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Cost effective workshop for school lunch personnel after trainers brought to American Samoa

US based engineer and instructor, Dennis Fisher,as he explained what needed to be done every day to SLP vehicles before drivers head out for their deliveries.
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Creating a safe working environment at the local Department of Education’s School Lunch Program (SLP) was the focus last month of training and workshop for personnel at SLP, which is under the leadership of assistant director Christina Fualaau.

Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga explained that Fualaau utilized the summer break to conduct Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety training, which involved SLP head of training, Nelda Vaovasa Ala.

As a “cost containment measure” Fualaau and Ala opted to bring in a US based certified OSHA trainer to American Samoa instead of sending two employees off island at the same cost, said Matagi-Tofiga adding that training was conducted for all SLP staff and some workers from the Procurement Office and DOE warehouse.

Samoa News notes that Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has long emphasized to directors that as a way to save money in government operations, for departments and offices to consider bringing in from off island an official to conduct training or workshops here — where everyone will get a chance to learn more — instead of sending two or three ASG employees off island for such training/ workshops.

From June 18-22, ten SLP managers and warehouse supervisors — including Manu’a — underwent the OSHA 30-hour General Industry Outreach Training Program, which is intended to provide a variety of training to workers with some safety responsibility. Training emphasized hazard identification, avoidance, control and prevention, OSHA standards. Also covered in the training were Injury and Illness Prevention Programs, Management Commitment and Employee Involvement, Worksite Analysis, Accident Investigations and Walking and Working Surfaces, including fall protection.

On June 25-27, was the OSHA 10-hours General Industry Training for forty-four SLP warehouse staff, two Procurement representatives, and two DOE Warehouse staff. Training subject matters included, Hazardous Materials, Welding, Cutting, and Brazing, Introduction to Industrial Hygiene, Safety and Health Programs, and Powered Industrial Vehicles.

Then on June 28 it was the driver safety training at the Office of Motor Vehicle compound, in which twenty-nine SLP warehouse staffers and two from the Procurement office. This training, included Vehicle Inspection, Road Safety conditions, Driver Emotional State and Personal Protective Equipment.

The final workshop was held June 29 for Fork Lift Certification at SLP Warehouse involving twenty SLP forklift drivers and two from Procurement. The workshop focused on two issues - Fork Lift Inspection and Driving tests.