Checklists and the Convergence LMS

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment
Checklists and LMS Image

Many people use checklists in different walks of life. Chances are you do too.

If you’re like us, you probably use a checklist when you go to the grocery store. Bananas–check. Milk–check. Vegetables–check. And so on. This is true even if your grocery checklist now comes to you in the form of a text message, as mine does.

But we know that checklists can be used for more than getting tonight’s dinner. In fact, we think they’re essential to many workplaces, jobs, and work processes. And so you’ve expect them to be built into a robust learning management system (LMS), on-the-job training programs, and work support systems.

Let’s take a closer look.

Convergence Training is a training solutions provider. We make a series of learning management systems (LMSs), e-learning courses, and more. Contact us for more information.

Also, while you’re here, download these two free training guides:

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Atul Gawande’s “The Checklist Manifesto”: All About Checklists

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment
Atul Gawande's Checklist Manifesto Book Image

We’re big fans of the surgeon and best-selling author Atul Gawande here at Convergence Training. And we’re also big fans of checklists, which are very useful in several manufacturing contexts, including operations, quality, and safety.

So you can imagine how we felt when we discovered Gawande’s book “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right” in our local book store.

We were intrigued. We were excited. We bought and read it, and we suggest you do too. Especially if you want to read a good book about standardized job roles and the use of checklist for better job performance. (more…)

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OSHA’s New Combustible Dust Standard: A Look Into the Future

Jeffrey Dalto 1 Comment

You may have read in one of our recent blog posts that OSHA has announced its upcoming regulatory agenda.At the top of the list is the creation of a new Combustible Dust Standard. That’s literally true–it’s the first item on OSHA’s list. But it’s probably also metaphorically true for a lot of you–the creation of a brand new standard with potentially far-reaching effects is going to interest a lot of you.

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OSHA Announces Upcoming Regulatory Changes

Jeffrey Dalto 8 Comments

What changes are coming from OSHA in 2013, you ask?

Well, we just looked at our magic crystal ball OSHA’s Fall 2012 Unified Agenda and have some answers for you.

Some of the most significant changes are listed below. To see everything OSHA’s up to, check the Unified Agenda. Please note that neither the list below nor the Unified Agenda include the major changes to align the Hazard Communication Standard with GHS (HazCom 2012).

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Helpful Resources on OSHA’s Website

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment

OSHA’s website has a LOT of good information, tools, and resources. But it can take a little poking around to find them, especially if you’re new to OSHA’s page.

With that said, we decided to pull together a list of some of their most useful resources. Thanks to many people on LinkedIn and other sites who gave suggestions for this list, and if you’re reading this now and have more, please do share in the Comments section.

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Our Most Popular Recent Posts

Convergence Training 2 Comments
Convergence Training recently changed the emphasis of our blog. In recent months, we’ve put more of a focus on creating helpful materials for people in the industries we serve and for our customers. These have included articles on various topics but also free giveaways, including interactive learning devices and resources for customers who use the Convergence Learning Management System (LMS). They’ve even included a few posts just for the sake of laughs.

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Free MSHA Part 46 Glossary (Title 30, CFR 46.2)

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment

msha-glossary

Note: the downloadable glossary is at the bottom. 🙂

Convergence Training provides a number of training solutions to help mine production-operators and owners comply with the Part 46 mine training requirements.

First, we’ve got the Convergence MSHA learning management system (LMS). This lets you create training plans, deliver training, keep records that your workers have completed their training, and create required MSHA documents and reports. If this sounds like a one-stop MSHA-compliance solution to you, that’s because it is.

Next, we’ve got a full library of 3D animated MSHA Part 46 surface miner training materials, including 27 separate titles (all carefully matched to the training subjects MSHA requires as part of Part 46).

And of course, your friendly Convergence Training blogger (that’s me, folks!) has MSHA Part 46 squarely in his sights, and this is just the first of several anticipated posts on MSHA. So keep coming back for more helpful MSHA resources.

And what’s more, if you lower your eyes just a touch you’ll see that we’ve created a free, interactive, downloadable MSHA Part 46 glossary. The glossary contains all of the terms listed and defined in Title 30, CFR 46.2, “Definitions.” You can check it out now, bookmark it and come back later, or download a free copy to your own computer (just click the red “Download” button). Once you have a copy, you can save it to your desktop or network, put it on your Safety Home Page, email it to friends and coworkers, or even put it in your learning management system (LMS) and assign it.

A few important notes: The terms and definitions were taken directly from the text of the standard as printed on MSHA’s website in January, 2013. Convergence Training makes no claims regarding the accuracy of those definitions, nor to keep this glossary up to date to match any changes that MSHA makes after the date of this posting.

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Fall Prevention and Protection Glossary (1926.501)

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment

osha-2012-numberOne

Every year, OSHA publishes a list of the ten most commonly cited violations of that year, and every year, the Fall Protection–General Requirements standard (1926.501) pops up on that list. To help you learn more about this standard, we created an interactive glossary of all the terms and definitions in OSHA’s Fall Prevention standard. Hope you enjoy this and find it helpful.

