Region Two wins top safety award

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
AWARD WINNER — Bill Goetsch, safety officer for Region Two holds the Department of Labor’s SHAPE Award recognizing the school for being a model of workplace safety and health. Michael Howard, center, director of Region Two is next to David Wacker who presented the award. Wacker is director of workplace safety and health for the DOL and said: “This is not an easy award to get.”
By Elna Seabrooks  
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Officials from the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Education (DOE) traveled all the way from Augusta earlier this month to present the Region Two School of Applied Technology with the Safety and Health Award for Public Employers (SHAPE). It recognizes public sector employers as being models of workplace safety and health.
    “This is not an easy award to get,” stated David Wacker, director of workplace safety and health for the Maine DOL. He presented the award stating it recognizes hazard training achievement and compliance with the government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
School and students benefit
    Although DOL has no authority over the students, they are also trained in workplace safety which could give them an edge in the marketplace. “The students are going out with an OSHA card saying they have been trained in all the hazards and OSHA regulations. And, they get certification from the federal government. So, when they walk out of here and apply for a job, employers are going to say ‘Oh, you’ve had the OSHA training. We want you.’” elaborated Wacker.
    “This allows them to jump into a job a lot quicker than some kids who haven’t had this education. The award is a great thing for the school,” added Bruce Clark, a member of the Region Two school board and the SAD 29 board. He added: “Vocational education is very important. Not every child or student can go to college.”
    Michael Howard, director of Region Two, stated that the school has been working on fulfilling the requirements for about 18 months of an intense examination of policies and procedures. “It’s a demonstration that we have safe work practices here. So, it’s an honor.”   
    The school has several vocational programs including culinary arts, forestry, auto body, automotive vehicles, business, early childhood education, welding and health science. “So, they actually have done inspections of these programs to make sure they are following all of the good, safe practices. Our whole staff is covered under this award — not just our programs. We have been working on putting our policies together and we have had multiple inspections by the Department of Labor. It’s a very prestigious award,” Howard stated.
Officials laud Howard, Region Two
    Lora Downing, director of career and technical education at DOE, said Region Two is only the third career and technical education school out of 27 in Maine to receive the award. “This is a very special award. This school has worked very, very hard to get to this point. It’s about safety in their programs and safety for their students and safety in the workplace. I think it’s extremely important that we at DOE recognize that. I have four other people from DOE here with me tonight. We felt it was important to be here and recognize the achievements of our tech schools.”
    Downing complimented Howard on his efforts to maintain standards of excellence and enrollment while raising the level of achievement. “He does a wonderful job here and we are very proud.”
    Wacker commented that only 34 SHAPE Awards have gone to public employers throughout Maine’s 450 towns. “So, this is quite an event.”
    Mike LaPlante, workplace safety and health division supervisor for DOL, added that “most (employers) who apply don’t get in (the program) because their injury rates are too high. We have had no public schools even try to get into the program.” Region Two is now exempt from inspections for the next two years and the award can be renewed.
    Cathy Bither, culinary arts instructor, described some of the comprehensive safety training for her staff and students. “We do a whole unit on food safety, basic safety and fire prevention in addition to lifting heavy objects and burns.” She said the students also learn CPR, first aid and training in automated external defibrillators that automatically diagnose potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
    Bill Goetsch, facility transportation manager and safety officer stated that the school had made adjustments in its operations and recordkeeping for the detailed inspections and review of safety policies, procedures and programs. The award, he said, will be mounted in the hallway.