Penny Bartesch calls Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CRP) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training “one of the best investments anyone can ever make.”

Akkerman Inc. has made that investment. Eleven employees became certified after a five-hour course.

The company purchased its own AED devices.

“Many attendees reported on the usefulness of the Red Cross course offering and felt that despite compromising a portion of their weekend, the training was a valuable use of their time,” said Gary Medgaarden.

“Akkerman deems the health and safety of its employees its first consideration in the operation of their business,” said Medgaarden.

“They maintain a safety and health program conforming to the best management practices of organizations of its type and size,” he added. “Akkerman also believes in complying with, if not surpassing, safety and health laws established by Minnesota and federal OSHA, as well as other regulatory agencies. There objective is to have a program where on-the-job injuries are minimal to null.”

Medgaarden, improvements manager, safety quality maintenance, is the person responsible for the training at Akkerman Inc., which began manufacturing tunnel boring machines in 1973. T

oday, the Brownsdale-based company sells or leases new and used microtunnelling, pipe-jacking, tunneling, guided-boring and earth pressure balance equipment.

Bartesch is the Red Cross representative responsible for delivering the valuable training.

“You never know when you’re going to need it,” Bartesch said. “It could be on-the-job, at school, at home, anywhere. Even in a restaurant or other public place.”

But not only the initial course instruction, but follow-up refresher education is also needed.

“CPR certification is needed every year and First Aid updating is needed every three years,” Bartesch said. “It’s simply to keep people fresh.”

More and more people are taking the CPR/AED training all the time.

“Businesses, individuals, every body, it seems and we appreciate that. It’s a good thing and a necessary thing because it can save lives,” she said.

At Akkerman Inc., Medgaarden’s job is to assess and prevent safety hazards, conduct employee training sessions and meetings, create awareness and implement policies for adherence to safety regulations.

According to Medgaarden, not many places with 100 or fewer employees have one person dedicated to fulfill health and safety responsibilities in the workplace.

Akkerman Inc. and its 75 employees do.

From his office overlooking the large manufacturing area being expanded at the Brownsdale industry, Medgaarden said the CPR/AED training was an outgrowth of a regular safety meeting.

“All staff members are required to attend the First Aid/CPR, blood-borne pathogens, ‘Right To Know’ and hearing sessions,” he said. “All shop and plant personnel are required to attend the ‘Lock Out/Tag Out,’ ‘Slip, Trip and Falls,’ ‘Personal Protective Equipment’ and ‘Machine Guarding’ sessions among other health and safety sessions.

Last year, the company logged 540 training hours.

Two of the 11 employees were women, according to Medgaarden, who said the 11 workers were a cross-section of employees from all areas of the company. Medgaarden also took the training.

“It gives you self-confidence,” Medgaarden said of the latest CPR/AED training. “It’s a nice thing to know for anyone who has an active lifestyle, too.”

Coming up next is a First Aid training course for Akkerman Inc. employees.

For more information about CPR/AED training at the Mower County Chapter of the American Red Cross headquarters in Austin, call 437-4589.

Bartesch will have CPR/AED class scheduling and fee information available.