are increasing next summer, some by up to 80 percent ," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "Investing in safety helps everyone. I encourage businesses to connect with SafetyWorks! for one of our no-cost trainings or to schedule an on-site consultation. Keeping up-to-date on workplace safety helps employers provide a safe place for Mainers to work and be prepared in the case of a federal OSHA review."

Courses are held at no charge to employers and their employees in the SafetyWorks! Training Institute at the Maine Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta.

Mine Safety and Health Administration Refresher: Tuesday, January 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires all surface mining (ex: stone crushing,

Department of Labor Issues Report on Maine's Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Population

**Survey conducted in 2015 reveals patterns of people who travel for agricultural work**

AUGUSTA, Maine -The Department of Labor has issued a new report, the 2015 Maine Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Demographic Survey, http://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/migrantworker/summary.html , which describes the state's migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) population working in the broccoli and blueberry harvests.

"Maine's agriculture sector is a key part of our economy," stated Governor Paul R. LePage. "Understanding the makeup of our workforce is an important part of planning for future needs. We welcome workers to Maine who help our economy grow."

This report results from a survey designed to gain a better understanding of those migrant and seasonal farmworkers' who travel to Maine each year during the peak summer agricultural season. Treva deMaynadier, a summer intern working for the Bureau of Employment Services, conducted the survey under the supervision of State Monitor Advocate Jorge Acero.

Participants were asked 44 questions in five categories: Family Composition; Living and Working; Type of Work Prior to Maine; Work Activity While in Maine; and Destination, Work, or Activity after Maine.

To carry out the survey, the intern and monitor advocate visited labor camps in the broccoli growing areas of Aroostook County in June and July and labor camps and the Raker's Center in Washington County during the blueberry harvest in July and August 2015. The largest concentration of MSFWs at any one time in the state is located in Washington County during the blueberry harvest.

In all, 52 surveys were completed with the tabulated results available online. The statistical outcomes are a small sample of a larger number of MSFWs here during the broccoli and blueberry season. Department data indicate that the total reported number of workers for the blueberry harvest was 1,560 and that number for broccoli in Aroostook was 297.

Eleven narratives supplement the tabulated data, providing a descriptive view into life as a MSFW, reflecting the challenges of and reasoning behind traveling so far to find work. The stories of the narratives are similar, indicating that most MSFWs come to Maine from southern or western states following seasonally determined agricultural planting and harvesting cycles.

The survey and narratives provide an insight to the lives of MSFWs, telling us who they are, describing their social organization and support network, and how the desire to improve the lives of their families provides motivation to travel great distances and make sacrifices to find work.

The State Monitor Advocate, part of the Bureau of Employment Services, monitors agricultural employers for compliance with the federal Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. More information is available at http://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/maine_monitor_advocate.html.

Department of Labor Offering Workplace Safety Classes in May

*Space is available for the safety classes in Augusta, Bangor, Calais, Presque Isle, Rockland and Wilton*
AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards is hosting its no-charge safety courses for employers throughout May. 

"Workplace safety needs to be top-of-mind for employers and their employees," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "Everyone benefits from having a safe work environment, communicating the hazards that could lead to injury and how to correct them. Our SafetyWorks! program offers no-cost workshops that help protect Maine workers and saves employers money that they can put into growing their businesses and hiring more workers."

Courses are held at no charge to employers and their employees to ensure, and promote safety in the workplace. The courses are held at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute at the Maine Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta unless otherwise noted. 

Ladder Safety: May 4, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Ladders are a major source of injuries and fatalities in the workplace. However, falls can be reduced if people use caution when climbing ladders or when working in places where falls are a potential hazard. This course will show participants how falls from ladders can be prevented through education that includes planning for their use, inspecting the ladder prior to use and using basic ladder safeguards. 

Mine Safety and Health Administration: Refresher: May 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Presque Isle

Department of Labor Offering Workplace Safety Classes in February

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards is hosting its no-charge safety courses for employers throughout February. 

"Maine is committed to being business friendly and creating opportunity for our workers," said Governor Paul R. Lepage. "The classes at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute educate and inform about workplace hazards, keeping workers safe and helping to lower associated costs. I encourage Maine businesses and workers to check out the SafetyWorks! website for these and future classes." 

Courses are held at no charge to employers and their employees to ensure and promote safety in the workplace. The courses are held at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute at the Maine Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta unless otherwise noted. 

Video Display Terminal -- Train the Trainer: February 2, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Maine's Video Display Terminal (VDT) law requires employers to train VDT operators how to work

LePage Administration Unveils New Building with Focus on Welfare Reform

Facility focuses on transition from welfare to work 

AUGUSTA, Maine - Continuing his focus on transitioning Mainers from welfare to work, Governor Paul R. LePage today unveiled a new facility that consolidates the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Labor (DOL) offices. The building, located in South Portland, saves State of Maine taxpayers more than $23 million.

