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Archive for April, 2014

Customize Training Curriculum for Your Employees’ Specific Needs with TargetSolutions’ Learning Tracks

 TargetSolutions’ online safety training system enables you to bundle web-based courses and activities together and create employee-specific “Learning Tracks.”

What Are Learning Tracks?
With TargetSolutions’ one-of-a-kind Manage Credentials application, platform managers can create Learning Tracks that are based upon department or job title. With hundreds of online safety training courses available in TargetSolutions’ course library, it’s not hard to find the right educational path for everyone.

TargetSolutions’ easy-to-use LMS enables easy delivery and tracking of customized Learning Tracks.

Here are some different types of Learning Tracks you can create, schedule and deliver to your employees:
Computer Technicians Fleet Workers Maintenance Workers
Custodians Food Servers & Cooks School Employees (Principals, Teachers, etc.)
Electrical Workers Lab Workers Warehouse Workers

If you have any questions about TargetSolutions’ Learning Tracks or Certified Credentials for risk managers, please contact us today at (800) 840-8048.

About TargetSolutions
TargetSolutions delivers cutting-edge software applications, engaging online training courses, and world-class customer service. The company was founded in 1999 and today there are more than 2,000 organizations across the country using TargetSolutions’ innovative technology to solve their training challenges.

Track Training at Acquired Structures for ISO with TargetSolutions

Fair to say most training officers would agree training at “acquired structures” is by far the best, most beneficial firefighter training possible. This is due to the realistic environment these valuable training sites provide during fire department training.
Trying to simulate search and rescue or RIT training at a training facility, while vital in their own regard, pales in comparison to actually being in a large office building or nursing home that has been made available to your department.
After completing this training you might wonder, where you should log this extremely valuable training now that ISO no longer requires multi-company or single-company drills? After all, training must be done at a training facility, and clearly “acquired structures” are not training facilities, right?
Well, the answer is quite simple if you are a TargetSolutions client who has been tracking fire department ISO hours: You don’t have to build a new Custom Activity, although you have that option, since all the activities are already built in the form of Company Training. If you are doing live fire in an acquired structure, use Chapter 15’s Fire Control. All your objectives for fire suppression are there and you can provide more detail in the “Additional Information” box. If the training was performing primary, or secondary searches, use Chapter 8’s Rescue and Extrication.
In fact, training at “Acquired Structures” can and will be captured to meet fire department ISO requirements as all of the Company Training activities are being tracked in the “company bucket” with TargetSolutions’ online fire training system. You merely need to determine which aspect of firefighting is the focus of the day’s training.
If you have any questions about TargetSolutions’ ISO tracking tools, please contact us today at (800) 840-8048.
Track Training at Acquired Structures
Fire departments can assign ready-made training assignments that cover ISO Driver Training, ISO Officer Training, ISO Hazmat Training, ISO Company Training and ISO Facilities Training with TargetSolutions’ online fire training system.

 

How to Effectively Cut Padlocks During Forcible-Entry Operations

*Blog Written by Firetown Training Specialist

How to Cut a Padlock Safely

Padlocks are an easy, inexpensive way for property owners to secure access into specific areas. This common type of lock usually secures mounted hasps by connecting and locking two ends of a chain, or by locking out pre-fabricated hardware on an appliance or machine. Though not commonly seen on main entrance or exit doors of businesses or private dwellings, the padlock can be found on storage unit doors, sheds, fence gates, vehicle access bollard posts, and post-indicator valves (PIVs), to name a few locations.

What Tools to Use to Cut Padlocks

Bolt cutters are the common tool of choice for to cut padlocks during forcible-entry. Unfortunately, most padlocks are made of case-hardened steel, which is very strong in comparison to the materials that bolt cutters were intended to cut.

You will find that most of the time, a set of bolt cutters will make the cut, using a big effort, but the damage to the tool after continual use will render it ineffective over time. Take a look at the bolt cutters on your apparatus and notice the large elongated nicks taken out of the cutting edges. Not only can you damage your bolt cutters by cutting padlocks, but you can hinder processes on the fireground.

