8-Hour EM 385-1-1 Online Refresher Course

Topics covered in Module 1 include:

• Developing SOH programs for all USACE elements, major subordinate commands, districts, centers, laboratories and field operating activities
• General safety training and qualifications
• Risk management
• Creating Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs)
• Hazard mitigation
• Site-specific SOH plans
• Inspections
• Emergency plans
• Position hazard analyses

Learning objectives include:

• Summarize CDSO, quality assurance representative and supervisor training and qualification requirements.
• Describe the responsibilities of the SOH Office.
• List inspection requirements.
• Describe AHA requirements.
• State the elements of a site-specific SOH plan.

Topics covered in Module 2 include:

• Job duties for contractors who implement and oversee SOH programs
• The roles of prime contractors, site safety and health officers, competent persons, qualified persons, supervisors and other contractor site personnel
• Inspections
• Creating AHAs for USACE contract projects
• Incident investigation and reporting
• General contractor safety training and qualifications

Learning objectives include:

• Summarize training requirements for various safety and compliance personnel.
• State the rules for contractor SOH inspections.
• Describe minimum contractor SOH plan criteria.
• Identify the characteristics of a compliant AHA.

Topics covered in Module 3 include:

• Training for first aid attendants and health care providers
• First aid kit and automatic external defibrillator (AED) inspections
• Site-specific exposure control plans
• AED Programs
• Precautions for bloodborne pathogens, biological hazards and environmental diseases

Learning objectives include:

• Check the training and certification requirements of medical and first aid personnel.
• Correctly inspect first aid supplies and equipment.
• Utilize a site-specific exposure control plan.

Topics covered in Module 4 include:

• Required training for PPE users
• Employer PPE responsibilities
• PPE inspection protocols
• Hearing Conservation Programs (HCPs)
• Respiratory Protection Programs (RPPs)
• General PPE requirements

Learning objectives include:

• Identify employee PPE training needs.
• Inspect and maintain PPE.
• Properly use and store various classes of PPE.
• Judge the suitability of different types of PPE.
• Describe the necessary components of HCPs and RPPs.

Topics covered in Module 5 include:

• Electrical safety training requirements
• Responsibilities for electrical Qualified Persons (QPs)
• The relationship between host employers and contractors regarding electrical hazards
• Electrical safety plans
• Electrical hazard risk assessments
• Inspecting electrical systems, tools, PPE and power infrastructure
• Rescue plans
• Grounding and bonding procedures

Learning objectives include:

• List requirements for electrical safety training.
• Identify the education and role of electrical QPs.
• Understand the value of electrical hazard risk assessments.
• State the electrical safety responsibilities of host employers, contract employers and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
• Describe general electrical hazard safety procedures.

Topics covered in Module 6 include:

• Training and qualifications required to use, inspect and maintain hand and power tools
• General safety requirements for hand and power tools
• Explosive-actuated tools
• Grinding and abrasive machinery
• Power saws and woodworking machinery
• Abrasive blasting equipment
• Chainsaws
• Power-driven nail and staple drivers
• Jacks

Learning objectives include:

• Describe minimum requirements for personnel using hand and power tools.
• Describe inspection requirements for hand and power tools.
• Describe general safety requirements when using different types of tools.

Topics covered in Module 7 include:

• Safe material handling procedures
• Hoisting operations
• Safe movement of materials
• Safe use of conveyors
• Secure materials storage
• LP-Gas storage and handling
• Safe disposal of materials

Learning objectives include:

• State the materials handling, storage and disposal responsibilities of engineers, hoist operators and other safety professionals.
• List requirements to inspect, test, and maintain equipment and materials.
• Describe safe procedures for handling materials, including the use of hoists.
• Detail specific storage requirements for different kinds of materials.
• Explain how to safely dispose of materials.

Topics covered in Module 8 include:

• Required training for fall protection equipment
• Fall protection and prevention plans
• Rescue plans
• Inspecting fall protection equipment
• General requirements for fall protection systems and equipment

Learning objectives include:

• Understand fall protection training requirements.
• Identify key roles and responsibilities of personnel who work at heights.
• List inspection requirements for fall protection systems and equipment.
• Identify the components of a compliant fall protection and prevention plan.
• Explain the purpose of a rescue plan.
• List the threshold requirements for fall protection.
• Understand the general principles of fall protection systems and equipment.

Topics covered in Module 9 include:

• Inspections of accessways, ladders, personnel hoists and elevators
• Guidelines for safe roof access
• General ladder requirements
• Constructing stairways
• Requirements for ramps, runways and platforms

Learning objectives include:

• Explain inspection requirements for various means of access.
• Safely create and maintain safe access points.
• Explain general access point safety requirements.

Topics covered in Module 10 include:

• Rescue personnel training
• Inspecting excavations
• Soil classification
• Air quality inspections
• Excavations and trenching plans
• Excavation protection systems

Learning objectives include:

• Understand the training needs of competent and qualified persons and registered professional engineers.
• Know the roles those professionals play in conducting safe excavation and trenching operations.
• Describe correct methods for testing soils and implementing appropriate protective systems during excavations and trenching.

EM 385-1-1 stands for "Engineer Manual." The EM 385-1-1 manual is a USACE engineer manual that covers key safety and health requirements for military contractors and federal employees.

No. EM 385-1-1 requirements may be similar to OSHA standards, but there are specific USACE safety and health requirements that standard OSHA training does not address. These include accident prevention plans, penalties for noncompliance, jobsite inspections, employee training, safety management and more. EM 385-1-1 courses are not considered OSHA-authorized training.

The 8-Hour EM 385-1-1 refresher course was developed by OSHA-authorized trainers and reviewed by industry experts at the OSHA Training Institute Education Center at the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District.

However, the federal government does not officially approve any training related to EM 385-1-1, and no course provider can earn this approval. Generally, we recommend that students check with their employers to ensure that the course meets all training requirements.

No, your certificate will never expire. But we recommend that you check with your employer or job contract to determine if additional training is required. For example, SSHOs are required to complete eight or more hours of refresher training annually.

You can access a copy of the EM 385-1-1 Manual on the USACE website.