Useful (and free!) training from FEMA for Industrial Hygienists and Occupational Safety Professionals

While preparing the syllabus and course content for my Spring 2014 course in "Emergency Preparedness and Pre-Planning" at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ, I developed a list of free training sources available on the Internet for my graduate students to use. 

Sometimes if I'm in need of a quick refresher, I turn to these sources for additional guidance. 

Today's list of courses is from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Their Independent Study Program will give you certificates of completion and even college credit if you need (and pay for) it. The courses are not just about emergency management and preparedness - they cover a range of topics, as you can see below.

Courses that an Industrial Hygienist or Occupational Safety and Health Professional may find useful:

IS-5.a: An Introduction to Hazardous Materials 

IS-37: Managerial Safety and Health

IS-240.a: Leadership & Influence

IS-241.a: Decision Making and Problem Solving

IS-242.a: Effective Communication

IS-340: Hazardous Materials Prevention

IS-454: Fundamentals of Risk Management

IS-613: Technical Writing 

Many of these are on my "to do" list (once I have a little free time). According to FEMA's website, the listed courses will take anywhere from 1.5 to 10 hours to complete.

The next few posts will be on free training in mold, asbestos, lead, safety and health management, and other topics of interest to industrial hygiene and safety professionals. These free training courses won't "certify" you to do the work, just raise your awareness and understanding.