Compared to current Portland leased facility rates, the building saves Maine taxpayers $23.4 million over the next 30 years. Under the Governor's leadership, the State of Maine last year signed a contract with ELC Construction, Inc. for the lease of new offices in South Portland.

Commissioners of the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Labor, Mary

Department of Labor's New Forklift Simulator Teaches Safe Equipment Operations for the Workplace

Augusta, Maine - Violations on "Powered Industrial Trucks" are of the most frequently cited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Now, Maine employers can help reduce fines and ensure a safer workplace through a new forklift training simulator available at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute (STI) at the Maine Department of Labor.

"Making Maine more business friendly is a constant priority of this administration," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "One of the ways we do this is through education of workplace safety hazards that help employers provide a safe place for Mainers to work and be prepared in the case of a federal OSHA audit. Investing time and energy in safety helps everyone; I encourage businesses to connect with SafetyWorks! for one of these no-cost trainings."

Available at the STI Forklift Operator Training class, the Simlog Forklift Personal Simulator teaches

Department of Labor and Verso Agree on Severance for Affected Workers

*Agreement requires 50% payment on January 8 with penalties for non-payment of balance by March 19*

AUGUSTA, Maine - As the workers enter their last pay period of employment with the Verso mill in Bucksport, the Maine Department of Labor and the Attorney General's office have announced the filing of paperwork in Kennebec County Superior Court today that will both enforce state law on severance pay and to bring immediate relief in the form of a partial payment to the affected workers next month.

Under the legal order, Verso agrees to pay one half of the severance pay to each of the affected hourly employees by January 8, 2015, and agrees to pay the remaining severance on either the fifth business day after the completion of any sale of the Verso Bucksport Mill or by March 19, 2015. The January payment will also include final wages and any unused 2014 vacation pay. The payment due by March 19 will also include the 2015 vacation pay per the collective bargaining agreement. The total of all payments is expected to be at least $18 million.

"These workers are due every penny of severance they are owed under state law," said Governor Paul

Department of Labor Offering Workplace Safety Classes in Janaury

Space is available for the safety classes in Augusta and Bangor
AUGUSTA, Maine -The Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards is hosting its no-charge safety courses for employers throughout January. 

"Making Maine more business friendly is a constant priority of this administration," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "One of the ways we do this is through education of workplace safety hazards that help employers provide a safe place for Mainers to work and be prepared in the case of a federal OSHA audit. Investing time and energy in safety helps everyone, I encourage businesses to connect with SafetyWorks! for one of these no-cost trainings or to schedule an on-site consultation."

Courses are held at no charge to employers and their employees to ensure and promote safety in the

Department of Labor Offering Classes for Employers in Machias and Presque Isle on May 8 and 9

*Space is available for the employment law course in Machias on May 8 and OSHA recordkeeping in Presque Isle on May 9*

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards is taking its no-cost courses for employers on the road to Washington and Aroostook Counties in May.

"We want to make it convenient for employers to learn about what they need to do to comply with the law. We know it is hard on small businesses when staff have to travel for training," said Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette. "When employers know how to do the right thing, it makes their business a better place to work. That helps all Mainers."

These courses are held at no cost to the employer and are designed for small business owners and staff who have responsibility for managing human resources.

The popular course that educates employers and the public about regulations governing the workplace, "Laws Governing Workplace Rights," will be held at the Machias CareerCenter on May 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This course covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, leave requirements (family medical leave and domestic violence) and break requirements. It addresses commonly asked employment-related questions and offers participants an opportunity to ask questions. The course also includes a discussion of employer services offered by the CareerCenters.

The course, "OSHA Recordkeeping," will teach employers how to document workplace injuries and illnesses on May 9 at the Presque Isle CareerCenter. The course runs from 8:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m.

This class provides a thorough and comprehensive six-hour training for both new and experienced safety and human resources personnel. Participants learn the OSHA rule (29 CFR 1904) regarding recording and reporting work-related injuries and illnesses as it applies to their organizations. This class includes several hands-on activities on how to fill out the required injury reporting forms correctly.

Employers interested in registering for either course can learn more and register at http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Safetyworks_Classes&v=ListAll . Space is limited so reservations are required.

The Bureau of Labor Standards is Maine's regulatory agency overseeing labor and employment law and workplace safety; it provides both consultation and enforcement services. The division promotes and achieves compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of Maine's workforce.

Department of Labor's training program in use throughout the country

Augusta, Maine - The Maine Department of Labor reminds employers that the deadline set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA)  for businesses to train their staff in the Global Harmonization System (GHS) of chemical labeling was Dec. 1, 2013. However, there is still time for employers to ensure that they meet these chemical labeling educational requirements.

To make safety training easily available to all Maine employees and employers, the state labor department produced a 23-minute video explaining the new Global Harmonization System. In addition to the video, the department's SafetyWorks! website offers a PowerPoint presentation and a quiz for employee training and a sample policy, label and poster for businesses.

