WILLISTON, N.D. - Alan Billehus and Jason Mathers completed 40 hours of training to be certified HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) instructors.
Michael Hampton University of Utah School of Medicine and Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational Environmental Health conducted the training at TrainND's new training facility December 14 -18, 2015.
"There will always be a need for hazardous clean up with all the oil and salt water in this area," Mathers stated. "This training should allow us to train more of these workers in this area."
The HAZWOPER training covered skin, respiratory and eye protection training in addition to personal protective equipment that is recommended and different than typical emergency-response equipment.
Established through the North Dakota Legislature in 1999 to create a training infrastructure aimed at strengthening the state's business climate, TrainND Northwest, a division of Williston State College, offers programs to meet the educational needs of the local workforce.
TrainND Northwest is one of the four TrainND divisions that cooperate with four community colleges (Bismarck State, Lake Region State College, North Dakota State College of Science and Williston State College).
Staying ahead of the curve and recognizing the training needed for local workers has become TrainND's priority. TrainND trainers are qualified to teach an array of classes in safety and safe equipment use.
In addition to HAZWOPER, Billehus is also trained to teach OSHA 2264 (Confined Space), OSA 7505 - Intro to Accident Investigation, HM126, Confined Space EAS and Rescue, Reasonable Suspicion for Supervisors, and Defensive Driving. He is also a Mobile Equipment Trainer.
Mathers can instruct H2S, Confined Space and Rescue, Safe T, Safe O, CDL, Backhoe, Excavation Awareness, and Defensive Driving.
Billehus and Mathers are two of the 17 (full-time and on-call) highly qualified trainers at TrainND Northwest.
"We want business and industry to be aware of the array of topics we can provide," stated Billehus. "If you need specialized training that may not be on the website or in our catalog, we can develop training to meet your company's needs."