You probably haven’t been assigned the “bolt cutters” on the fireground when your company rolls up. There is another tool (or set of tools) on the fireground that is frequently found in the hands of multiple firefighters – and that’s a set of “irons.”

Whether you choose a flathead axe or a sledge maul, you can marry it with a Halligan bar – and padlocks will fear you. When a padlock fails or fractures, it usually does so at the latch cut on the shackle, or at the base of the shackle where it swivels down inside. It doesn’t take a tremendous amount of force to fail and can even be accomplished by a single firefighter with a tool in each hand.

Fire Department Training

 

Photos from Firefighter Training for Cutting and Forcing Padlocks

Refer to the photos below during firefighter training for representation on cutting and forcing padlocks.

Irons Method No. 1

Irons Method No. 1:

Place the pike end of the Halligan through the shackle of the lock with the striking portion of the Halligan exposed either from the top or the side. One or two good strikes with your axe or maul on the striking surface, and the lock should fail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irons Method No. 2

Irons Method No. 2:

Place the fork end of the Halligan over the shackle of the lock so it is straddled. One or two good strikes with your axe or maul at the base of the fork end, and the lock should fail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular/Rotary Saw Method

Circular/Rotary Saw Method:

Using a set of vice grips and a rotary saw with an abrasive blade, you can capture the padlock at its base to ensure that it does not flap around wildly when the saw contacts the shackle. This can safely be done by securing a leash or piece of webbing to the vice grips and pulling it taunt. Have another firefighter assist with this. However, when operating independently, secure the tension by stepping on the leash/webbing with one foot. Make contact on the shackle of the lock at full throttle and complete your cut.

 

 

Bolt Cutter Method

Bolt Cutter Method:

Bolt cutters are great for cutting fencing, light to medium gauge chain, and other soft metals. When you have the option to cut the chain or padlock used in such a combination, cut the link of chain closest to the padlock using the bolt cutters. This enables the property owner to later use his key to unlock the undamaged padlock and pull the slack from the chain to secure the lock to the next available link.

Remember to always try and have an alternative method to what you think will probably work when conducting forcible-entry operations.

 

 

Firefighter Continuing Education Training

TargetSolutions features more than 450 hours of training for fire departments. Courses are based on the NFPA codes and standards, including NFPA 1001, NFPA 1021 and the NFPA 1500 Series. Courses also cover wildland fire, response to terrorism, and much more.

About the Author

This blog was submitted by Ed Hadfield of Firetown Training Specialist. Hadfield has more than 27 years of fire service experience, rising through the ranks from Firefighter to Division Chief.

Additional 13 Hours of Online Fire Training Courses Approved for Recertification in Florida and Iowa

TargetSolutions’ RT-130: Annual Wildland Fire Safety Refresher is a four-module online fire training course that has recently been approved for recertification in of Florida and Iowa.

