Maine Department of Labor announces October workplace safety and labor law training schedule

September 24, 2026

For Immediate Release: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026

Media Contact: Autumn Mahoney, Communications Specialist [email protected]

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Labor offers free workplace safety and labor law training to help employers, managers, supervisors, human resources professionals and others understand workplace safety requirements and Maine labor laws. The Department has announced its schedule of October classes, with trainings offered through SafetyWorks! and the Bureau of Labor Standards.

Registration is required, and space may be limited. View the October schedule and register for a class.

Unless otherwise noted, classes are held at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute at the Maine Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta.

October Class Schedule

Fire Extinguisher/Emergency Action Plans/Workplace Violence Thursday, Oct. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

Workplace emergencies include fire, medical, and workplace violence. This course covers the requirements of an emergency action plan, fire extinguisher use, and considering the potential for workplace violence. The SWTI Lab includes a fire extinguisher discharge activity to assist participants in learning how to use a fire extinguisher.

Bloodborne Pathogens Train-the-Trainer Friday, Oct. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

This half-day class provides guidance on what is needed to be compliant with the bloodborne pathogen standard. This course will review written program requirements, training, documentation, Hepatitis B, and sharp logs.

Safety & Health Management Systems Tuesday, Oct. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

Successful safety and health programs are more than just compliance with the OSHA standards. Injuries and illnesses are reduced when employers possess common elements to identify and address safety and health hazards. This course outlines roles and responsibilities, common principles, required functions and programs of a successful safety and health management system. This course prepares organizations who would like to pursue SHARP/ SHAPE.

Cold & Heat Illness Prevention Friday, Oct. 9, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

Whether your employees work outside or inside, cold and hot temperatures can be hazardous to their health. This class covers cold and heat temperature illnesses, signs and symptoms, and control measures to prevent and treat temperature related injuries.

Welding/Compressed Gas Tuesday, Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

This class covers the requirements of the welding standard, in addition to the storage and proper use of compressed gas. Proper inspection techniques of hoses, torches, and regulators will be demonstrated.

Wage & Hour Compliance Wednesday, Oct. 14, 9 a.m. to noon Maine Department of Health & Human Services, 200 Main St, Conference Room A, Lewiston

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

Emergency Scene Traffic Control - NEW DATE! Friday, Oct. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Online

This half-day class covers requirements for training, personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers who will be controlling traffic at unplanned motor vehicle accidents. This program will also include setting up a safe work-zone, equipment needed, guidance for day and nighttime operations, blocking to protect the scene, apparatus parking, incident types, signs, regulatory communication text, liability and more.

Workstation Ergonomics - VDT Tuesday, Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

Employees' computer workstations should be designed to reduce the potential for musculoskeletal injuries. This course reviews Maine's VDT law, its requirements, reviews the hazards of improper workstation setup, and provides hands-on practice of evaluating and modifying workstations.

Wage & Hour Compliance Wednesday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to noon Freeport Town Hall, 30 Main St, Freeport

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

Machine Guarding Wednesday, Oct. 21, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

Participants will learn how to identify hazards which require machine guarding and the methods available to protect employees from those hazards.

NFPA 1 Fire Code Thursday, Oct. 22, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

This one-day course provides overview training for fire fighters and emergency response personnel. This multi-part document has 16 sections to safeguard life and protect property from dangerous conditions caused by fire and explosions. Other fire codes including NFPA 101, 57, 58, 30, 13, 25, and 72 are referred to in this code.

Impairment Detection Training for Employers Friday, Oct. 23, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Augusta

This one-day training session is designed to help owners, managers, and supervisors recognize and respond appropriately to employee impairment in the workplace to reduce worker accidents and injuries. Participants will be taught procedures to detect impairment regardless of the substance or cause. This class is designed to fulfill the federal DOT requirements for reasonable suspicion training of supervisors. In addition, participants will learn how to develop and implement policies that address impairment in the workplace and are compliant with Maine's Substance Use Testing Law.

The schedule is subject to change, and additional classes may be added. To register or view the full schedule of SafetyWorks! training, visit SafetyWorks! scheduled classes.

For questions about SafetyWorks! training, call 877-SAFE-345 or email [email protected]. For questions about wage and hour compliance, contact the Maine Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 207-623-7900 or [email protected], or visit Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards.