Training Course Standards

Training Course Standards. The following are the requirements for initial training courses and refresher training courses that must be successfully completed by any individual seeking certification to perform asbestos-related work pursuant to these regulations. A. Initial training: (1) Training courses required for any individuals seeking certification as an inspector, management planner, project designer, contractor, supervisor, or worker as well as the applicable EPA-approved training courses for an air monitor must meet all requirements of Section I(B) of the Model Plan, which is incorporated herein and adopted by reference unless otherwise noted. (2) Initial training courses must be discipline-specific for the certification being sought. (3) Initial training courses must be completed within a two (2) week period. (4) Any person enrolled in a training course is not required to attend more than eight (8) hours of actual training in any single 24-hour period. (5) Attendance in training courses following regular work hours shall not exceed a maximum of four (4) hours in any single session. (6) An examination as defined in Section I(C) of the Model Plan, which is incorporated herein and adopted by reference unless otherwise noted, must be given at the conclusion of the initial training course. Each examination shall be closed book, and demonstration testing may be included as part of the overall examination. A person seeking accreditation in a specific discipline must pass the examination for that discipline to receive accreditation. B. Refresher training courses Annual refresher training is required for reaccreditation of each discipline. Refresher courses shall be specific to each discipline and must meet all requirements of Section I(D) of the Model Plan, which is incorporated herein and adopted by reference unless otherwise noted. For each discipline, the refresher course shall review and discuss changes in federal and State regulations, developments in state-of-the-art procedures, and a review of key aspects of the initial training course. Any individual seeking reaccreditation as an “air monitor” must complete the refresher course in accordance with the requirements for the “supervisor” discipline. At the conclusion of the refresher training courses in all disciplines, the training provider shall administer a closed book exam with a minimum of twenty-five (25) multiple-choice questions. Applicants must pass the exam with a minimum score of seventy (70) percent. The exam shall be developed by the training provider, and the training provider shall make the exam available for review by the Department. Refresher training courses may be offered online if the training course provider is able to provide proof that the course meets all the requirements of the Model Plan. C. Training course approval. Any training course provider seeking approval of its training course(s) must meet the requirements of these regulations and Section I of the Model Plan, which is incorporated herein and adopted by reference unless otherwise noted. A training provider shall submit the following documentation for evaluation and approval by the Commission prior to conducting an initial course. (1) A completed application on the form provided by the Department and supporting documentation. The form and supporting documentation shall include the following: (a) The name, address, and telephone number of the training provider, and name and signature of the contact person; (b) The course title, location and the language in which the course is to be taught; (c) A student manual and an instructor manual for each course; (d) The course agenda; (e) A copy or description of all audio/visual materials used; (f) A description of each hands-on training activity; (g) A copy of a sample exam; and (h) A sample certificate with the following information: (i) The name of student; (ii) The training course title specifying initial or refresher; (iii) The inclusive dates of course and applicable examination; (iv) A statement that the student completed the course and passed any examination required; (v) The unique certificate number as required; (vi) For courses covered under 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E, Appendix C (as amended), the certificate expiration date that is one (1) year after the date the course was completed and the applicable examination passed; (vii) The printed name and signature of the training course administrator and printed name of the principal instructor; (viii) The name, address, and phone number of the training provider; and (ix) A statement that the person receiving the certificate has completed the requisite training for asbestos accreditation under Title II of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (i) A list of any other states that currently approve the training course. (2) A list of the instructors and their qualifications including, but not limited to, any academic and/or field experience. (3) Contingent approval shall be granted if the application and supporting documentation meet the criteria of this rule. Full approval shall be granted for any course with contingent approval after successful completion of an on-site audit of the course. The on-site audit shall include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of the following: (a) Instructor effectiveness; (b) Technical accuracy; (c) Course administration; and (d) Course content. D. Withdrawal of training course approval. The Commission may suspend or revoke approval of any training course approved under this regulation that is determined to be in violation of these regulations and Section III(c) of the Model Plan. In addition, the Department may perform a periodic audit of any training course to ensure compliance with all requirements of the regulations regarding training. E. Recordkeeping requirements. (1) Each approved training provider shall maintain all records required by Section I(F) of the Model Plan, which is incorporated herein and adopted by reference unless otherwise noted, for a minimum of three (3) years. (2) If an approved training provider ceases to conduct training, the training provider shall notify the approving government body (i.e., EPA or the Department) so