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MNOSHA Compliance: Construction Seminars

About the seminars

Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) Compliance's free Construction Seminars feature a presentation about a specific construction safety or health topic – with time for questions, answers and input – plus an update from MNOSHA Compliance about what's currently happening regarding investigations.

Mark your calendars now and subscribe to the Construction Seminar email list to receive notice about the events.

Location, time, format

The Construction Seminars are now being offered in person, virtually or both. The in-person location is the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, 443 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN (get directions, maps to free visitor parking). A link to attend virtually via Microsoft Teams will be posted with the information for each date below.

Construction Seminars are 7 to 8:30 a.m.

The Construction Seminars are set up for interaction with the audience, leading to better understanding of the topic and more practical learning, and providing a safe environment for participants to ask real worksite questions and get real worksite safety and health solutions.

2024/2025 seminar dates

All dates are Tuesdays.

May 20, 2025 – Let's talk about cranes in construction

Crane-lift plans and critical-lift plans are the blueprints for safe and efficient crane operations on construction sites. Operators and project managers use these plans to ensure cranes move smoothly and safely when lifting heavy loads.

Topics during this seminar

  • Who needs to be a certified or qualified operator?

  • Are operators of digger derricks required to be qualified or certified?

  • What is required in the testing for certification?

  • Does an operator need more than one certification?

  • How is an operator certified or qualified?

  • What other roles and responsibilities are required in crane operations?

Presenters

  • Scott H. Richert, Sr., The Travelers Companies, risk control technical specialist – construction, energy and marine, spoke about this topic. He has been a regional director and field manager, and is The Travelers national technical manager for fall protection and crane subject matter expert.

  • Lisa Hollingsworth, MNOSHA Compliance, principal safety investigator, discussed OSHA's perspective on cranes.

March 18, 2025 – Fall-protection training requirements

At this Construction Seminar, Minnesota OSHA Compliance focused on fall protection and the training of workers about the use of fall protection. Lack of fall protection and fall-protection training are in the top 10 most cited standards for federal-fiscal-year 2024. Attendees learned what an employer's fall-protection training should consist of and look like, what the certification of training should include and when retraining is needed.

Presenter, presentation

Jan. 21, 2025 – Learn AWAIR program, safety committee requirements

Attendees at this Construction Seminar learned the requirements of the standards for A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) program and for safety committees to ensure their business understands what it needs to have in place – with time for questions, answers and input. The presenter also discussed what he sees during his Minnesota STAR (MNSTAR) Program and consultation visits in the field.

Presenter, presentation

Nov. 19, 2024 – Addressing mental health, suicide in the construction industry

The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any occupation. Suicide deeply impacts workers, families and communities. Fortunately, like other workplace fatalities, suicides can be prevented. Everyone in the construction industry has a role to play in suicide prevention.

Presenter:  Ray Stenglein, president and chief executive officer, Your Wings of Hope.

Sept. 17, 2024 – Let's talk about silica ... yes, again

Worker exposure to silica continues to be health hazard and an area of concern in the construction industry. At this seminar, we talked, listened and learned about silica-related exposures in the construction industry, such as using masonry saws, grinders, drills and jackhammers, and using heavy equipment for grading and excavating.

Presenter:  MNOSHA Compliance's Otis Heymann, certified industrial hygienist, will be talking about the standard and welcoming questions and conversation from attendees.

View past presentations