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Archive for December, 2014

TargetSolutions’ Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Helps Organizations Educate Employees

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates more than $1 billion is lost each year due to sexual harassment. 
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there was a decline in the number of sexual harassment charges filled from 2010 to 2013. However, harassment charges filed by men have risen to 17.6 percent in recent years.
Clearly, there is need for training and TargetSolutions is making a difference for organizations employing the computer-based training system.
“Sexual harassment is a serious problem in the workplace. These incidents can have a significant impact on both the victim and the organization,” said TargetSolutions’ Strategic Risk Management Business Unit Manager Kelly Zielinski.
“The best way to deal with sexual harassment is to prevent it from ever happening, and that’s what TargetSolutions aims to do. Our harassment training offers organizations a way to deliver valuable training to employees on what qualifies as harassment and what to do if an incident occurs.”
Since 1999, TargetSolutions’ collection of harassment courses have been completed more than 250,000 times. These courses, which include Sexual Harassment Awareness, Sexual Harassment for Supervisors, and Sexual Harassment Awareness (Spanish), among others, educate employees on how to prevent harassment, as well as guidelines on what to do if such an incident occurs.
In California, supervisors working for an organization with more than 50 employees are required to complete a two-hour sexual harassment course every two years. In late 2014, TargetSolutions updated its Sexual Harassment for Supervisors (AB 1825) course to be compliant with the new Assembly Bill 2053, which amends AB 1825 to include specific training on abusive conduct – often referred to as bullying.
These courses have proven to be well received by TargetSolutions’ clients. An anonymous user recently wrote in one of the harassment course’s comments section, “great course!” and another member of the Maine School Management Association commented, “the content was very helpful and easy to follow.”
If you would like more information on TargetSolutions’ training for sexual harassment prevention, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Approves TargetSolutions’ Web-Based Training Courses

TargetSolutions’ Online Police Training Catalog Now Accepted in 13 States, with Others in the Approval Process
SAN DIEGO – TargetSolutions, a leading provider of online training for public safety agencies, announced today its online training catalog has been accepted by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Indiana is the thirteenth state to accept TargetSolutions’ online police training, and several other states are currently in the reviewing process.
TargetSolutions delivers more than 240 online police training courses, featuring videos, engaging interactions, and real-life scenario lessons proven to educate police officers and help departments achieve training compliance, improve performance, and reduce liability.
“TargetSolutions’ ability to deliver accredited online training is critical for the annual in-service requirement in Indiana and in other states across the country,” said TargetSolutions’ Content and Compliance Manager Lauren Crosby. “Lieutenant Lance Burris at the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board has been instrumental in the accreditation process for us, and I look forward to our continued partnership in serving the law enforcement community.”
Police officers need to complete 24 hours of in-service training annually and TargetSolutions offers easy-to-use software for meeting that requirement. With 24/7 online access to TargetSolutions’ web-based training management system, agencies are able to delivery mandatory training for officers to complete at their own pace.
TargetSolutions has also implemented a “certified credential” for tracking vital training hours on topics that are required by Indiana and other states.
In addition to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, TargetSolutions’ online police training is accepted by the following organizations: Florida Division of Criminal Justice, Georgia POST, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, Louisiana POST, Missouri POST, Nevada POST, New Jersey Police Training Commission, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service, North Dakota POST, Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
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. TargetSolutions is headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information, please call 1-800-840-8048.

Implement Online Training, Watch Your Fire Department Thrive

implement online training
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth tip from TargetSolutions’ special report, “Eight Great Tips for Training Your Crew,” a best practices guide. To view the entire report, please click here.
Training in the fire service has never been more challenging than today. Budgets continue to shrink and requirements continue to increase. It makes sense training administrators would look to technology for help. That’s why online training and recordkeeping software is making such a huge impact on the industry.
By delivering accredited EMS continuing education through a learning management system, departments are able to efficiently meet mandatory training requirements with 24/7 convenience. Online tools make it easier than ever to streamline compliance and
track results. A recent survey of more than 600 fire departments by the marketing firm MillerPierce found that 76 percent of departments are either already using an online training system, or are considering acquiring one. It’s clear, affordable online training tools can help departments operate more effectively.
That being said, balance is critical to an effective training program. Training administrators will always need to deliver live training sessions in combination with online training to ensure students receive the appropriate blend of hands-on experience. Using TargetSolutions to achieve and track training compliance makes all the sense in the world. But it’s not meant to replace the real thing.
If your department is still considering the merits of online training, here are three benefits of TargetSolutions’ internet-based fire department training system to consider:
Achieve Compliance with Fire and EMS Recertification Requirements: TargetSolutions features more than 250 hours of Fire and EMS recertification training. If you are looking to meet federal, state or local training requirements, TargetSolutions’ has accredited content you need.
Save Time and Money with Convenient Training That Can Be Taken Anytime, Anywhere: TargetSolutions’ online training management system is accessible 24/7 anywhere you have an Internet connection. Users can complete assignments on their own schedules at their own computers.
Improve Performance by Assigning Pre-Training Before Hands-On Exercises: TargetSolutions provides departments the ability to ‘flip the classroom’ by delivering didactic course information before personnel jump into hands-on training. When members arrive for hands-on instruction, they are prepared with background information.
Don’t Just Take Our Word for It: Please Click Here to Hear and Read What Fire Department Leaders Are Saying about TargetSolutions!

