Online Help Files |
For the SafeForge46© Safety Program
The SafeForge46©Safety Program was created in response to the changes in MSHA policy that is called Part 46. It has been tailored to the needs of your company by the option of editing any of the training methods, lengths of training or emphasis; in the spirit of the flexibility of Part 46. All documents that will exist on the company's computers are easily reproduced as certificates for miners, by clicking File/Print in the Internet Explorer Browser© in which the program runs.. This ensures that SafeForge46© will become a dynamic part of your companies over-all operations.
The Read-Me Text File that is located in the program folder gives a step-by step run-through of the program. Click the Link above to review it.
New Version 5.00 introduces new automation that completely eliminates the need to cut and paste records in order to duplicate your Annual Refresher Training for each of your employees.
You simply enter the Annual Refresher Training on a master topics list, and keep that list current for the training you have given your workers. From this master list, you can update any workers record, or create a new employees record.
This version also includes an automation in the name string, that adds an abbreviation to the beginning that seperates Annual Refresher, New miner, and New Experienced Miner into categories. It also adds whatever Area or Division you type into those cells . This automatically seperates a large list of miners into the very same categories that you classify your workers with. We feel that this gives you a very clean way to auto-file workers while still giving you a very flexible filing system that fits your exact needs..
Questions and Answers
Below are a selection of Questions and Answers that might be helpful to you. Click on any question that might answer a question that you have.
1. What other Programs do I need on my computer?
2. How do we install the program?
3. How do we install our records?
4. How do we fill out the Excel© forms?
5. How do I save the forms that have been filled out?
6. Where can I get a Certificate for the employee?
7. What is a "competent persons" list?
8. Where do I list the training materials we use?
9. Where can I get the paperwork I need?
11. Where do we put our company information?
12. Where can I get help with specific problems I find
13. Can I get help online on the net?
What associated programs are needed on your computer?
Microsoft Excel 97 up ©
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 up ©
Microsoft Word 97 up ©
The program is laid out to make it easy for you to find the correct way to handle day-to-day questions of how to be in compliance with the Federal Regulations of Part 46. We have looked at what things you will need to locate, in order to deal with any question of record-keeping or certification. We began by making the program run on a platform that was very familiar to many people. More and more of us are becoming adept at surfing the web, and a web browser's simple forward, back, home and print controls seemed the best way to make moving around in the program handier for the new user. This feature alone makes the odds very high in your favor, that you already have a number of employees who know how to navigate this program. The intended browser for this to run on is Internet Explorer 5+ ©, it will run on any browser, but we make that a requirement for the program, since it will offer the optimum performance.
We use Microsoft Excel 97+ © as a record-keeping device for the program, because it offers the minimal database operations needed for the records involved. It also is a minimum requirement for the program. Since you will also find it good to have Microsoft Word97-up© on your machine for basic editing of files, We suggest that you simply install the Office 97-up Suite ©, and the install can include the Internet Explorer Browser©.
How do we Install the Program?
If you downloaded the program from the net, go to the folder that it was saved to, and find the Install icon. Double-clicking this icon will begin the easy install and you simply follow the directions there. We suggest that unless there is a good reason to change an option on the install, that you simply okay the default install. If you are installing from the cd, the auto-run will open the install when the cd is inserted in your computer, click on the install icon in the auto-run window, and the install will proceed as it would in the internet install. The install will place an icon for the program on your desktop as well as an icon for this helpfile. If you should need to UNINSTALL the program, go to the Control Panel and double-click "Add and Remove Programs". Scan the list of applications till you find "SafeForge46". Click that and select "Remove". The SafeForge46 folder will remain on your computer if you have created any records. The reason for this, is that if you need to Uninstall, and then Reinstall for any reason, you will not lose any important records you have created. If you wish to remove this folder, go to the SafeForge46 folder, select it by right-clicking on it, and then choose "delete" from the drop down menu.
When the program is installed, how do we compile our records?
First you will double-click on the SafeForge Icon that was made automatically on your desktop. This will open the splash screen that identifies the program. Clicking on the green "Safety Program" logo will take you to the Navigation Screen. There is also an "Enter" button that performs the same function. Also there is a default automatic re-direct to the Navigation Panel, that sends you there in 7 seconds, if you do not do it manually first. This is a handy access spot for all parts of the program. Here you will find links to all the operations that you will need to perform to assure your company's compliance with Part 46.
