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Safety Training Requirements

State Mandated Safety Training

One of the many workers’ compensation reform bills adopted by the state legislature mandates quarterly safety training for all public employees. Every three months all employees are required to complete safety training related to the library and their job.

Additionally, PEOSH (Public Employees Occupational Safety & Health) mandates that every employee receive training upon hire and annually thereafter describing proper procedures and work practices relating to occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

All affected and authorized employees (refer to MLS Safety Manual for definition) will undergo initial training and annual retraining for the Lockout/Tagout program.

Consequences for Failure to Comply

The consequences for the library system’s failure to comply with state and federal laws could result in a fine for each individual not receiving the training. Even without the fine, the library could be found non-complaint in the event of an Oklahoma Department of Labor audit.

For the individual, failure to meet even one quarter of required safety training means that the highest score that the individual can receive on the Training and Development Standard of their performance appraisal is a rating of 1 (Did not meet 100% required training). Since performance awards (or performance pay increases) are based on performance appraisals, it is incumbent upon the employee and supervisor to ensure required training is completed timely.

While part-time employees may be evaluated using a different format, failure to complete safety training is also a consideration.

Amount of Training Required

In the case of new employees who were not employed during the previous quarter, the safety training requirement is one (1) hour.

All new hire training must include the following:

  • Safe Lifting;
  • Repetitive Motion Techniques and exercises for reduction of repetitive motion injuries;
  • Use of personal protective equipment (PPE);
  • Review of MLS Safety Manual;
  • Bloodborne Pathogens Powerpoint, including Exposure Control Program (MLS Safety Manual); and
  • Logout/Tagout Powerpoint (affected and authorized employee; refer to MLS Safety Manual for definition)

If the first day on the job is the last day of a quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31), mandated safety training is required on that day. If an employee’s safe work habits in the previous calendar quarter have resulted in no workers’ compensation reportable injury or illness for the quarter, those safe habits and practices require thirty (30) minutes of safety training instead of one (1) hour.

If the individual had a single workers’ compensation reportable injury or illness in the previous quarter, they are required to complete one (1) hour of safety training.; more than one injury in the previous quarter requires completion of two (2) hours of safety training. When the employee returns to work from an injury, the supervisor must ensure that the employee completes safety training, if possible, on the first day back.

When this is not possible, it must, without exception, be completed within the first five workdays. This training should involve training specifically related to the injury or illness. If no specific related materials are available, then general topic safety materials may be used. If the employee has already completed required safety training for the quarter, this additional training is still required. If the employee has not completed required safety training for the quarter, this training will count toward that requirement.

Annual training requirements are as follows:

  • Bloodborne Pathogens Powerpoint, including Exposure Control Program (MLS Safety Manual); and
  • Logout/Tagout Powerpoint (affected and authorized employees; refer to MLS Safety Manual for definition)

Safety training is considered work time and must be conducted during the employee’s regular work schedule.

Training Materials Available

SafetyTraining Materials are available in several formats. A complete list of materials is available on the Intranet (Employee Tab/Training/HIPAA & Safety Training/Safety Training Library.) Training requirements can be satisfied by reading, discussing, listening to presentations or viewing videos. Safety training videos and printed materials are available through the Safety Training Library.

If you are in doubt whether something will count as safety training, contact the Safety Committee Chairperson, Benefits Manager or Benefits Specialist.

Proper Reporting

The Quarterly Safety Training Report is available on the Intranet (Employee Tab/Training/HIPAA & Safety Training/Safety Training Report . This report must be completed by the employee detailing the dates, times and title of training completed. The form must be signed by the employee and supervisor and forwarded to Human Resources two weeks prior to the end of each quarter. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring all employees complete required quarterly training. Copies of completed training reports must be kept on file at each agency/department.

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