UA Chosen for OSHA Training Institute Education Center

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has chosen The University of Alabama as a site for one of its OSHA Training Institute Educational Centers.

OTI Education Centers provide training in a series of OSHA-designed safety and health courses to private-sector and federal personnel. The designation of UA as a Region IV site will bring this key training closer to companies in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“These are workplace safety and health courses developed and endorsed by the federal government itself,” said Dr. William H. Weems, director of UA’s division of environmental and industrial programs in the College of Continuing Studies. “We’re really pleased to have the opportunity to participate as an educational center.”

UA will be offering both on- and off-site safety training, Weems said. Among the key courses being offered are training sessions for corporate instructors themselves, who then go back to their companies to teach safety. UA will use both its own staff members and outside trainers to teach the classes, which are offered as both open-market and contract training, Weems said.

OSHA selected the centers through a national competition announced in July 2007. Applicant organizations, according to OSHA, were evaluated based on occupational safety and health experience, continuing education training background, classroom and laboratory availability and the ability to provide training throughout the region. The designation for UA also includes the campuses in Birmingham and Huntsville.

Companies interested in arranging for employees to take these OSHA classes may contact Kimberly Steele at 205/348-8665 or ksteele@ccs.ua.edu.

UA’s College of Continuing Studies delivers educational opportunities to non-traditional students through workshops, seminars, conferences, institutes, certification training and other professional development programs. The College provides degree opportunities through off-campus programs and also weekend, evening and distance education programs.