Great Tips for Fire Department Training

Martinsville Fire & EMS Upgrades Its ISO Rating with TargetSolutions’ Firefighter Tracking Software

Martinsville Fire & EMS is responsible for protecting the Virginia city’s 13,000-plus residents. But that responsibility doesn’t stop with emergency services  it also protects taxpayers.
The department recently completed a Public Protection Classification survey with the Insurance Services Office, which saw Martinsville improve its grade from a Class 04 to Class 03, effective Dec. 1, 2014.
While there are many factors in a department’s ISO rating, Deputy Chief Kris Shrader believes the biggest reason for Martinsville’s upgrade was the department’s comprehensive training records. Shrader says the department has always completed the necessary training, but after implementing TargetSolutions in January of 2013, it finally had the tool it needed to document everything accurately.
Shrader recently sat down with TargetSolutions to discuss the new ISO rating and how it impacts the city.
Congratulations on the improved ISO rating! When did the ISO audit take place? 
“The review took place in January of 2014 and it looked at the previous three years. For training, the ISO’s focus was on 2013. This was our first review under the new ISO grading scale. Our last review was in 2007, I believe. I was a captain at the time, so this was my first time going through and really being involved in the process.” 
Please talk a little bit about your experience. How do you think you wound up with an improved rating?
“I think the new ISO grading schedule is a little bit kinder and gentler. In the past, these types of evaluations would take days, but for us, it only took three hours. I think the fact we were able to produce the training records with TargetSolutions really made a big difference. In years past, all of that data would have needed to be recorded by hand and somebody on the staff would have had to manually calculate everything – like how many hours per person for officer training, how many hours for company training, etc. It would have been miserable, if not for TargetSolutions.”
So in your estimation, Martinsville’s improved training records were the biggest reason for the improved ISO rating?
“Yes, I think so. From our last audit, we were a strong Class 04 department and we were able to show improvement. We didn’t add any trucks, or any staff. I think the improvement was a result of our training records, enough to push us over the edge and earn class 03 status.”
Besides TargetSolutions, there isn’t anything else that might have improved your ISO rating?
“No, not really. We were a class 04 department and now we are a class 03 and besides the new grading scale, the only thing that really changed was adding TargetSolutions to track training.”
You became a client in January of 2013, one year before your ISO review. Did you find it difficult to implement TargetSolutions so quickly before your review?
“We implemented TargetSolutions right away and it was easy. We just had to train our staff on how to enter training. It was actually pretty painless.”
Was tracking ISO the reason you chose TargetSolutions as your online training management software?
“It was definitely a contributing factor, but I wouldn’t say it was the biggest reason. We were just looking for a better way to track everything and we knew it would benefit our ISO score, too. We mainly just wanted a better way to manage records. When the person from ISO came and sat in my office and asked for my records, it only took three or four clicks on the keyboard and two minutes later I had the report in my hand. I was able to give them exactly what they needed for company training, officer training, and everything else.”
What does this improved rating mean for insurance rates in the city of Martinsville?
“For residential home owners, it’s not a huge impact. Everything above a Class 05 rating is pretty much graded the same. But for commercial property owners and businesses, they can see a reduction in their insurance rates. We put out a press release to let people know they can notify their insurance carrier to let them know the rating has been improved. I think local businesses can take advantage of this.”
It sounds like you credit a great deal of this to TargetSolutions. Is this a product you would recommend to other departments looking to improve their ISO rating?
“I would definitely recommend TargetSolutions for tracking ISO, without a doubt. It’s the simplest way to manage records. If you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, your ISO rating will take care of itself. But TargetSolutions makes tracking it all so much easier. The platform is outstanding.”
Has your department recently undergone an ISO review? Did TargetSolutions help your department achieve a better ISO score? Contact us today through e-mail and we’ll be in touch to feature you and your department in our next Department Spotlight.