The department has also added a description of the pictograms that are used to illustrate the different dangers chemicals may pose to workers' health and safety. These descriptions make the program more accessible for people with visual impairments. Maine's training program is the first to include these descriptions.

Employers can use the video and materials for free.

"A number of states, including Illinois and North Carolina, have directed their residents to the Maine training program, and the U.S. Army is also using it to train both military and civilian workers," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "By creating a training video and putting it online for free, employers can have their employees take the training wherever it is most convenient-at work, at home, a CareerCenter or even the local library."

Employers will need to keep records to prove upon an OSHA inspection that their staff  have taken the required training. The materials that the Department of Labor has provided online will help employers meet OSHA's training requirements.

The video was produced with funding from Maine's Department of Administrative and Financial Services' Risk Management Division and can be accessed via a link from the SafetyWorks! website, http://www.safetyworksmaine.com/ to the Maine Community College System website http://www.mccs.me.edu/business/ghsvideo.html .

SafetyWorks! can provide free training on-site for a single employer or in centralized locations for multiple employers. It provides more than 100 safety and health courses each year. Courses include fall protection, confined spaces, forklift operation, scaffolding, electrical hazards, ergonomics and ladder safety.

Employers interested in learning more about SafetyWorks! should contact SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) or www.safetyworksmaine.com .

SafetyWorks! is not OSHA and cannot issue fines or citations to private businesses. While SafetyWorks! helps businesses of any size, priority is given to small businesses. The program trains about 8,000 people and consults at nearly 1,000 worksites in Maine each year.

Department of Labor Assists Nexxlinx to Fill 400 Call Center Positions in Orono

*Nexxlinx awarded FEMA contract to assist with Superstorm recovery*

Bangor, Maine - In response to Nexxlinx's immediate need to fill 400 call center positions in support of Superstorm Sandy recovery, the Maine Department of Labor, through the Bureau of Employment Services, is offering a variety of resources to the company as it begins to recruit employees to work at its Orono facility. These jobs will last anywhere from two weeks to six months. The department encourages all interested individuals to apply for these positions.

Job seekers interested in the temporary call-center positions can start applying on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, by visiting the Bangor CareerCenter. All positions are posted on the Maine Job Bank, and qualified registered applicants are receiving email notifications of this hiring opportunity and how they need to apply. Both the CareerCenters and the Maine Job Bank are free services of the Department of Labor.

Upon arriving at the Bangor CareerCenter, applicants must complete an online application and pass a short skills test. Candidates meeting those requirements will be directed to Nexxlinx to complete the rest of the hiring process, including customary background checks, credit checks and fingerprinting.

Richard Freund Appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Labor

Augusta, Maine - Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Freund of Portland as the deputy commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor.

Freund brings to the position 35 years of business experience involved in leadership and management of companies ranging from small businesses to subsidiaries of large corporations. During the past three years, he has served within the Department of Labor as the manager of the York County CareerCenter in Springvale and as the senior research analyst with the State Workforce Investment Board. 

Paquette welcomed Freund, saying, "Richard's experiences from both the business community and within the department will be invaluable as we strive to improve our economy and put people back to work."

"He understands the dual customer focus of the department. We need to educate employers to improve their understanding of our workforce system and state compliance requirements while at the same time meeting the needs of workers," she added.

Freund will formally begin his new position on October 22, 2012.

"I am excited and energized with the prospect of being able to further the fine work of the Maine Department of Labor as we strive to become an even stronger catalyst in linking employers and job seekers," Freund said.

A native of New York, Freund has lived in Maine for more than a decade. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and an MBA in Finance and Accounting. He began his managerial career at Citicorp-now Citigroup, where he spent 16 years and had the opportunity to manage mortgage and dealer finance businesses and acquire and manage a leasing company that was national in scope. 

He later served as vice president and general manager of a U.S. subsidiary of a Swedish-owned emergency service and manufacturing company in Massachusetts. Freund later launched his own emergency service company; that was bought by a German corporation two years later. After moving to Maine and working in small business management, he undertook the challenge of managing the York County CareerCenter, where he worked to decrease the county's unemployment rate through active job placement and customer service for both businesses and job seekers.

In Freund's most recent work with the State Workforce Investment Board, he has sought to identify meaningful improvements to the workforce training system to increase the amount of dollars spent training workers for jobs in demand. 

The department administers Maine's unemployment insurance system, is responsible for ensuring the safety of public employees and provides workforce development leadership and vocational rehabilitation services throughout the state. Under the LePage Administration, the department has focused on connecting Mainers to jobs and helping businesses create jobs through strengthening our workforce development system, improving outreach to businesses and clarifying employment regulations. 

The mission of the Maine Department of Labor is to promote the safety and economic well being of all individuals and businesses in Maine by promoting independence and lifelong learning, by fostering economic stability and by ensuring the safe and fair treatment of all people on the job.