Barton HazMat & Occupational Safety

05/26/2022

Come see us at the Fort Riley Safety Fair today at Irwin Army Community Hospital! We are in the lower level of the parking garage.

08/13/2021

HAZWOPER students work all week learning the skills and information necessary to safely mitigate a hazardous waste site. Today is the day they put all of their hard work to the test! Scenario Day!

06/03/2021

There is a special brand of heroes living in our communities. They stand ready to respond to natural or man-made disasters and allow us to take safety for granted. They are people like Janet Charbonneau, the Assistant Emergency Manager for Des Moines County, Iowa, who pursued such a career out of an altruistic desire to serve her neighbors.

“I have always liked to help people,” she said. “And let’s be honest, severe storms can be just as amazing as they can be frightening. I thought that the Hazardous Materials (HAZ MAT) degree would tie in very well with the Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) degree because there are many instances of chemical spills, gas leaks, etc., that can happen with a natural disaster or a man-made disaster. Knowing what to do to help others - that is critical to me.”

Over 2 years Charbonneau utilized in-person, online and hybrid classes at Barton Community College.

“Barton made it possible for me to obtain two degrees in just two years,” she said. “I can say that my Barton experience was nothing less than amazing. The convenience for an Army family to be able to take classes is incredible. The staff and instructors are personable and extremely knowledgeable. I am still friends with some of them today and I know that I can always call or text if I am stumped on an issue.”

Charbonneau said educating people about preparation and increasing the populations’ overall knowledge about emergency preparedness is key.

“I love getting my community interested in Emergency Planning,” she said. “I have a very large Community Emergency Response Team here in my county as well as a large Skywarn StormspotterTeam. We not only respond to disasters; we also direct traffic for community events such as parades and 5k races. We also provide fire rehabilitation and we also work closely with our local emergency services departments on interagency training."

An emergency or natural disaster can come at any time, and Charbonneau knows it is on her and the rest of her staff to be ready.

“It is a difficult world we live in today,” she said. “I have spent several months helping to organize and work at the COVID vaccine clinics in our county. Also, living in a primarily agriculture-based area, there are quite a few chemicals that are everywhere and come into our communities by highway or by rail. In addition, we have the Mississippi River that flows through, so we must pay attention to flood control. Knowing what to do with these and how to utilize our resources is critical to keeping your communities safe.”

Charbonneau said her field includes being prepared for a wide array of disaster scenarios by keeping the various emergency operations plans up-to-date, but that they also help prepare for and provide training for active shooter scenarios with local law enforcement, coordinate with aerial rescue teams and provide support to EMS operations on a day-to-day basis if necessary.

For more information, go to emanagement.bartonccc.edu.

📸: Brandy Swartz Photography

04/30/2021

Don’t miss out!

Mark your calendar ✒️ the May Financial Aid Workshop is coming up!

12/18/2020

Congratulations to our new Alpha Sigma Lambda and Phi Theta Kappa Members from Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, Grandview Plaza and BARTonline! Alpha Sigma Lambda is the premier national honor society for non-traditional adult students & is recognized as the official honor society for community colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges. We are so proud of you!

11/11/2020

Thank you today and every day to all service members for your sacrifice in preserving our freedom.

09/23/2020

The Great Plains OSHA Education Center offers multiple certificate options for our students. Today one of our own completed his last professional certification the Safety, Health & Environmental Professional (SHEP). Congratulations to the OSHA Program Director/Instructor Lawrence Weber.

If you'd like more information on these professional certifications give us a call at (785) 238-8550 or stop by and see us!

09/11/2020

06/18/2020

Program Support Specialist (HZMT/EMHS) - Grandview Plaza
Barton Community College, Grandview Plaza campus, seeks a fulltime replacement Program Support Specialist to answer phones, direct phone calls to the appropriate areas and scheduling and tracking of vehicle assignments and maintenance for travel. Responsible for: assisting with matters pertaining to entering enrollments, maintaining
book lists/inventory, scheduling classes and room assignments, maintaining and updating files for programs, and producing enrollment, progress and graduation reports as needed. Assists Director in administration and management of Hazardous Materials and Emergency Management program. Qualifications: Six months
to two years of similar or related experience. Education required: A two-year college degree or completion of a specialized course of study at a business or trade school. Skills: verbal and written communication skills; extensive computer skills in MS Office; and demonstrated sensitivity to, and understanding of, the varied academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic and diverse backgrounds of community college students and military students. Review of complete application packets begins immediately. To apply go to: jobs.bartonccc.edu Persons with a hearing or speech impairment please use the Kansas Relay Service at 1-800-766-3777 or dial 711. Position is open until filled. EEO/AA.

06/02/2020

Is Emergency Management/Homeland Security a career field you could be interested in? Check out our 1-year certificate or 2-year degree program!

When the COVID-19 pandemic started making its way across the world, Organizational Emergency Preparedness and Safety Manager Teri Smith of Lawrence Memorial Hospital was ready to handle the situation. While she was a seasoned Emergency Manager with years of experience, Smith had also decided to get her associate degree in emergency management from Barton in 2012 and earned her bachelor’s in emergency management from Kansas Wesleyan in 2014 to help bolster her knowledge base. The combination of her education and her experience proved very valuable during the pandemic.

Smith coordinated a detailed plan for keeping her community safe and was able to participate in collaborative thinking that produced a framework for safety and support for her specific situation and others tasked with protecting the general public.

“My education made sure I was up-to-date on the latest developments in the field, and my experience and expertise as an emergency manager has been profoundly valuable during the pandemic,” she said.

Smith said the need for emergency managers is growing.

“Hazards and vulnerabilities for people are ever-changing over time and disasters are increasing in not only frequency but also intensity,” she said.

The ability to help others is also a driving factor in her choice to be an emergency manager.

“It’s a very satisfying career,” she said. “I have the opportunity to promote safer, less vulnerable communities, protect lives, property and the environment.”

Barton’s program is designed to provide training and formal education for those entering the emergency management field as well as those currently in the field who require additional training and education.

“It’s important for them to not only get their education but to volunteer for emergency organizations if they can, find a mentor, participate in internships and obtain other certifications from other state and national associations in emergency management,” she said. “Be flexible and don’t hesitate to do this. It’s very rewarding.”

For more information on the program go to emanagement.bartonccc.edu.

05/15/2020

If you’re like many businesses in our area you have employees wearing masks for their safety. Our team has been busy providing fit testing services throughout NE Kansas. Give us a call if we can help you too! 😷

03/14/2020

The OSHA #3115 Fall Protection class scheduled for 16-18 March 2020 is canceled. The Geary County Health Officer has directed the closure of all schools next week, we apologize for any inconvenience this closure has caused.