A safety training course for ethanol producers will be held April 10-11 in Brookings, S.D., sponsored by the Engineering Extension Office, College of Engineering, at South Dakota State University.

“We like it when companies are proactive, rather than getting a phone call asking for help after someone’s been hurt,” said Jon Puetz, program director. The course qualifies as a 10-hour Occupational Safety and Health Training Course in General Industry, although Peutz adds that the SDSU course generally goes two to three hours longer than the minimum to cover additional material that participants request.

The topics presented in the seminar focus on safety and health issues as they relate to OSHA compliance during operations at ethanol production facilities, covering control methods, test equipment and training requirements. Specific topics include proper safety measures regarding process conditions, grain handling, working in confined spaces or with electricity as well as fall protection, machine guarding, and more.

The safety course has been offered by SDSU engineering extension for the past decade, training between 20 and 60 participants each year. “We’ve had 16 different states represented over the decade,” Puetz said. “A team of 10 of us puts it on each year.”

Those interested in attending this year are encouraged to phone 605-688-4101 or email SDSU.EngineeringExtension@sdstate.edu . Last minute registrations are being taken. The registration is $250 per person with a price break given for multiple attendees from the same company. Participants receive a binder of course materials, a CD-ROM and a copy of the complete OSHA 29 CFR 1910 General Industry Regulations Book.