At the top of the Navigation list, is Employee Records. This link opens to the actual files for each employee, that are kept in an folder full of Excel© Workbooks. Each of these workbooks contain a number of worksheets for that particular employee. These worksheets can contain all the safety records for the employee for his entire history with your company. There are tabs at the bottom of the workbook, that vary depending on the level at which the employee entered your company. Review the tabs on the different classes of workbooks that you will use. There are only three choices to make, in order to enroll a new employee in the plan. The employee you are entering into the system is either a new miner, coming to work the first time in your industry, or he is a newly-hired Experienced miner, who has worked for another employer in the industry, but is new to your company, or he is an experienced worker at your company who simply needs to have his annual refresher training documented. So you make your choice of what type of employee you wish to enter, clicking on either the "Enter a New Miner", the "Enter a Newly-Hired Experienced Miner" or the "Enter New Annual Refresher Training" links.
How do we fill out the Excel forms?
But you will need to enter the actual training that each miner has received, on the Excel templates that we have provided. We have built-in several ways to help you with that. First, there are help buttons that will give you information on each type of template in each workbook. Clicking on the Help Button will open the help for that particular worksheet. Here you will find information on the requirements for each level of training, as well as hyperlinks to the exact MSHA rule that speaks to this part of the training. The most fundamental change that came with the new Part 46 regulations is the power each operation has to define its own method of compliance with the regulations. This part of the federal mandate for Part 46 makes it necessary for you to decide for yourself how you want the safety program to work. What we have kept foremost in mind is to give you a framework, that you can adjust in any way that you wish to suit your individual needs. We have included recommendations only as a guide as to how you might comply with the regulations.
In order for the links to the MSHA rules to open, you must be connected to the internet, as they come directly from the MSHA website. This ensures that the information provided here will always be up-to-date. This is, however, the only time there is a need to be connected to the internet. If you do not have internet access, all of the Regulations are also included in the program in a Pdf document that can be accessed in the program folder, under the file name, "Part 46 Final Rule.pdf". Since this is an Adobe Acrobat© file, you should have Acrobat installed on your machine in order to read it. Another help provided on the help page is a link at the bottom of the page to an actual lesson plan for training the new employee. Again, these are only suggested plans, that can be edited, if you wish, to fit your operation.
The form is filled out, What do I do now?
On the template, you will find a "AUTO-SAVE" button. Hitting "Enter" and clicking this will automatically save the record into your employee records, by the employees "lastname-firstname.xls" That is how you will find all of your employee records. Clicking on "Employee Records" in the Navigation box on the front page, will open the list of employees, offering you a choice of which employee's workbook you wish to examine, or update.
It is Important to note, that once an employee is entered into the Program, the "Auto-Save" will not appear on his records when you call them up for review or additions. The first "Auto-Save" sets up this employee's workbook as a one-time operation, and all additions to his records will be saved by simply clicking on the Save Icon on the Excel Toolbar.
The records are completed, how can I get a certificate for the Employee?
One of the handiest features of the SafeForge Safety Program is the ability to print any record as a certificate by just clicking the "Print" icon on the Toolbar. This puts the record in your hand, where you can sign it, and have your employee sign it, and the employee has the necessary documentation of his training. Using the "Print" Icon also makes possible any number of other time-saving, record-keeping procedures. For example, Let's say that you are calling an impromptu safety meeting to address and train your workers in new information of which they should be made aware. Before leaving for your meeting, you can call up the "Safety Meeting Training Sheet for Recording Meetings" and hit the "print" icon on the toolbar, and carry that form to the meeting for your employees to sign. After the meeting you can fill out the subjects covered at the meeting and the time of the meeting,etc. and you will satisfy the requirements for documentation of that meeting. Later, at a convenient time, that safety meeting can be entered into the employee records, and it is then a part of the permanent record of your annual refresher training. All the other necessary forms can be printed in the same manner, and all are easily found by simply clicking on the "Necessary Paperwork" link on the Navigation page.
What is the Competent Persons List?
There are two main divisions of training Instructors under Part 46. There are instructors that are from outside your operation and instructors from within your operation. The main difference in how MSHA is viewing effective training, is that they have recognized in their regulations, the contribution made by individual employees passing along the skills that they have mastered in their work with your company. This has always been true, and of course, is the way many of us were trained. What is different is that MSHA gives you a way to now document that training, and have it become a dynamic force in your whole safety program.
First, it is necessary for you to document what "outside trainers" that you have used in your training program. This could include trainers at Annual Safety meetings, Factory representatives demonstrating newly-acquired equipment, and any other person who makes a safety presentation to your men. This might include First Aid Training, for example, where local experts train your men in a review of first aid.
