Improve Your Business’ Safety Culture with WCMA Trainings This Fall

Act now to reserve space in Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association’s Basic Safety Training for Dairy Processors and Train the Safety Trainer series, returning this fall with flexible virtual and in-person options. Registration and sponsorship details for all courses are available now at WisCheeseMakers.org/Trainings. 

“The foundation - and top priority - of any successful dairy processing plant is the safety of their products and people. Building a shared, lasting culture of safety takes time and effort, which is why WCMA offers tailored education for all employees, from veteran safety trainers to your newest team members on the production floor,” said Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA Senior Director of Programs and Policy. “These focused group trainings have limited space, so we encourage you to register now.”

WCMA’s Basic Safety Training for Dairy Processors and Train the Safety Trainer classes are thoughtfully designed with input from WCMA's Health & Safety Group to help dairy processing employees stay safe at work and enhance their organization’s safety culture. 

Facilitated by experienced safety instructors from Chippewa Valley Technical College, both trainings feature a timely emphasis on emphasize training on machine guarding, lockout/tag out, prevention of slips, trips, and falls, chemical controls, and control of hazardous energy the key focus areas of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration's ongoing Regional Emphasis Program (OSHA REP) for food processors. 

The next in-person edition of WCMA’s Train the Safety Trainer is set for Tuesday, September 9 at WCMA’s offices in Madison, Wisconsin and generously sponsored by Nelson-Jameson. This one-day class is designed to equip the dairy processing industry's safety trainers with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to effectively communicate safety expectations and protocols for maximum compliance. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to: 

• Define training and facilitation in the workplace; 

• Conduct a training needs assessment; 

• Evaluate their training programs for clarity and efficacy; 

• Understand various presentation tools and methods; 

• Identify the characteristics of an exceptional trainer; 

• Discuss adult learning principles; 

• Handle environmental challenges and disruptive participants; and 

• Develop vocal, verbal and visual skills to conduct an effective training class. 

Registration in Train the Safety Trainer is limited to 24 attendees, and costs $219 per person.  

This fall’s virtual offering of Basic Safety Training for Dairy Processors, set for Thursday, November 6 teaches participants about their rights; employer responsibilities; and how to identify, abate, and avoid job-related hazards they may encounter. This course is taught in an interactive style, and features images, videos and illustrative examples from dairy processing plants or dairy industry suppliers. 

WCMA member employees can join WCMA’s Basic Safety Training virtually on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Registration for this course is just $179 per person, and just 24 spaces are available. 

Participants in all of WCMA's safety trainings come away with new knowledge, industry connections, a packet of training materials, and a certificate of completion that can be retained as a record of instruction. 

Businesses looking to connect with dairy processors and show their support for continuing industry education can act now to take advantage of impactful training sponsorship opportunities. Benefits include reserved class seats, promotional visibility, and post-training attendee lists to engage with participants. Explore all training and sponsorship options today at WisCheeseMakers.org/Trainings.