Convergence Training is a training solutions provider with a strong offering in EHS. We make a series of learning management systems (LMSs), e-learning courses on EHS topics and other workforce training topics, custom training solutions, and more. Contact us for more information or to set up a demo. Plus, while you’re here, why not download our free Guide to Effective EHS Training?

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Hazard Communication Glossary (1910.1200-GHS Aligned)

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment

osha-2012-numberTwo

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, frequently winds up on OSHA’s list of the ten most cited standard violations.

Given that, we thought we’d create an interactive glossary of the terms listed in OSHA’s definition for you. Hope you find this fun and helpful.

In case you’re still a little behind the times on this issue, remember that this is the updated version of OSHA’s HazCom standard that is GHS-aligned.

Convergence Training is a training solutions provider. We make a series of learning management systems (LMSs), many libraries of e-learning courses for workforce training, and more. Contact us for more information or to set up a demo.

And while you’re here, feel free to download this free Guide to Effective EHS Training.

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Scaffolds Glossary (1926.451)

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment

osha-2012-numberThree

OSHA’s Scaffolding regulation, 1926.451, is consistently on their list of the top ten cited standard violations. Given that, we thought we’d help you out by creating this interactive glossary of the terms OSHA defines in the definition. Hope you enjoy this and find and helpful.

Convergence Training is a training solutions provider with a strong EHS offering. We make several learning management systems (LMSs), off-the-shelf EHS training courses, and more. Contact us for more information.

And while you’re here, download this free Guide to Effective EHS Training.

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Safety Training for the Mayan Apocalypse (Just in Time)

Jeffrey Dalto 13 Comments
Safety Training for the Mayan Apocalypse Image

If you’re following the news, you’re well aware that the world will end soon. Real soon. On December 21, 2012, in fact.

That’s a bummer. For those of you who still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do, it’s a double bummer, because it robs you of a few days to get your shopping done and may prevent you from catching some last-minute sale prices. Makes you wonder why you didn’t brave those Black Friday crowds, huh?

We know the world is going to end because the ancient Mayans have told us it’s true through their calendar system. The Mayans were good people. Advanced, too—had their own writing system, developed impressive agricultural systems, knew quite a bit about the stars, and more.

This may put a panic into you. Or, maybe not. Maybe we’re approaching the end of the world as we know it, and you feel fine about it. To each their own, right?

Here at Convergence Training, we see the upcoming Mayan Apocalypse and the end of the world in 2012 the same way we see everything. You want to prepare for it. You want to know the safety in’s and out’s about it. And you want to complete your relevant safety training before it’s game time.

With that said, we’ve prepared a list for you.

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Yankee Dryer Course Series Now Available

Convergence Training Leave a comment

As part of our new Tissue/Paper retail course offerings, we’re excited to announce that a series of new courses focused on the Yankee Dryer are now available. The new courses are listed below.

Yankee Dryer Design and Construction

The Yankee dryer is a large, steam-heated, pressure vessel that is used in the production of tissue grades. Two critical operations occur at the Yankee – the sheet is dried to its final moisture target, and it is creped to add bulk, stretch, and softness to the sheet. The design and construction of Yankee dryers has evolved over time to optimize these two operations and also provide a safe work environment for the people who work around them. This course describes the major external and internal components of a Yankee dryer installed on a tissue machine, and the purpose or function of each component.

Yankee Dryer Dry Creping Basics

The Yankee dryer is a large, steam-heated, pressure vessel that is used in the production of tissue grades. After the tissue sheet is dried by the Yankee dryer and Yankee hoods to its final moisture target, it is creped and removed from the Yankee by the creping doctor. The “dry creping” process is responsible for the bulk, stretch, and softness that are desirable in tissue grades. This course describes what happens to the sheet during dry creping, factors that influence dry creping results, the design and operation of the creping blade, and blade angles and sheet angles associated with the creping blade.

Yankee Steam and Condensate Systems

This course describes the steam distribution and condensate removal equipment found in a Yankee dryer. It discusses how the steam pressure inside the dryer is controlled, how thermocompressors operate, and two common methods used to control the flows of steam and condensate through a Yankee dryer.

Yankee Dryer Coating

This course discusses the purpose of the Yankee dryer coating, and describes how the coating affects the drying and creping processes on the Yankee dryer. It also covers the history of Yankee coating, Yankee coating theory, the purpose and delivery of the coating ingredients (adhesives, release agents, and modifiers), and the set up of the Yankee sprayboom and glue box.

Yankee Dryer Safety

This course covers some general safety guidelines for working on or around a Yankee dryer. It describes the importance and purpose of following approved warm up and cool down procedures, doctor blade safety guidelines, steam pressure limits and relief valves, shell thickness considerations, and the influence of thermal spray coatings. It ends with discussions on the importance of regular maintenance, inspections, repairs and alterations, and detailed record keeping.

Yankee Dryer Hoods and Air Systems

This course describes the equipment and processes responsible for supplying dry, heated air to, and removing humid exhaust air, from the Yankee hoods on a typical, modern Yankee dryer. Using a two-hood setup as a basis, it describes the equipment used to supply, recirculate, and exhaust the air in the hood air system. Gas burner operations, cross-machine moisture profiling, heat recovery equipment, and hood balancing are also covered.

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