The First Facility Management Blog

In facilities management, training and education are essential parts of the job. New technologies and updated procedures make it imperative for all personnel to be up to date on relevant operations systems and services.

The same policy holds true to an even greater extent in military training (which can actually be humorous, believe it or not)! Whether fact or fiction, these words of wisdom from military training manuals are quite funny.

‘If the enemy is in range, so are you.’
- Infantry Journal

‘It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.’
- US. Air Force Manual

‘Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons.’
- General MacArthur

‘You, you, and you … panic. The rest of you, come with me.’
- Infantry Sgt.

‘Tracers work both ways.’
- Army Ordnance Manual

‘Five second fuses last about three seconds.’
- Infantry Journal

‘Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once.’
- Naval Ops Manual

‘Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.’
- Unknown Infantry Recruit

‘If you see a bomb technician running, try to keep up with him.’
- Infantry Journal

‘You’ve never been lost until you’ve been lost at Mach 3.’
-Paul F. Crickmore (SR71 test pilot)

‘The only time you have too much fuel is when you’re on fire.’
-Unknown Author

‘If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage it has to be a helicopter — and therefore, unsafe.’
- Fixed Wing Pilot

‘When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane, you always have enough power left to get you to the scene of the crash.’
-Multi-Engine Training Manual

‘Without ammunition, the Air Force is just an expensive flying club.’
-Unknown Author

‘If you hear me yell;”Eject, Eject, Eject!”, the last two will be echos.’
If you stop to ask “Why?”, you’ll be talking to yourself, because by then you’ll be the pilot.’
-Pre-flight Briefing from a Canadian F104 Pilot

‘What is the similarity between air traffic controllers and pilots?
If a pilot screws up, the pilot dies; but If ATC screws up …. the pilot dies.’
-Sign over Control Tower Door

‘Never trade luck for skill.’
-Author Unknown

The three most common expressions (or famous last words) in military aviation are: ‘Did you feel that?’ ‘What’s that noise?’ and ‘Oh S…!’
-Authors Unknown

‘Airspeed, altitude, and brains. Two are always needed to complete the flight successfully.’
-Basic Flight Training Manual

‘Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it.’
- Emergency Checklist

‘The Piper Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill you.’
- Attributed to Max Stanley (Northrop test pilot)

‘There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime.’
-Sign over Squadron Ops Desk at Davis-Montham AFB, AZ

‘You know that your landing gear is up and locked when it takes full power to taxi to the terminal.’
- Lead-in Fighter Training Manual

As the test pilot climbs out of the experimental aircraft, having torn off the wings and tail in the crash landing, the crash truck arrives. The rescuer sees the bloodied pilot and asks,’ What happened?’ The pilot’s reply: ‘I don’t know, I just got here myself!’

(This Friday Funny was provided by Peter SJF Bance)

As of September 1, 2009, seven states now have laws on the books that require construction workers to complete the OSHA 10-hour construction safety training course before they can work on certain construction projects. The states with an OSHA law already in effect are Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, and most recently, Missouri. The state of Nevada OSHA training law becomes effective January 1, 2010.

Most of the state laws restrict the required training to workers on publicly funded construction sites, such as public roads and bridge construction projects and public school buildings. However, the state of Nevada will require all construction workers to complete the course.

The state laws also vary on exactly which workers need the training, according to Curtis Chambers, vice president of OSHA Pro’s, Inc. “While all seven state laws require the same 10-hour training class, there are slight nuances from state to state. A particular state law may require all labors and supervisors to complete the class, whereas another state law may require the class just for laborers,” says Chambers. “There are also varying thresholds for the dollar amounts of the contracts that dictate when the states’ laws become effective. However,” he warns, “each of these state laws contain a provision that says failure to comply with their rule can result in fines and penalties being assessed, typically to the employer of the non-compliant workers. So affected workers are required to obtain the OSHA 10-hour construction training wallet card to prove they completed the course.”

The OSHA 10-hour construction outreach training course was developed by OSHA as a voluntary safety course to teach workers about the hazards of construction work and the regulations applicable to their work site. But these seven states have decided to make the course mandatory training for construction workers in hopes of reducing the number of injuries and fatalities afflicting construction workers.