that the approving government body may take possession of the asbestos training records maintained by the training provider. F. Training course notification. (1) No less than ten (10) calendar days prior to the first day of an anticipated training course, a training course provider must provide written notification to the Department, on forms developed by the Department, of the following: (a) The course discipline; (b) The date and time of the training course; (c) The exact location of the site of the training course (if the location is different from the principal location of the training provider, a vicinity map, sketch or detailed written directions showing the training site location shall be included in the notification, unless a vicinity map has previously been submitted for the specific location); (d) Information about the language to be used in the training course; (e) The name of the principal instructor; and (f) A copy of the training course agenda. (If the agenda is identical to an agenda that has been previously submitted, an additional copy of the agenda is not required with the notification). (2) Failure to provide re-notification of any changes in the time or location of the training course or any other information outlined on the original notification within two (2) working days prior to the first day of the pending training course may lead to rejection of any certificate of training issued by the training provider in support of an individual accreditation in the State of Mississippi. (3) Within seven (7) calendar days after completion of a training course, the training course provider must provide the Department with a written roster containing the following: (a) The name of the course indicating the discipline and whether the course is an initial or refresher training course; (b) The names of all course participants; (c) For each participant, whether the participant passed or failed the examination; (d) The date, time, and location of the training course; (e) For each participant, the training certificate number; (f) The name of the principal instructor; and (g) The name, address, and phone number of the training provider. (4) Failure to submit a roster as required by Rule 10.15.F(3) may result in the rejection of any certificate of training submitted to the Department in support of an application for accreditation. G. Non-English language courses. The following shall apply to any course taught in a non- English language: (1) The training course must be taught in the language in which all participating students are fluent; (2) The written materials, including the examination, must be correctly translated into the language in which all participating students are fluent; and (3) Any interpreter present may not be used to teach or instruct a training course. H. Instructor qualifications. Any person seeking approval as an instructor for courses covered under Section I of the Model Plan, which is incorporated herein and adopted by reference unless otherwise noted, shall meet the following applicable requirements: (1) Application – Any person seeking approval as an instructor must submit a completed “Training Course Instructor Application” as provided by the Department. The required information includes personal data, training course and topics, education history, training history, employment history, accreditation or licenses issued by other states, professional registrations, and submittals to EPA or other states. (2) Work practice topics for each discipline shall include: (a) For the “worker” discipline course: state-of-the-art work practices; (b) For the “contractor” and “supervisor” discipline courses: state-of-the-art work practices, and techniques for asbestos abatement activities; (c) For the “inspector” discipline course: pre-inspection planning and review of previous inspection records, inspecting for friable and nonfriable ACM, assessing the condition of friable ACM, bulk sampling/documentation of asbestos in schools, recordkeeping and writing inspection reports; (d) For the “management planner” discipline course: the evaluation/ interpretation of survey results, hazard assessment, developing an operations and maintenance plan, recordkeeping for the management planner, and assembling and submitting the management plan; (e) For the abatement “project designer” discipline course: safety system design specifications, designing abatement solutions, budgeting/cost estimation, writing abatements specifications, preparing abatement drawings and occupied buildings; and (f) For the “air monitor” discipline course: air monitoring strategies, conducting visual inspections, and recordkeeping and report writing. (3) Each instructor for work practice topics, hands-on exercises, workshops, or field trips that are required for any course covered under 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E, Appendix C as amended, shall meet the following requirements as applicable: (a) For the “worker” discipline initial and refresher training courses and the “supervisor” discipline initial and refresher training courses: (1) The applicant shall have successfully completed the initial and subsequent refresher training course requirements for the “supervisor” discipline; and (2) The applicant shall meet at least one (1) of the following educational and asbestos work experience combinations: (i) If the applicant does not possess either a high school diploma or its equivalent, the applicant shall: (A) Have at least 1,440 hours of experience in a worker or supervisory capacity at a contained work area; and (B) Have at least 360 hours as an instructor for a “worker” discipline training course that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA. (ii) If the applicant possesses either a high school diploma or its equivalent, the applicant shall: (A) Have at least 960 hours of experience in a worker, supervisory, or consulting capacity at a contained work area; or (B) Have at least 240 hours as an instructor for a “worker” discipline training course, a “supervisor” discipline training course, or any other occupational safety and health or environmental course required to meet federal and state regulations that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA. (iii) If