ATEI Training: The Key to a Safe Workplace
Protecting Workers and their Communities
Training: The Key to a Safe Workplace
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Training and Education Institute (ATEI) provides high-quality, innovative safety and health training for AFSCME members. Participants learn about the hazards they face in the workplace and what to do about them.
ATEI also offers courses that address homeland security and emergency preparedness issues arising out of the possible use of chemical and biological weapons.
The courses are conducted during regular work hours without charge to employers. ATEI provides experienced instructors and all class materials. Classes assist employers in meeting training requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Standards for General Industry and Construction. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires hazardous waste operations and emergency response training for state and local government workers who are not covered by OSHA.
A Record of Success
Tens of thousands of AFSCME members have received training under this program since 1991. These performance-based courses use proven adult learning techniques. ATEI includes employers in its training programs whenever possible. This cooperative approach involves top-level management, supervisors and union members in making the workplace safer. Evaluations of ATEI courses con-ducted by the University of Massachusetts at Lowell confirm that these programs greatly increase workers' awareness of workplace safety and health issues, and also help bring employers into compliance with OSHA and EPA regulations.
ATEI Training Programs
- Emergency Response
- Confined Spaces
- Hazard Communication Right-to-Know
- Work-Zone Safety
- Trenching & Excavation
- Mold
- Focus on Homeland Security
- Incident Command/Unified Command System (IC/UCS)
- Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness Level
- Train-the-Trainer
- Emergency Response for Health Care Workers
Who Should Attend These Programs?
These programs are intended for those who:
- are likely to discover or respond to accidental or intentional releases of hazardous substances
- are involved in construction or repair work in or around excavations and trenches
- work in water, wastewater or sewer maintenance, or who enter manholes or vaults
- clean or maintain machinery, buildings or ventilation systems
- use or work in areas where there are hazardous chemicals or
- work in and/or design work zones.
ATEI Training Programs:
Emergency Response
These programs meet the requirements of the OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR 1910.120).
- Eight-Hour Awareness Level Training for those likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release and notify the proper authorities.
- 24-Hour Operations Level Training on how to respond to a release of hazardous substances to protect nearby persons, property and the environment.
- 40-Hour Technician Level Training for individuals who respond for the purpose of stopping the release.
- Emergency Response Course Evaluation Form (PDF)
Confined Spaces
These programs meet the training requirements of OSHA’s Permit-Required Confined Spaces Standard (29 CFR 1910.146) for those employees who enter a confined space.
- Eight-Hour Awareness Level Training
- 12 to 16-Hour Entry (Entrant/ Attendant) Level Training
- Confined Spaces Course Evaluation Form (PDF)
Hazard Communication Right-to-Know
This four-hour class provides information on hazardous chemicals found in the workplace, methods to detect a release, physical and health hazards, protective measures, labeling requirements, material safety data sheets, and a detailed overview of the employer's hazard communication program.
- Hazard Communication/Right-To-Know Course Evaluation Form (PDF)
Work-Zone Safety
- Traffic Control Technician - This day-long course trains participants to design and implement work-zone traffic plans.
- Flagger Training Program - This one-day course covers standard flagging procedures and how to provide safe passage in and around work areas.
These programs are usually taught in conjunction with Hazard Communication or Emergency Response Awareness courses, or refresher programs for those who previously attended these classes.
Trenching & Excavation
Depending on the focus, this program varies between four and eight hours and includes an overview of OSHA’s excavation requirements (29 CFR 1926.651), safe entry and exit, hazardous atmospheres, soil classification, and requirements for protective systems. ATEI also offers a four-day program that trains employees to qualify for the "competent person" requirements necessary to oversee this type of work.
- Trenching and Excavation Course Evaluation Form (PDF)
Mold
These programs address the growing health threat posed by mold in buildings.
- Awareness Level Training - A two-hour course on the recognition of mold problems, health effects and methods to prevent and control the growth of mold.
- Operations and Maintenance Training - In addition to topics covered in the awareness level class, this day-long course trains custodial and maintenance staff in the work practices and personal protective equipment necessary to address localized mold problems.
Focus on Homeland Security
ATEI now offers programs aimed at workers whose jobs may require them to respond to terrorist acts. Homeland security courses are similar in most ways to emergency response training but have the added focus of treating the situation as a crime scene. The hazard assessment must also include:
- site security and safety
- preservation of evidence
- roles and responsibilities in a mass casualty incident
- personal protection from secondary weapons devices and
- functioning within a unified command structure.
These training programs are designed for public works employees who would respond to terrorist acts, and draw on the experiences of AFSCME members who responded to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the plane crash in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. AFSCME members in New York and Pennsylvania were involved in rescue operations, assisted with site security, operated heavy equipment in recovery operations, and hauled the rubble, which was evidence, to the landfill for sorting and assessment.
Incident Command/Unified Command System (IC/UCS)
This one-day course uses the curriculum developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to explain the IC/UCS structure and how it can help improve coordination among agencies during emergencies.
Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness Level
This half day course is designed to train responders to initiate the correct response actions in the case of a weapons of mass destruction event, including:
- being able to recognize and describe the threat
- recognizing signs and symptoms of nuclear, biological or chemical poisoning
- recognizing dissemination devices and
- initiating the correct emergency response.
Train-the-Trainer
Week-long Train–the–Trainer programs prepare a group of workers to master the technical knowledge and training skills needed to provide high-quality and cost-effective training. ATEI has trained employees to deliver courses on:
- hazard communication
- emergency response to hazardous materials spills (awareness level) and
- confined space entry.
Emergency Response for Health Care Workers
Two types of classes are available for health care workers.
- Hazardous Materials Awareness Training - A one-day course for custodians, direct care personnel and others who may be present during a hazardous materials spill or take part in the cleanup.
- Emergency Response Training - A 24 to 32-hour course for those who respond to an accidental or intentional hazardous materials release. This program trains health care workers to protect themselves while decontaminating and treating victims.
ABOUT ATEI
ATEI is a non-profit organization created to administer health and safety training programs for AFSCME.
ATEI's experienced instructors bring firsthand knowledge to the classroom along with expertise about applicable regulations.
ATEI instructors have been certified as Environmental Trainers by the National Environmental, Safety and Health Training Association (NESHTA).
ATEI courses are valuable for workers, management, supervisors or other personnel who are responsible for overall workplace safety and health.
Courses are open to AFSCME members. Others may attend by special arrangement. For more information on ATEI training programs contact:
AFSCME Training and Education Institute
Department of Research and Collective
Bargaining Services
1625 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036-5687
Office: 202-429-1228
Fax: 202-223-3255
E-mail: osha@afscme.org
This program and related materials have been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences under Grant U45 ESO7823. These materials do not necessarily reflect the view or policy of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the United States Government.
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