Tennessee workers and employers now can find qualified safety and health training closer to home. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has selected the University of Tennessee to serve as an OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center.
North Carolina State University and the UT Center for Industrial Services (CIS) will deliver OSHA-certified training through the newly approved Region IV OTI Education Center. The U.S. Department of Labor chose the two universities based on their occupational safety and health experience, continuing education training background, classroom and laboratory capacity, and the ability to provide training throughout the region.
CIS is an agency of the statewide UT Institute for Public Service and has provided specialized safety training for Tennessee industries for about 15 years. Among CIS’ key health and safety programs are courses for hazardous waste site workers and emergency responders. CIS also offers instruction in general industry and construction industry safety and delivers hospital domestic preparedness training.
OTI Education Centers provide the OSHA Outreach Training Program, OSHA’s primary means of training employees in the basics of occupational safety and health. Train-the-trainer courses are available in topic areas such as construction, general industry, disaster site and maritime. Individuals who complete a one-week OSHA trainer course are authorized to teach 10-hour or 30-hour courses on safety and health hazards, and in-house trainers can issue OSHA cards for classes in which they are credentialed. These trainers offer a great deal of insight on how the training benefits their staff specifically.