ATSSA Signal May June 2020

The Signal | May/June 2020 35 Training Devices (MUTCD) for streetsandhighways. This spring, ATSSA launched online train - ing to address human resources issues and those required by the Occupational Safety andHealthAdministration (OSHA). In addition, ATSSA partners with a Fred - ericksburg, Va.-based nonprofit on a programto help qualified people receive the training and resources needed to tran - sition back into the workforce. Member companies have gotten involved in that effort andhired trainedflaggers through it. Morales said part of what sets ATSSA training apart is the fact that it tailors its materials to best reach its intended audience. “We avoid long and convoluted Power - Point slides,” he said. “A lot of thesework - ersmay not have had the opportunity to complete high school so we avoid engi - neering jargon.” ATSSA adapts its courses regularly to reflect frequent changes to standards issued by DOTs across the country and it customizes specific courses to reflect state-specific guidelines. “We don’t just have a canned course. We adapt to the specifications of each state and that makes ATSSA unique,” Morales said. ATSSA’s instructors teach regionally and stay current on the requirements and needs specific to different areas of the country. This also allows instructors to maintain good relationships with DOTs, so the training remains relevant, reflect - ing the needs on the ground. ATSSA Training ProgramManager Jessica Scheyder said ATSSA’s Government Rela - tions Teamadds another level of support and speakswithDOTs around the country about the need for resources to provide this life-saving benefit to workers. These conversations helped bring about the Work Zone Safety Grant that ATSSA first won in 2006, and has since renewed several times, making more than $11 million available to provide expanded courses and other resources. “Having that grant funding and being able to provide those courses at a very low fee allowed us to really take a look at the entire audience, from the flagger to the designer of traffic control plans,” Clark said. “It allowed us to expand our portfolio of offerings.” Over the years, ATSSA has adapted the format of its training to match the tech - nology of the day, moving fromprojector slides to PowerPoints and now to online courses and virtual classrooms where appropriate. Scheyder said a new tech - nology on the horizon is virtual reality training. Clark and Scheyder both said that keep - ing up with training needs as connected and automated vehicles come online will be important. ATSSA is also look - ing at developing a company certifica - tion program to help contractors show DOTs they are committed to safe and effective practices. “Our goal is to help people be safe on the roadways and go home safely at the end of the day,” Scheyder said.  To contact Emily Freehling, communications@atssa.com .