The OSHA 10-hour construction outreach training course can be conducted by instructors who are authorized by OSHA to conduct this training and issue the OSHA cards. Some large companies even have their own authorized OSHA trainer on staff.

There are also private safety consultants and companies that conduct the training for a fee for companies or groups needing the course. OSHA has also authorized online OSHA 10-hour construction outreach training courses, allowing a worker to take the required class on the computer via the Internet, and have the wallet card subsequently mailed to the trainee. Carrie Braswell, administrator for the Internet-based online OSHA training Web site, says, “Business has really boomed since these state laws have taken effect. Especially right before a particular state deadline comes along.”

The state laws and links to those laws appear below, as well as resources for the training:

• Massachusetts OSHA Law
• Connecticut OSHA Law
• New Hampshire OSHA Law
• Rhode Island OSHA Law
• New York OSHA Law
• Missouri OSHA Law
• Nevada OSHA Law

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is strengthening the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by improving how trainers become authorized to teach and ensuring these trainers are in compliance with OSHA program guidelines.

This voluntary program has grown to a national network of more than 16,000 independent trainers eligible to teach workers and employers about workplace hazards and to provide OSHA 10-hour course completion cards. However, some trainers have fraudulently not provided the appropriate training in accordance with the program.

“The use of independent trainers has allowed OSHA to extend its training capabilities significantly,” said Jordan Barab, acting assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. “But OSHA will not tolerate fraudulent activity or unscrupulous trainers when workers’ health and lives may be at stake.”

Trainers are authorized by completing a one-week OSHA trainer course through an OSHA Training Institute Education Center. The trainers are then eligible to teach 10-hour programs that provide basic information to workers and employers about workplace hazards and OSHA, and 30-hour courses in construction, maritime and general industry safety, and health hazards.

The program’s success has prompted some states and cities to legislate a requirement that workers complete training to earn an OSHA 10-hour card as a condition of employment. Because this training is becoming a requirement for gaining employment, the program has experienced fraudulent activity.

OSHA has increased unannounced monitoring visits to verify that trainers are in compliance with program requirements. OSHA will continue to refer fraudulent activity to the Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General, and trainers caught falsifying information will be subject to criminal prosecution. The public is asked to call a new outreach fraud hotline at 847-297-4810 to file complaints about program fraud and abuse. OSHA also has developed a new process for investigating and adjudicating complaints; and a “watch list” of outreach trainers who have received disciplinary action will be posted on OSHA’s public Web site.

OSHA began implementing other changes in 2008. These include requiring trainers to certify their classes and ensuring that training documentation is in accordance with OSHA’s guidelines before trainers can receive course completion cards. Tests for outreach training program trainer courses have been revised to ensure more rigorous exams for authorizing new trainers. OSHA is also developing an ethics module to be added to all trainer courses.

“Strengthening the integrity of the Outreach Training Program will help ensure that workers receive quality training, help them gain employment and return them home safely at the end of their workday,” said Barab.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA’s role is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education.

The National Safety Council (NSC) is introducing two new versions of the OSHA Walkthrough for Industry training program. Like the original program, these versions set out to educate new employees or refresh the expertise of seasoned staff.

The NSC’s original OSHA Walkthrough for Industry covers 22 regulatory topics using content from the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s 10-hour training program. The NSC program features an animated character to present lessons and quizzes in an interactive, entertaining manner that enhances retention. New versions include:

• An intranet program with all the original content, designed for use on a company’s internal Web site. Companies can make training available round the clock to anyone with access to the site. This version is ideal for minimizing costs and avoiding scheduling difficulties.
• A CD series that devotes one CD each to the top seven topics in demand from the original OSHA Walkthrough for Industry. This version is ideal for companies or departments needing safety training on specific subjects. Topics include Hazard Communication, Preparing for OSHA Inspection, Lockout/Tagout, Recordkeeping, Electrical, Means of Egress, and Walking/Working Surfaces.

All of the OSHA Walkthrough versions complement NSC’s 15 OSHA Compliance courses and can enhance self-study or classroom training.