Completed entirely online.

Course Overview

Who Should take this course?

This EM-385-1-1 - Safety and Health Requirements for USACE course is intended to help workers meet the basic training requirements for work on sites contracted with the US Department of Defense (DOD), which are addressed in the 2024 US Army Corps of Engineers manual, EM-385-1-1.

All workers who are contracted to work on US Department of Defense projects must be trained in the EM 385 training elements determined by the Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO).

Depending on the work site where you are employed, supplemental training may be required, and will be determined by the SSHO.

Elements of this training are required for all work contracted by the US Department of Defense (DOD), though not every element is required for specific projects.

Objectives

The objectives of this 40-hour EM 385 course are to meet the general training requirements necessary to work on sites that require US Army Core of Engineering (USACE) EM-385 training for work contracted by the US Department of Defense (DoD).

Learning Objectives

  • Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Explain the need for EM 385 training and general safety requirements;
  • Describe steps to make work sites sanitary;
  • Describe the uses of personal protective equipment and its role within the hierarchy of controls;
  • Identify areas where fall protection is necessary;
  • Explain the need for safe access to hazardous areas;
  • Describe appropriate precautions to take when conducting blasting operations;
  • Identify steps employers must take to protect workers from hazardous materials; and
  • Explain the need to limit access to confined spaces;

Syllabus

This course consists of 1 module broken down into 35 sections. Students are required to take each section in sequential order as listed below.

Exams

This course has 1 final exam.

The student must complete all course sections before attempting the exam. The final exam consists of 10 questions randomly selected from a large pool of questions. A 70% score or better is required to pass the exam.

Students who do not pass the exam the first time may retake the exam as many times as necessary in order to pass.

Mobile Version

 

We're excited to announce that this course is now available in HTML 5, making it more compatible with the browser on your mobile device (e.g., smartphone or tablet). This course requires only the most recent version of your mobile device's web browser.

Tablet Pros and Cons

Mobile versions of this sort of training are new, but below are some Pros and Cons that we have noticed during our extensive testing.

Pros

  • No computer needed
  • Tablet mobility
  • Tablet screen graphics

Cons

  • Smartphone screens can be too small to see
  • Mobile browsers react differently than computer browsers
  • Phone calls can interrupt training

During our testing we really noticed that tablets work much better than smartphones, simply due to their screen size.

Growing Pains

Because this is a Beta Version of our course, you may encounter some issues as we work out the kinks.

Your Mobile Browser

While HTML5 makes taking this course on mobile devices possible, not all mobile browsers are optimized for HTML5, meaning you may not have complete functionality. If you have difficulty taking this course using the browser on your mobile device, you may need to use a different browser.

Test the functionality of your browser using HTML5 and compare it to the performance of other browsers. If you find other browsers are more compatible than your own, you may want to make the switch.

FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions specific to this course.

Q - Can I really take the EM 385 online?

The EM 385 training can be taken online. Keep in mind that you may require additional, site-specific or hazard-specific training as required by your employer prior to working at the job site. This is the case regardless of whether a student takes the course online or in the classroom.


Q - Which version of the EM-385 training does this address?

This EM-385-1-1 Safety and Health Requirements for USACE course is based on the most recent update to the USACE Safety and Health Requirements Manual from 2024


Q - How long will this course take to complete?

Some students may progress through the course quickly, while others may take longer to complete the training. The course should take around 40 hours to complete.


Q - How long do I have to start a course once enrolled?

Students have 12 months to start their training from the time they enroll in an online course.


Q - How long do I have to complete a course once started?

Take up to 12 months to complete your online training, at your own pace and schedule.


Q - Do I have to finish the course in one sitting?

No, our courses are designed so you can start and stop as needed, allowing you to break the training up over a longer period of time. Our system will keep track of your progress, enabling you to resume where you left off upon your next login. It is important that once you start a section, you complete that section or you will need to start that section over from the beginning upon your return.


Q - Can I take the course from more than one computer?

Yes, you can take the online portion by signing in with your username and password from any location and computer with high-speed internet access. However, each computer does need to meet our Basic System Requirements for viewing our online courses.


Q - Will I recieve a certificate for this course?

Yes, once you have completed a course, you are able to download, save or print a certificate of completion from your student account. Certificates are created in a pdf format. Users must have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader before attempting to download the completion certificate.


Q - Will I receive a wallet ID card?

Yes, in addition to the pdf certificate, this course also comes with a PVC wallet ID card with optional photo. ID cards are mailed from our Main Office in Southern California via U.S. Postal Service to anywhere in the United States. Addresses outside the U.S. may incur additional postage fees. Wallet ID cards are created and mailed either the same or next business day, depending on what time the course is completed. Please allow for appropriate mail time, as this may vary by location.