Proper Use of Facemasks and Respirators Demonstrated in Community Resources Training Video

This month’s top video inside Community Resources provides valuable training on how to properly utilize facemasks and respirators during influenza season.
With flu season approaching, it is important emergency responders understand how to utilize facemasks and respirators. This month’s top video inside Community Resources, “Use of Facemasks and Respirators” created by the Center for Disease Control, provides an overview on facemasks and respirators used in public settings.
This training has already been viewed more than 1,400 times by TargetSolutions’ users and is currently being deployed by 27 organizations. The video provides viewers with valuable information on how to properly utilize this equipment.
Eric Kurtz of CAL FIRE Riverside County Fire Department (Calif.) wrote in the video’s comments section that it is a “very good overview – short and sweet” and Kirk Kelly of East Joliet Fire Protection in Illinois said “nicely done and to the point!!!”
Running two minutes and 12 seconds, the CDC video includes information related to N95 respirators.
If you would like to view this video, or other valuable resources, please log in to your organization’s site and search “Facemasks” or “Respirators” under the Community Resources tab.  And if you have any questions, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

Kern County Fire Department Overcomes Early Challenges to Maximize TargetSolutions

TargetSolutions and Kern County Fire Department worked together to implement online system for more than 600 employees at 47 stations. Kern County is now able to ensure all of its training is tracked with TargetSolutions.

The story of how Kern County Fire Department utilizes TargetSolutions is like many others across the country. In some ways, however, it’s like no one else.

Today, the career department in Central California is a heavy-duty power user. With more than 600 employees regularly accessing the industry’s leading online fire training management system, it’s easy to understand how the large-scale department averages nearly 9,000 completed assignments each month on TargetSolutions.

But getting to this point wasn’t easy. In fact, the department’s success highlights how important training is to Kern County’s members, as well as how dedicated TargetSolutions is to delivering on its promises, says Battalion Chief Charles Truvillion.Kern County Fire Department

During implementation in November of 2012, there were numerous information technology issues. There was also difficulty convincing the department’s more old-fashioned personnel to adapt to the change in training philosophy. It’s fair to say the initial set-up did not go as smoothly as most.

“We had some firewall issues that we really had to work out with TargetSolutions and our IT folks,” Truvillion said. “Once we got those kinks worked out, we moved forward and pushed out the program. It was a little rough out of the gate. It was new. Nobody was use to it. But two years later, everyone is embracing it and getting their work done. I think it’s a credit to the program.”

Without question, TargetSolutions is 100 percent committed to delivering world-class customer service, but if anyone deserves credit for Kern County Fire Department’s succes, it’s Truvillion and the rest of his crew, says TargetSolutions’ Regional Sales Manager Andrew Lynch.

“Charles and his team just showed so much dedication and effort to get this thing implemented; and now you look at how they’re using the platform, it’s really remarkable,” Lynch said.

Kern County Counts Every Hour of Online, Instructor-Led and Drill-Yard Training
While it’s true the path to implementation had some unique challenges, Kern County is now completely implemented and operating at full capacity. Truvillion is using TargetSolutions to track EMS recertification, ISO training hours, ARFF training, California’s Joint Apprentice Committee (JAC) reimbursements, and more.

“There are so many training mandates, the question I had before TargetSolutions was, ‘how am I going to capture all of this?’” Truvillion said.

“There is EMS, OSHA, ISO. And if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen. I knew we had to do something about it. It wasn’t that we weren’t doing all of the training before – we just weren’t capturing everything that we were doing.”

That’s what TargetSolutions has provided Truvillion and many other departments across the country – easy-to-use, web-based software for scheduling, delivering, tracking and reporting all types of training and compliance tasks.

“The fact that we can now capture everything, pull those records, document that training all from one online location is tremendous. Not only can I see what the firefighters are doing and what they need, they can see it, too.”

Charles Truvillion, Battalion Chief, Kern County Fire Department

Kern County Increases Training Productivity, Improves Response Times
With more than 8,000 square miles and 47 stations spread across county’s cities and unincorporated areas, completing training in an efficient, consistent manner was never easy. In the past, the department was forced to record training on DVDs, then send them out to all the different locations. Getting everyone on the same page with the same training at the same time was nearly impossible. Tracking it effectively was equally challenging.

Enter TargetSolutions. Not only has the convenient, online system simplified how training is delivered, but made it possible to keep personnel at the station ready for the next emergency, and not on the road burning up fuel while driving to and from the training facility.

“We now deliver pre-training; then, when guys get here, we run them through the drills and capture everything,” Truvillion said. “TargetSolutions has helped us bring everything together. In the past, we would bring people in for a multi-company drill, have a classroom session, go over the training, and conduct an exam manually. Then we would grade it manually. Now, we do the pre-work and some training and we just knocked an eight-hour drill into four hours.”

TargetSolutions Supports Training Management for Kern County
Truvillion credits TargetSolutions’ customer service team, especially Account Manager Kegan Konrady, for working diligently to ensure success and meet Kern County’s unique specifications. From implementing TargetSolutions’ one-of-a-kind ISO tracking application, to helping input training modules for ARFF, hazmat, and a litany of other training needs, Truvillion says TargetSolutions has delivered every step of the way.

