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Spec Employees Graduate from the First OSHA 1910 Training Course

Eight members of the Spec Engineering team recently completed the OSHA 1910 Standards Training for General Industry, an extensive 30-hour training course. This course introduces students to OSHA policies, procedures, and regulations, as well as general industry safety and health principles. OSHA 1910 training aligns with Spec’s commitment to safety as a core value.

 

Bill Carey, safety coordinator at Gray, instructed the course. Bill brings with him ten years of safety experience at Gray, nine of which he served as the director of safety for construction projects and currently works with the Gray family of brands to enhance and build their safety programs. Not only was this the first OHSA 1910 class for the Spec team, but it was also Bill’s first time instructing this course. “What makes this 1910 course pretty unique is that there is a lot of construction safety knowledge to absorb. There is also a focus on safety by design, so the engineers learn ways to design, build, and operate in a safer manner,” said Bill.

"Bill has influenced hundreds of Gray team members by providing education and introducing them to Gray's safety culture. He has impacted not only Gray Construction, but all of the Gray family of brands."
Jim Grant, Vice President of Safety

Gray

 

Safety trainings are frequently conducted at Spec to ensure employees are current on industry standards and procedures. Past trainings have included fall protection, forklift training, first aid, aerial lift, and lockout/tagout procedures. The OSHA 1910 training spanned over five months, a true time commitment for this group. “My favorite part about teaching these courses is getting to know the company culture and people. Even though you are training everyone on the policies and procedures, you are building friendships at the same time,” stated Bill.

 

The Spec and Gray leadership teams recognized the accomplishments of the group for their commitment to safety and OSHA 30 certification. The graduates received their training cards and discussed the Spec and Gray safety programs. Congratulations to Mar Bauza, Jason Earl, Greg Enriquez, Andy Gemmell, Bill Lutgen, Ryan Monahan, Erik Peralta, Dan Statkus, and Ryan TeGrootenhuis for their hard work and commitment to complete this course.

 

“At the end of the day, it’s about everyone returning home the same way or better than they showed up,” says Bill. “I was really proud of the group that completed the course. I believe this training will give them and Spec a competitive advantage in the market. This truly shows Spec’s commitment to safety.”

 

We asked a few of the graduates their thoughts on safety and the OSHA 1910 training. Here’s what they had to say:

 

Why is the OHSA 1910 Standards Training for General Industry important?

  • Ryan TeGrootenhuis, Project Engineer at Spec Engineering – “The OSHA 1910 training is an extremely important qualification to have to keep our team safe in the shop and in the field.”
  • Greg Enriquez, Project Engineer at Spec Engineering – “This training is vital in keeping our employees and customers safe, as it widens our knowledge of various hazards and the ways we can prevent accidents in a manufacturing environment.”
  • Ryan Monahan, Controls Engineer at Spec Engineering – “Safety training applicable to each role is vital to sustaining the safety culture here at Spec. The OSHA 1910 30-hour training provides a great knowledge base for us to create and maintain safe work environments at Spec facilities and customer sites.”

 

What was the biggest thing you learned during the training?

  • TeGrootenhuis – “The biggest takeaway for me was the details on fall protection. There are definitely times in the field where fall protection is needed, and the details on the fall protection will help our team be safe while operating in the field.”
  • Enriquez – “The biggest thing I learned is that all potential hazards can be evaluated on a hierarchy of controls, in which eliminating a hazard completely should be the first step and wearing PPE should be the last step.”
  • Monahan – “The biggest things I took away from the training was more thorough understanding of confined spaces and respirator use.”

 

What did you enjoy about the training?

  • TeGrootenhuis – “Our instructor Bill Carey. He made what can be a mundane subject more interesting and kept us engaged the whole time. “
  • Enriquez – “I enjoyed seeing and hearing about real-life situations because it really drives home the importance of safety in the work environment. It pushes us to evaluate our own practices and ensures that we learn from these lessons.”
  • Monahan – “Having the course taught by someone intimately familiar with Spec’s industry and with extensive OSHA experience was incredibly valuable. This allowed us to discuss some hazards and situations that we have more exposure to in more detail.”

 

Do you have any other thoughts to share about Spec’s commitment to safety?

  • TeGrootenhuis – “The Spec safety program has come a long way and has greatly benefited from the OSHA 1910 30-hour program.”
  • Enriquez – “Spec has made tremendous strides in ensuring that their employees and customers are safe, and it inspires everyone to take part in and help build a culture in which safety is of utmost importance.”
  • Monahan – “In my short time at Spec, I have seen significant growth and improvement in the safety program and look forward to a continuation of that.”

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