Three states with fire recertification training requirements have approved as many as 13 additional hours of online fire training with TargetSolutions. Florida, Texas and Iowa recently accepted several of TargetSolutions’ newest courses, including five hours of valuable NFPA firefighter training.
NFPA 1584 Firefighter Rehabilitation (Modules 1-2) and NFPA 1403 Live Fire Training Evolutions offer a combined five hours of training that can be applied toward fire recertification hours. In Florida, TargetSolutions’ RT-130: Annual Wildland Fire Safety Refresher (Modules 1-4) added another eight hours of newly recognized training. Recently approved courses have been added where applicable to Certified Credentials inside TargetSolutions’ fire department tracking application, Manage Credentials.
“These courses give platform managers more options as they strategize their department’s training for fire recertification purposes,” said Account Manager Ann Gruetzmacher, who works with clients in the Southeast region. “They are very engaging with dynamic interactions and learning features. We’re excited they have been approved for recertification.”
Here is a breakdown of new hours added for clients utilizing customized credentials:
Florida: Three new course titles – NFPA 1584 Firefighter Rehabilitation (two hours in each module), NFPA 1403 Live Fire Training Evolutions (one hour), and RT-130: Annual Wildland Fire Safety Refresher (two hours in each module) – added 13 hours of training for Instructor I, Instructor II and Instructor III. Courses are not approved for the Inspector level.
Texas: The two NFPA courses added five hours for Level I continuing education. The wildland firefighting training course was previously approved. These courses have been added to the following Certified Credentials inside TargetSolutions’ fire department training system: Basic Fire Suppression, Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, Fire Officer III, Fire Officer IV and Basic Wildland Fire Fighter. Please click here to view TargetSolutions’ fire recertification list for Texas.
Iowa: The three courses (13 total hours) have been approved for recertification and added to the Firefighter I and Firefighter II Certified Credentials. Please click here to view TargetSolutions’ fire recertification list for Iowa.
If you have any questions about course approvals in your state, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.
About TargetSolutions
TargetSolutions is the leading provider of web-based technology solutions for fire and EMS organizations. These solutions enable organizations to maintain compliance, reduce losses, deliver curriculum, and track all station-level tasks, certifications and training activities.

 

Being Creative with Activities Builder Is the Secret to Maximizing the Powerful Fire Department Tracking Tool

One of the greatest benefits of TargetSolutions’ online fire training system, is the ability to record outside training with Activities Builder. This powerful computer-based training tool enables departments to send out training presentations, videos, SOPs, inspection checks, and more – and gather information from the user. But with a little creativity, Activities Builder can do even more.

One example is to create a custom activity that allows users to request time off. By making this activity “self-assignable,” users can assign it to themselves and then with Reportable Components, gather important information (date requested, number of hours, reason for leave, etc.).
By mandating the activity receive validation, platform managers can approve or deny the request. Once it has been approved, the user can see the activity marked as “complete” under their My History section. If it is denied, the activity will appear on their Schedule and can include an optional note with information on why it was rejected.
At the end of the pay period, platform managers can run an Activity Summary Report to generate a complete list of all approved leave requests during a given time range. What was once a mess of paperwork and e-mail chains is simplified with TargetSolutions’ fire department training software.
The Activities Builder application was created to give organizations the ability to track everything that goes on under the fire station’s roof. If you have any questions about this application, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

Times May Have Changed, But Somebody Still Needs to Be the Barn Boss

Blog by Brian Ward
Training Director in Madison, Ga.
This column is a throwback to the history of the fire department – back before we had custom cabs and 100-foot aerials, back when our equipment consisted of a wagon and a fine breed of horses.
Just how important was the “barn boss” to ensuring the equipment, or the horses, were ready to respond at any time? What exactly was the barn boss responsible for? Most importantly, who in your department is filling that role now?
The barn boss doesn’t wear trumpets, but their necessity is beyond any individual in the department. Obviously, there has to be chiefs and officers for day-to-day operations and incident command. However, there is not much to command or operate if the chiefs and officers do not make it to the scene. In addition, if the troops or firefighters are not prepared to respond as quickly as the horses, there’s not much to operate or command.
In order for things to run smoothly the most influential firefighter should step up and be prepared to take the responsibility of making sure personnel are trained appropriately and the equipment is capable of handling all necessary tasks.
We all have our days when we don’t feel like a million bucks, but we never know what call is coming next and it’s essential we are confident in our equipment’s capabilities. Today may just be that day. Think if that was your family, which fire apparatus and which firefighter would you want responding!
The barn boss also needs to make sure all firefighters are fully capable of handling their duties with efficiency and competence. In order for this to happen, firefighters need to be exercised everyday just like the equipment on the apparatus.
Firefighters need to be trained. They need to practice the basics and be introduced to new techniques. Time after time firefighters start off full-tilt with new information but hit a road block and stop learning. Equipment, procedures, best practices, technological developments, standards, research developments – all of these are introduced regularly. A small piece of information may save your life or the life of a crew member. Or that new knowledge might help you work more efficiently.
These are critical tasks for a barn boss. Any chance you have to pass on information and knowledge – cherish that opportunity. You may not receive thanks or a pat on the back, but you will have done something incredibly important to our mission. Keep in mind, you have to lead by example and do the job first. This shows dedication, heart, and commitment to the people around you.
Be the example. Set the bar. Be the barn boss for your department.
As always, train hard, take care, and be safe.
About the Author
Brian Ward is the training director for Georgia Pacific in Madison, Ga. He previously was an engineer/officer with Gwinnett County Fire Department in Georgia. He is a past training officer, chairman of the Metro Atlanta Training Officers and currently serves on the Honeywell Advisory Council. He is a State of Georgia Advocate for “Everyone Goes Home” and the Membership Task Force Co-Chair and Live Fire Instructor for ISFSI. Brian was recently awarded the National Seal of Excellence from the NFFF/EGH.

