Safety Fest of the Great Northwest is a series of events throughout Idaho that offer a variety of safety and health training classes for workers, supervisors and managers of all levels. The organization relies on the effort and commitment of sponsors and volunteers.
Each year, the Idaho Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program (OSHCON), housed in Boise State’s Center for Excellence for Environmental Health, participates in Safety Fest of the Great Northwest. This year, OSHCON and the Small Business Development Center at Boise State hosted the event on Jan. 22-25 in the Student Union Building.
The Boise event offered 62 classes for 250 companies, with more than 1,000 employees attending. Classes included crane safety, silica handling safety, lockout/tag-out training and combustible dust identification. The event also offered a healthcare track, consisting of four sessions geared towards both home and private healthcare providers.
As part of safety fest, OSHCON staff conducted an OSHA 10-hour general industry training that provided more than 37 participants with a 10-hour card that states they have been trained in areas such as hazard communication, blood-borne pathogens and electrical safety. Additionally, two consultants from the OSHCON program will conduct the 10-hour general industry training at the safety fest in Post Falls in February.
OSHCON provides free occupational safety and health services to small businesses within the state of Idaho to help them understand and comply with rules and regulations required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHCON is funded by the Department of Labor through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.