Minnesota Safety Council 30 Hour General Industry OSHA Certification Course                                                                                                         This 4-day course is a comprehensive introductory course that is made for the painting/plastering industry that focuses on OSHA policies, standards, and procedures to general industry safety and health.  A special emphasis is placed on those areas that are most hazardous, using OSHA standards as a guide.  All course participants will receive a current copy of the OSHA regulations 29 CFR 1910.  Participants will earn a general industry OSHA certification card.  This program is ideal for new commercial painting contractors, spray shops, and new construction painting contractors.

Topics covered include:

Introduction to OSHA & OSHA standards	Material handling
OSHA Inspection process	OSHA injury/illness record-keeping requirements
OSHA’s multi-employer worksite policy	Lockout/tag out
Competent person requirements	Hazard communication/employee right-to-know
General safety & health provisions	Personal protective equipment
Fall protection & personal fall prevention	Respiratory protection
Aerial lifts	Hearing conservation
Ladder safety	Lead hazard & testing
Scaffold safety requirements	Hazardous material disposal
Stairway safety	Job safety analysis & site inspection

This course is lead by Debra Hilmerson, President/CEO of Hilmerson Construction Safety Services, Inc., Prior Lake, MN.  Debra has over 16 years of construction safety experience and is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, Association of General Contractors of Minnesota, and is an International Alliance of Safety Auditors’ board member.  Hilmerson Services’ primary focus is to assist owners and contractors with developing a world-class safety & health program through employee training, program development, and auditing and utilization of proactive industry best practices.  Some if its clients include: 3M, Ford Motor Company, Minnesota Safety Council, Local 1 Bricklayers, and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.                           Cost $699 (Instructed by Debra Hilmerson)

Texston - The Renaissance of Fine Plasters: Interior and Exterior Architectural Surfaces                                                                                 This three-day hands-on workshop instructed by special quest Ofer Regev, Master applicator at Texston Industries.  MIFF is excited to offer this once in a lifetime opportunity to train with Mr. Regev in our Minneapolis studio.  He will instruct on all Texston interior and exterior plaster systems.  Course not limited to instruction on Veneciano fine authentic Italian plaster processed in old world fashion; Marmorino, course authentic Italian plaster; Antico, a modern version of polished plaster with a natural look; Terra and Tuscany decorative colored cement coatings; Palazzo and Lucido easy burnish, ecofriendly plasters; Frascati-SuedeStone multiple effects plaster; and Silkstone, New Italian Traditions Collection available exclusively at Hirshfield’s.  Spend 3 days with this master trainer and take your plastering skills to the next level.  This class will sell out fast.  Limited to 12 students.                                                                          Cost $899 (Instructed by Ofer Regev of TexSton and Drew Beninati)

Counter Top Coatings                                                                            Renew those worn out, dated and unsightly counter tops with this incredible beautiful, long lasting countertop coatings. This two-day program will instruct students on proper preparation, application and artistic application of these durable and attractive finishes.  Increase your profits and increase your offerings with a easy to do stunning counter top portfolio.                                                  Cost $299 (Instructed by Drew Beninati and Lori Finch)

Decorative Concrete Stains                                                                       Add beauty, artistic design and character to your plain concrete with Re-Act Stains. Veron Coating Systems, Inc., stains provide a decorative and permanent staining to plain concrete.  Re-Act Stains will not chip, peel or fade like conventional stains.  Learn how to blend, layer, and dilute reactive stains for all concrete and cementations surfaces.  Ver-Crete overlay water based acrylic system can add unlimited design potential to your concrete resurfacing project.  Interior and Exterior applications.  Stylish simplicity and rugged elegance -- Veron Coating Systems.  Two-day program.                                                       Cost $249 (Instructed by TBD)