GSBA Risk Management Services Delivers Online Safety Training with TargetSolutions

school district safety training

With TargetSolutions, Georgia School Boards Association is able to deliver engaging online safety training courses proven to reduce liability.

How can you measure the savings of an accident that never happens? That’s the response Trudy Sowar, the Director of Risk Management Services for the Georgia School Boards Association, has when asked to quantify the benefit of her pool’s online training program.

What Sowar knows is TargetSolutions, a pioneer in computer-based training for public entities, has helped GSBA Risk Management Services provide members with online safety training courses that are built to reduce liability.

Georgia School Boards AssociationGSBA was originally organized in 1951 and serves all 180 school districts in Georgia. The Risk Management division began in 1992 with the Workers’ Compensation Fund followed by the Risk Management Fund in 1994. Currently, there are 94 school district members of one or both Funds who look to GSBA-RMS for leadership, advocacy and services. One of those services is TargetSolutions, which joined forces with GSBA-RMS in January of 2011.

By giving its members a powerful learning management system for delivering training, GSBA-RMS has been able to differentiate itself and create member loyalty, said GSBA-RMS’s Risk Control Coordinator David Colvard.

“The platform is a strong tool for us to offer to members as a service that we can provide,” said Colvard. “TargetSolutions is a very useful, helpful, and cost-effective program for our districts at no additional charge to them.”

Prior to contracting with TargetSolutions, safety training required travel all across the state of Georgia. GSBA-RMS was looking for a service that would be more convenient and cost-effective for them and their members. To change unsafe behaviors that lead to claims, GSBA-RMS had to find a more convenient and sustainable method.

“The biggest challenge we faced was finding a way to get training to all of our members,” Sowar said. “GSBA-RMS has members all across the state, so there was no way to cost-effectively deliver training to specific employee groups. However, with TargetSolutions, multiple districts are now able to receive necessary safety training in a timely manner.”

Since implementing TargetSolutions, the delivery of web-based training has reduced the pool’s travel costs and increased its members’ efficiency. The platform allows seamless distribution of vital training to all GSBA-RMS members without additional costs. Whether it’s the distribution of documents, or compliance training, members are able to upload specific policies and courses to be assigned to employees.

“TargetSolutions has made an impact for districts that are now using it. TargetSolutions has proven to be a very cost-effective means of providing training to the members, and the other piece of it is the documentation where they can accomplish a lot of recordkeeping. … Some of our districts have started loading their own documents for training purposes.”

David Colvard, Risk Control Coordinator

Colvard is also thrilled with the support his members have received from TargetSolutions, helping ensure maximum utilization of the platform by members. “TargetSolutions’ entire team of Client Service representatives have been tremendous in offering assistance and have become a huge asset,” said Colvard.

About TargetSolutions
TargetSolutions delivers cutting-edge software applications, engaging online training courses, and world-class customer service. The company was founded in 1999 and today there are more than 2,000 organizations across the country using TargetSolutions’ innovative technology to solve their training challenges.

