OSHAcademy Safety Spotlight

By Kristine Catimbang, OSHAcademy Training Coordinator

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses. This family of viruses range from the common cold to more serious conditions, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 (WHO, 2020a). Thousands of COVID-19 cases have been reported in China and a number of cases have been reported in other countries around the world.

Global efforts are currently focused on containing the spread of the virus and minimizing the impact of the virus (CDC, 2020). There is still a lot that is unknown about the COVID-19 strain. Both the World Health Organization and the United States have declared public health emergencies due to the spread of the virus and have offered to help China in investigating and containing the outbreak. It will take some time and more research to learn about COVID-19 which means it will take a while for a vaccine to be developed.

Persons with COVID-19 infection, flu, or a cold typically develop similar respiratory symptoms. Since the three illnesses are very similar, the only way to confirm if an individual has COVID-19 is to get a laboratory test done. In healthy people, COVID-19 can cause very mild symptoms, but it can lead to more severe infections if left untreated. The elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus. In rare cases, COVID-19 can be fatal. If you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing it is important to seek medical attention early to reduce the risk of developing a more severe infection. Seeking medical attention early is also important because doing so will help efforts in reducing the spread of the virus within a community.

Basic Protective Measures Against COVID-19 (WHO, 2020b):

Wash your hands frequently (at least 20 seconds with soap and water).
Practice respiratory hygiene (cover sneezes and coughs with elbow, not hands).
Maintain social distancing (stand at least 1 meter from a person who may be infected).
Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
Individuals with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
Follow advice provided by healthcare providers.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (23 February 2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

World Health Organization (WHO). (2020a). Coronavirus. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

World Health Organization (WHO). (2020b). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

By Steve Geigle, OSHAcademy Founder/Director

One of the most common questions we receive from our students is, "Since I have completed your training, am I now considered a qualified safety trainer in my company"? The answer is, “not yet, but you’re getting there.” Like most safety training providers, OSHAcademy "certifies" you have completed a formal course of study, but it does not certify that you are qualified to conduct training. Training certification, whether it is online or in the classroom, is only the first step toward becoming a qualified safety trainer within a company. You must do more.

Currently, OSHA does not require certification by a credentialing organization to conduct safety training within a company. You may conduct safety training if you are certified and authorized by your employer to do so. However, it’s important for legal reasons that you meet specific criteria to enable the employer to justify your certification as a qualified safety trainer. To meet the qualifications of certification, you should:

have the necessary knowledge, training, and experience, as determined by the employer, in the safety topics being trained;
complete a “Safety Train-the-Trainer” program;
demonstrate the ability to develop and present training in a manner and in the language that is understood by employees;
have your knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) evaluated by an employer-appointed competent and qualified person;
demonstrate, through evaluation by a competent person, that employees have gained the required KSAs to work in a safe and healthful manner on the job; and
receive, from the employer, and official written certification as a qualified safety trainer.

The employer should appoint and formally certify that the trainer has met their requirements as a qualified safety trainer. In effect, you become a certified safety trainer, but the scope of your certification is limited to the company. The certification is not national in scope.

Note: If you are interested in nationally recognized certification as a qualified safety trainer, you need to meet certain experience, educational, and exam requirements from a credentialing organization like the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. The BCSP awards the Certified Instruction Trainer (CIT) to those who qualify.

If you want to read more about becoming an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer, please click here.