“Where do I start?” Truvillion said when asked about TargetSolutions’ support. “Kegan has been great and helped us on so many things, and the help-line folks are great too. I’m truly surprised at what TargetSolutions is able to do. Everything we have asked of the system, it’s delivered. Whenever we call TargetSolutions, they work with us and say, ‘we can do that. We can make it happen.’”

If you have any questions about TargetSolutions’ online training management system, please contact us at (800) 840-8048. If you would like to view other department success stories, please click here.

TargetSolutions’ Online Training Course for Supervisors on How to Deal with Alcohol, Substance Abuse Issues

Statistics show that of the 37.3 million illicit drug users aged 18 years or older in the United States, 25.9 million were employed either full or part time.
Managers who suspect an employee of having a drug or alcohol issue will find this month’s featured training extremely valuable.
TargetSolutions’ Dealing with Issues of Alcohol and Substance Abuse online training course for supervisors and managers offers information on issues including drug and alcohol policies, employee assistance programs (EAPs), understanding federal laws dealing with substance abuse, and confronting employees who are suspected of abusing drugs and/or alcohol.
After successfully completing this 16-module course and 10-question exam, managers will be able to:
> Describe the effects of drug and alcohol abuse on the human body
> Identify the signs of substance abuse in an employee
> Summarize the major federal laws relating to substance abuse in the workplace
> Describe “Reasonable Suspicion”
> Describe the importance of a company drug and alcohol policy, along with employee education on the topic of substance abuse, as well as the benefits of an Employee Assistance Program
If you have any questions about this course, or TargetSolutions’ online safety training catalog, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

Ensure a Safer Office Environment with TargetSolutions’ Office Safety Training Course

Statistics show a majority of accidents and injuries occur in the office environment. With that in mind, TargetSolutions has created an Office Safety training course featuring nine learning modules and a 10-question exam.
Did you know office workers are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to suffer a disabling injury from a fall than non-office workers? In today’s fast-paced environment, employees are often unaware of hazards in the office setting – and these hazards can lead to serious injuries.
TargetSolutions’ Office Safety training course features nine modules that educate employees on office injuries and how to prevent them. The 60-minute course has been completed more than 34,000 times by users of TargetSolutions.
“This is one of the best training series I have encountered in my 38 years of employment,” a TargetSolutions user recently wrote after completing their training and a 10-question exam in the post-course survey.
If you have any questions about TargetSolutions’ Office Safety training courses or training management system, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

TargetSolutions Updates Online Training Courses to Comply with New California Laws

California Assembly Bills 2053 and 1432 go into effect Jan. 1 and TargetSolutions is making updates to its coursework to comply with the new regulations.

To conform with AB 2053, which aims to prevent abusive conduct in the workplace, TargetSolutions has revised its Sexual Harassment for Supervisors training for clients in California. To fulfill AB 1432, which requires annual training of mandated reporters, TargetSolutions will release its updated Reporting Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Children during the month of January.

“Whenever we see a major change in law or standard, affecting one of our courses, we ensure our material is up-to-date and compliant with these changes – ensuring they are timely and relevant for our clients,” said TargetSolutions’ Strategic Risk Management Business Unit Manager Kelly Zielinski.

TargetSolutions has updated its Sexual Harassment for Supervisors training course for clients in California to comply with AB 2053.

CA AB 2053
This new law amends California’s sexual harassment training law, AB 1825, to include specific training and education on abusive conduct – often referred to as bullying. This mandatory biennial training is required for all supervisors working in an organization employing more than 50 individuals. To comply with AB 2053, TargetSolutions updated Sexual Harassment Awareness for Supervisors (California AB 1825), as well as Sexual Harassment Awareness for Supervisors (California AB 1825 – EDU), to meet the new requirements.

In addition to updating its web-based sexual harassment prevention training, TargetSolutions has uploaded a document to Community Resources summarizing the bill that can be attached to a course. Please search any of the following terms in Community Resources to locate the document: AB 1825, AB 2053, California, sexual harassment, bullying, workplace bullying, abusive conduct.

Note: If you completed this course after Oct. 21, the new amendment lesson was included in your training.

TargetSolutions will supplement its Reporting Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Children course with information on CA AB 1432.

CA AB 1432
This new law requires school districts and other state educational institutions to annually train employees on their duties under the child abuse reporting laws. TargetSolutions will supplement its Reporting Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Children course with information to comply with employees’ obligations under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).

CANRA requires all “mandated reporters,” basically any employee who has contact with children, to file a report with local law enforcement or county welfare departments whenever they witness or learn of abuse. In the past, CANRA did not require this training.

If you have any questions about TargetSolutions’ updates to comply with CA AB 2053 or CA AB 1432, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.