the applicant possesses at least an associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, the applicant shall: (A) Have at least 480 hours of experience in a worker, supervisory, or consulting capacity at a contained area; or (B) Have at least 120 hours as an instructor for a “worker” discipline training course, a “supervisor” discipline training course, or any other occupational safety and health or environmental course required to meet federal and state regulations that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA. (b) For the “inspector” discipline initial and refresher training courses: (1) The applicant shall have successfully completed the initial and subsequent refresher training course requirements for the “inspector” discipline; and (2) The applicant shall meet at least one (1) of the following educational and asbestos work experience combinations: (i) If the applicant possesses either a high school diploma or its equivalent, the applicant shall: (A) Have documented experience, which must include asbestos inspections of at least one million square feet of building space in the past three (3) years; or (B) Have at least sixty (60) hours as an instructor for an “inspector” discipline training course or any other occupational safety and health or environmental course required to meet federal and state regulations that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA. (ii) If the applicant possesses at least an associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, the applicant shall: (A) Have documented experience, which must include asbestos inspections of at least 500,000 square feet of building space in the past three (3) years; or (B) Have at least forty (40) hours as an instructor for a “inspector” discipline training course or any other occupational safety and health or environmental course required to meet federal and state regulations that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA (c) For the “management planner” discipline initial and refresher courses: (1) The applicant shall have successfully completed the initial and subsequent refresher training course requirements for the “management planner” discipline; and (2) The applicant shall meet at least one (1) of the following educational and asbestos work experience combinations: (i) If the applicant possesses either a high school diploma or its equivalent, the applicant shall: (A) Have documented management planning experience showing at least twenty-five (25) management plans or reinspection reports written in the past three (3) years, or documented experience as the management consultant for at least twenty-five (25) asbestos projects in the past three (3) years, or a combination of management plans and projects managed; or (B) Have at least forty-eight (48) hours as an instructor for a “management planner” discipline training course or any other occupational safety and health or environmental course required to meet federal and state regulations that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA. (ii) If the applicant possesses at least an associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, the applicant shall: (A) Have documented management planning experience showing at least twelve (12) management plans or reinspection reports written in the past three (3) years, or documented experience as the management consultant for at least twelve (12) asbestos projects in the past three (3) years, or a combination of management plans and projects managed; or (B) Have at least thirty-two (32) hours as an instructor for a “management planner” discipline training course or any other occupational safety and health or environmental course required to meet federal and state regulations that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA. (d) For the “project designer” discipline initial and refresher courses: (1) The applicant shall have successfully completed the initial and subsequent refresher training course requirements for the abatement “project designer” discipline; and (2) The applicant shall meet at least one (1) of the following educational and asbestos work experience combinations: (i) If the applicant possesses either a high school diploma or its equivalent, the applicant shall: (A) Have documented asbestos abatement project design experience including the design of at least twelve (12) asbestos projects in the past three (3) years; or (B) Have at least thirty (30) hours as an instructor for an abatement “project designer” discipline training course or any other occupational safety and health or environmental course required to meet federal and state regulations that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA. (ii) If the applicant possesses at least an associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, the applicant shall: (A) Have documented asbestos abatement project design experience, including the design of at least six (6) asbestos projects in the past three (3) years; or (B) Have at least twenty (20) hours as an instructor for an abatement “project designer” discipline training course or any other occupational safety and health or environmental course required to meet federal and state regulations that has been approved by EPA or a state program duly authorized by EPA. (e) For an instructor of a Commission-approved NIOSH 582 training course or a Commission-approved air monitoring training course: (1) Have a high school diploma or its equivalent; and (2) Successfully complete the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 582 training course or a Commission- approved air monitoring training course. (f) Each instructor approved under these regulations shall take a refresher training course in at least one (1) discipline from a training provider other than their employer every other year. (4) Each instructor who will teach a segment(s) of a training course covered under 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E, Appendix C, as amended, other than work practice topics, hands-on exercises, workshops, or field trips, shall meet the following requirements: (a) Be actively working in the field of expertise in which training is conducted; and (b) Have a minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent.