EM‑385‑1‑1 ‑ Safety and Health Requirements for USACE

Course Objectives

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The objectives of this 40-hour EM 385 course are to meet the general training requirements necessary to work on sites that require US Army Core of Engineering (USACE) EM-385 training for work contracted by the US Department of Defense (DoD).

Learning Objectives

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• Explain the need for EM 385 training and general safety requirements;
• Describe steps to make work sites sanitary;
• Describe the uses of personal protective equipment and its role within the hierarchy of controls;
• Identify areas where fall protection is necessary;
• Explain the need for safe access to hazardous areas;
• Describe appropriate precautions to take when conducting blasting operations;
• Identify steps employers must take to protect workers from hazardous materials;
• Explain the need to limit access to confined spaces; and

Training

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This course is intended to help workers meet the basic training requirements for work on sites contracted with the US Department of Defense (DOD), which are addressed in the 2024 US Army Corps of Engineers manual, EM-385-1-1.

Additional Training

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Depending on the work site where you are employed, your specific role on the work site, or additional requirements specified in EM 385, supplemental training may be required.

The Site Safety and Health Officer is responsible for informing you of any training you may need for your specific job.

Site-specific, Employer-provided Training

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Workers must receive additional training, when required by Federal, State, or local regulations, on the specific hazards of their job. Additional training in the use of any personal protective equipment or clothing used as part of emergency response is required and should be provided by your employer.

Training Providers should be used to ensure credibility and augment a company’s training program. Therefore, in addition to the training provided by an outside party, a student should receive site-specific training supplied by his or her employer. This training should target the company’s unique approach to hazard prevention, including the use of site-specific equipment, health and safety policies, and emergency procedures. This company-specific training should be well documented.

Site Safety and Health Officer Training

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To be qualified as a Site Safety and Health Office (SSHO), one must complete one of the following, depending on whether the worksite is considered a General Industry or Construction Industry site:

• A 30-hour OSHA General Industry safety class^*; or
• A 30-hour OSHA Construction Industry safety class^*; or
• n equivalent, formal construction or industry safety and health training covering the subjects of the OSHA 30-hour course and the EM 385-1-1 and applicable to the work to be performed and given by qualified instructors.^*

In addition, an SSHO must have the following proof of employment, depending on whether the worksite is considered a General Industry or Construction Industry site:

• Five (5) years of continuous construction OR general industry (as appropriate depending on the work site) safety experience in supervising or managing safety programs or processes, or conducting hazard analyses and developing controls; or
• Four (4) years of experience in the above if the SSHO has a Third-party, Nationally Accredited (i.e., ANSI or National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) SOH-related certification^‡.

^* This training may be web-based if the student is able to directly ask questions of the instructor by chat or phone.
^‡ Appendix Q of the EM 385-1-1 document provides a list of qualifying certifications.

Collateral Duty Safety Officer Training

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Completion of EM-385 training is one element of several required for a Collateral Duty Safety Officer (CDSO). Additional training requirements include:

• Section 19 of the OSH Act, Executive Order 12196 and 29 CFR 1960.58;
• USACE procedures for reporting, evaluation, and abatement of hazards;
• Hazard recognition and Risk Management Processes;
• USACE procedures for mishap reporting and investigation and use of lessons learned; and
• Any local Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to include other appropriate rules and regulations.

Alternatively, one can take a USACE-instructed or provided (e.g., Prospect classes) 30-hour OSHA General Industry safety class or 30-hour Construction Industry safety class. This will satisfy all training material in the bullet points above, except for local SOPs and information.

Volume Pricing

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To learn more about our volume discounts for this training, visit our Volume Pricing page. We also offer an easy way to Enroll Multiple Students.

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