Labor data shows that Texas has the highest number of construction worker deaths in the country last year.  Two out of 3.4 workers who die every day are Hispanics, according to the chairman of the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association (USHCA).  Just this June, three construction workers fell to their death while working on scaffolds.  A lawyer that represents the family of one of those workers believes that the incident was the last straw in the deaths that caused a public outcry.  This, in turn, prompted OSHA to send more federal inspectors to Texas the following month.  A labor union conglomerate says only 77 inspectors from OSHA are in Texas – short of 946 needed by the state.

As a result of OSHA’s intervention, the USHCA will host a health and safety training for construction workers on September 26 which will feature consultants from OSHA.  An OSHA-certified trainer said the main purpose of the training is to recognize and prevent hazards and accidents.

What can we learn from this news story?

Associations recognize the need and importance of TRAINING to prevent hazards and accidents in the workplace.  OSHA has the resources to prove they value training as well as education training.

The OSHA Training Institute (OTI) in Arlington Heights, IL provides safety and health training and education for federal and state compliance officers, state consultants, other federal agency personnel, and the private sector.  If you are a federal or state OSHA employee and you want to register, contact your training coordinator.  However, if you are a private sector or other government agency employee, visit the OSHA Training Institutes Searchable Catalog to view a list of available courses.  A student registration form is also available online.  The OTI charges tuition fees for private sector students as well as employees of federal government contractors.  Check their webpage for the schedule of registration and start of classes.

Aside from the OTI, the OTI Education Center program also provides training for private sector personnel from agencies other than OSHA.  The OTI Education Center is an extension of the OTI that targets federal and state compliance officers and state consultation program staff.  There are over 40 education center locations throughout the country.

OSHA also has Outreach Training Programs where qualified individuals are trained and authorized to teach student courses.  This is where the 10-hour and 30-hour courses in construction and general industry come in.  There is also training in the Maritime Industry specifically in shipyard employment, marine terminals and longshoring as well as an outreach program that authorize trainers to teach workers in disaster site support and clean-up services.

Since training may also take other forms, OSHA offers safety and health training videos which can be loaned by OSHA employees, OSHA grantees, consultation programs, state plan states, voluntary protection program sites, and even by OTI education centers, federal agency occupational safety and health trainers, and OSHA outreach trainers.  This service is made available by OSHA’s Resource Center Loan Program which has a collection of over 600 videos covering more than 100 subjects as well as a limited number of books.  Materials can be borrowed by submitting a filled-out borrowing agreement form, browsing the catalog, completing the loan request form, and submitting all forms through e-mail (RCLP@dol.gov). The center will then contact you regarding the availability of your requested material.

OSHA also supports nonprofit organizations as well as state and local government supported institutions of higher education by offering the Susan Harwood Training Grant with the goal of developing training and educational programs and reaching out to appropriate workers and employers by providing them these programs.

Training and retraining are important to all workers in any workplace.  One never goes to a battle unprepared.  So, gear up.