Secondly, it will be neccesary for you to identify and document what types of skills your employees are "competent" to teach in regard to the safety aspects of the job, and you also must consider if that employee can accurately evaluate the success of the training. Namely, has the new employee been taught to do his job safely? The SafeForge46© program makes this record-keeping very easy, with an Excel© template where each employees name can be recorded, and then check boxes filled out to indicate the areas in which the employee is competent to train others. The categories in this template begin with basic skills, and become more specific as the template continues. This form can be a handy reference, not only for finding the trainers you need for a new employee, but also for assessing your employees skills for any number of reasons that you might want to review.
There are 3 levels of Competency that are laid-out under the Competent Persons List, and a 4th that is left un-ascribed to any duties, so that you can easily extend the details of this Survey to fit your own operation. Any of the Excel charts can be called up in the Excel program, to do editing or to customize your templates. In order to save changes to the blank template, you will have to change the file properties for the template in order to save. They are by default Read-Only. You would make them writable, then after you have made your changes, you must go back and make them Read-Only once again, to prevent accidental corruption of your files. For most operations this editing will not be necessary, as the templates cover a wide range of mining skills.
Where Do I list the materials I use for Safety Training?
The link on the Navigator Panel called "Training Materials" is a sample list of materials, many of which you may have at your operation for training your workers. This list can be edited in Microsoft Word©, to reflect your library of safety training materials, and for this reason, the file has been left unprotected. It is one that probably will be updated often, as materials are obtained for use in your program. After it is edited, It can be saved as you would any other word document. We suggest that you make a back-up copy of this list, as it can be corrupted by a mistaken save, etc. The time spent listing the materials that you have and use, can be very valuable in assessing what additional materials you need to balance your resources of materials. There are many providers of training materials, but of course, one of the best providers is MSHA itself. A good array of materials is available at your district MSHA office, and the Educational Field Service offices. The materials can also be located on the MSHA website, at www.msha.gov .
What is the link called Necessary Paperwork?
A separate link called "Necessary Paperwork" has been placed on the navigator panel to make it easier for you to find the actual forms and lists that will be most helpful to you. Ease in finding the tools you need will help in implementing the program once it is in place. Here is a list of the most needed documents, where they can be called up, and printed, so that they can be used at a moment's notice. One of the biggest hurdles to complying with the simplest task, is having the necessary form and being able to reproduce it as needed. This link takes you to the place where all of that is organized.
What in the world does this Mean??
The SafeForge46© Safety Program assumes that you have a general knowledge of mine safety. The new regulations are not very different from the old rules that we have worked with before. Much of the terminology is the same, but, if you are unsure of the meaning of a word, the link named "Definitions" is provided to clear up confusion. Included here are only the most frequently needed definitions, and they are paraphrased to an extent from the legal definitions. A hyper-link is provided at the bottom of the page to take you directly to the MSHA site, if you are online. If you are not online, the same information on definitions can be found in the onboard Pdf file, "Part 46 Final Rule".
Where does our Company Information Belong in this?
The link called "Our Safety Program" is the front-piece of your program, even though it is last, on the navigator list. Here is where you place all identifying information about your work place. This section begins with a mission statement. This and all other parts of the front page can be edited in Microsoft Word ©.
Two documents in the program that will need your editing are the ones for Training Materials, and for Our Safety Program. For this reason, they have been left unprotected in the program. They can be found in the SafeForge© folder, under the names, "trainmat.doc" and "program.doc". If you wish to edit any document directly from the program, simply click that document open, and as it opens, notice that a new icon is placed in your Internet Explorer Browser. It is labeled "Tools". Clicking on this will give you the full Microsoft Word set of editing tools. The same thing is true when our program opens an Excel Form. All the tools are provided for that by clicking "Tools" in Internet Explorer©.Then when the editing is completed, click the Save Icon, or File/Save, and your program will be updated with your information. An alternate way to edit these two documents is to open Microsoft Word ©, click on File/Open, and then locate the needed file in the SafeForge© folder. After editing in Word, hit the save icon to save your work.
More Specific Help
Most general questions that you may have should be answered by links found on this Helpfile Page. Links to more specific helps with parts of the program are provided below.
The Experienced Newly-Hired Miner
New Tasks that miners may be assigned
Site -Specific hazards that may be encountered
Consult the Faqs on our website for help with a problem that is not covered in the online helps. Questions can be left there, for specific problems for which you might need an answer. If this is a problem that relates to the safety program itself, you can contact Technical Support at the addresses on the Main Page of our website.
