Critical Update for Mozilla Firefox Browsers

If you have the Firefox browser (Windows AND Mac), you should update it IMMEDIATELY. A critical update has been released (Firefox 72.0.1 and Firefox ESR 68.4.1) to fix a vulnerability which allows an attacker to take control of your operating system.

To upgrade Firefox:

• On a Mac: launch Firefox and click About -> Firefox and click the “Restart to update Firefox” button
• On a PC: launch Firefox and go under either Options -> Firefox Updates (towards bottom of list) or Options -> Advanced -> Update to update Firefox
  • Older versions may require a second update by launching Firefox and clicking Help > About > Update Firefox

Mobile devices are not currently known to be affected.

As a reminder, browser support for the EnergyU Admin Portal is as follows:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer is supported
• At this time the latest Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge are NOT supported
• NOTE: The upgrade to the NextGeneration portal scheduled for January 26-27 will increase browser support

Administrators will no longer be required to use Microsoft Internet Explorer with the Silverlight plugin after the upgrade. Google Chrome will be the recommended browser for EnergyU LMS Administrators.

 

More info:

https://www.fastcompany.com/90450626/firefox-attacks-homeland-security-urges-mac-users-to-update-browsers-immediately-in-rare-warning

https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/10/firefox-security-bug-zero-day/

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2020-03/

Course Maintenance scheduled for January 21-22, 2020

The 4 courses listed below are scheduled to undergo maintenance. The courses will be offline beginning Tuesday evening (January 21) at 6:00 p.m. CST. We expect maintenance to be completed by Wednesday (January 22) at 12:00 p.m. noon CST. A blog post will go out when maintenance is complete.

• ELEC-11005 e-TNG Bloodborne Pathogens
• ELEC-11005 KNT Bloodborne Pathogens
• OS-0108 e-TNG Bloodborne Pathogens
• OS-0108 KNT Bloodborne Pathogens

Remember… After a course has undergone maintenance, it is important that users verify a status of “Not started” to ensure proper recording of a new score.

New Year = EnergyU NextGen Release

Happy New Year! The New Year excitement is the release of the EnergyU NextGeneration Portal for online training and testing. This upgrade will require the EnergyU learning management system (LMS) to be taken offline for up to 24 hours. EnergyU Administrators should make sure their employees know that the system will not be accessible during the upgrade time period.

• The LMS will go offline Sunday, January 26 at 8:00pm CST
• The LMS will be back online Monday, January 27 by 8:00pm CST
• Learners will not be able to take courses Sunday evening through Monday
• Administrators will not have access to the system Sunday evening through Monday
• Reports cannot be generated Sunday evening through Monday

In preparation for the upgrade, EnergyU LMS administrators should make sure they have the latest version of Google Chrome and/or Mozilla Firefox installed on their computer. (NOTE: Firefox ESR version is not supported.)

Get a peek at the new user interface.

Sign up for the EnergyU NextGen Overview webinar, or attend an in-person administrator class in Dade City, Florida.

• NextGen Overview Webinar – January 29, 2020 1:00-1:30pm CST
• One-day administrator class March 4, 2020 – Dade City, Florida

 

HOLD THE DATE! January 26-27, 2020

We are working out the details and anticipate the EnergyU LMS NextGeneration Portal update will take place Sunday night, Jan 26 through Monday night, Jan 27. We ask that in anticipation of required downtime during the update you do not plan any training on EnergyU these days. Stay tuned… details of the system update and downtime should be available by January 8, 2019.

Evaluator Refresher Course Updated

The online refresher for MEA approved evaluators has been updated on EnergyU. After completing the initial Train the Evaluator Workshop, evaluators are required to take a refresher course every three years. Evaluators may choose to attend another in-person workshop, or take the online refresher.

Individuals who had the been previously assigned the online refresher course are now assigned the new updated test. For new evaluators, administrators can simply enroll them in certificate MEA11995 to assign the new course. The new course consists of 20 scenario-based questions and requires a minimum score of 80% to pass.

For additional information on the MEA evaluator program, contact:

Robbin Moore
Member Relations & Compliance Programs Support Manager
651-289-9600 x101

EnergyU LMS NextGen Portal Update

To ensure minimal disruption as companies rush to complete their year-end training, MEA has chosen to postpone the NextGen portal update until after the first of the year. We will be notifying administrators when the date is scheduled.

Upcoming EnergyU Administrator training events will provide a hands-on experience using the NextGeneration portal. Registration is now open for classroom training sessions in Minnesota and Florida.

December 11, 2019 • Bloomington, Minnesota

January 15, 2020 • Bloomington, Minnesota

March 4, 2020 • Dade City, Florida

MEA Evaluator Online Refresher Training

In order to maintain an approved status, every three years evaluators are required to either attend an in-person workshop or take the online refresher course. Currently, some evaluators are experiencing difficulty getting their progress in the online refresher course to properly award the certificate of completion. We have temporarily deactivated the course and hope to have a replacement course uploaded within the next few weeks. If needed, the required renewal date will be extended until the new refresher course is available. We will post an announcement as soon as the new course becomes available. Thank you for your patience!

News and Updates for EnergyU

There’s a lot happening at MEA, and we continue to work on enhancing EnergyU. Learn about upgrade plans for NextGeneration portal, new features in Badges, and easier uploading of PEFs in our October 30, 2019 Newsletter.

We’ve also been busy updating our training materials and administrator/user guides. Login to Badges and click the Links button at the left to access the new updated EnergyU Badges User Guide.

Course Maintenance on UGE Courses Now Complete

Course Maintenance is now complete on the following courses:

• UGE-1190 e-TNG Railroad Right-of-Way Worker Safety
• UGE-1190 KNT Railroad Right-of-Way Worker Safety

NOTE: The numbering for the above courses was also updated during maintenance and changed from UGE-11900 to UGE-1190.

Remember… After a course has undergone maintenance, it is important that users verify a status of “Not started” to ensure proper recording of a new score.

New Train the Evaluator and Skills for Effective Training Discount

MEA is now offering a course called “Skills for Effective Training.”  The first class will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd.  If you would like to attend this class ALONG WITH the Train the Evaluator class (Tuesday, October 22nd), please register for each class separately and use promo code BOTHOCT2019 at both checkouts to receive $75 off EACH class.