Firefighter Training Video Shows ‘Safe’ and ‘Quick Execution’ of Forcible Entry for an Inward Swinging Door

Community Resources gives departments the ability to easily share presentations, videos, policies, and more with other clients of the TargetSolutions community.
In just 44 seconds, firefighters can be seen demonstrating proper technique for using the “irons” to force an inward swinging door in TargetSolutions’ Video of the Month for April, “Forcible Entry-Inward Swinging Door.” The firefighter training video has received four stars and has been viewed more than 2,000 times through TargetSolutions’ unique file-sharing application, Community Resources.
“I like the way they controlled the door using the webbing and standing on it – nice work,” Robert Pitts of Maury County Fire Rescue (Tenn.) wrote in the comments section.
Edwin Santana of Orange County Fire Rescue (Fla.) commented that the video shows “safe” technique and Kemberly Wilkerson of Dekalb County Fire Rescue (Ga.) wrote, “Quick execution.”
The firefighters featured in the fire department training video follow three principles: 1. Gap the door; 2. Set the tool; 3. Force. The video was uploaded by North County Fire Protection District’s Gary Lane, who was honored in 2013 with TargetSolutions’ Technical Achievement Award and has uploaded 24 posts into Community Resources.
To view this video, which is currently being utilized by 37 different organizations as a firefighter training resource, please login to your department’s TargetSolutions site and search “Forcible Entry-Inward Swinging Doors” in Community Resources. If you have any questions, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

New Online Training Course for School Districts Aims to Prevent Tragic Youth Suicides

Watch this video to learn more about the dangers of youth suicide in today’s scholastic environment.
It’s alarming to learn suicide is the third-leading cause of death for individuals between 15 and 24 years of age. In fact, approximately 4,600 young people take the drastic action of ending their own lives each year and nearly 157,000 between the ages of 10 and 24 receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries.
Ultimately, these tragic incidents can be prevented. Youths struggling with serious depression show signs of distress, and if the right interventions are made, suicide can be averted, experts believe.
With that in mind, TargetSolutions has created a new course for educators titled “Youth Suicide: Awareness and Prevention.” This self-paced online safety training course features seven learning modules and a 10-question exam that educates personnel about risk factors and warning signs that can help them prevent incidents in time.
“Suicide of any kind is preventable, but especially youth suicide,” said TargetSolutions Content Architect Jeremy Lynch. “Considering we’re talking about the third-leading cause of death in several age groups, our catalog for school districts is incomplete without a course like this.”
After completing this course, which is available online 24/7, educators will be able to determine proper suicide prevention measures, identify suicide risk factors, and spot warning signs. If you would like more information, please contact TargetSolutions at (800) 840-8048.

TargetSolutions Delivers Ergonomics Training Solution to Help Organizations Reduce Workplace Injuries

Basic ergonomic assessments are critical to a healthy, productive work environment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 34 percent of all lost-workday injuries and illnesses are work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Are you currently evaluating your employees’ ergonomics?
TargetSolutions understands ergonomic-related claims comprise a significant portion of workplace injuries. With TargetSolutions’ powerful computer-based training system, platform managers can create electronic documents that track how many hours per day an employee sits at their desk and uses their computer. They can report employees’ satisfaction with work-surface height, lighting and noise. They can deliver organizational ergonomics policies and generate comprehensive reports to evaluate data and analyze risks to determine if additional training is necessary.
TargetSolutions’ course catalog features more than 60 hours of valuable OSHA and online safety training courses, including a General Ergonomics course that is designed to help employees examine the way they interact with their work environment. Information provided in the online safety training course can help identify problems with workstations; as well as recognize the early warning signs of work-related musculoskeletal disorders before they become serious.
Knowledge in workplace ergonomics can help reduce injuries and minimize physical and psychological stresses. If you would like more information on TargetSolutions’ Ergonomics training solution, please contact us today at (800) 840-8048.
Ergonomics Training Solution