|
|
Background and Purpose
California has an exciting opportunity, once again, to serve as a national leader in worker protection
and injury and illness prevention. The Worker Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education
Program (WOSHTEP) is a new California initiative to train workers to become “WOSH Specialists” who gain
skills through a standardized health and safety training curriculum in order to become leaders who
will promote health and safety back in their workplaces.
This Project is funded by a permanent assessment on all paid out indemnity claims as a result of a
Workers’ Compensation reform bill in 2002 (Labor Code Section 6354.7), and is administered by the
California Commission on Health and Safety and
Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) in the State’s Agency
for Labor and Workforce Development.
The Commission has established an employer and worker advisory board for this Program. It is
working in collaboration with health and safety education consultants at UC Berkeley’s Labor
Occupational Health Program (LOHP) and UCLA’s Labor Occupational Safety and Health (LOSH) Program
to design the Program that will train California workers to be Worker Occupational Safety and
Health (WOSH) Specialists who will take leadership roles in promoting health and safety in their
workplaces. Initial activities in Spring 2003 were:
- A survey of state, national, and international worker health and safety training programs.
- Assessment of the needs of key stakeholders, including employers, worker representatives, insurers, educators, and governmental organizations.
- Development of a list of health and safety materials available on-line, including materials in languages other than English.
- Identification of several pilot training sites in Northern and Southern California.
Program Structure
A standardized health and safety certification program and curriculum have been developed.
The curriculum includes core modules addressing topics relevant to workers in a variety of
California workplaces, as well as a series of supplemental modules covering specific
industries and hazards. Priority will be given to training workers who have significant health
and safety responsibilities, such as those serving on a committee or as a designated safety
representative, and/or those who are able to train other workers. The training program will
be offered throughout California by a trained network of providers including community colleges.
WOSH Specialists’ Certification and Skills
In order to become a WOSH Specialist, a participant will need to take 20-24 hours of training:
six core modules (14-16 hours) and a minimum of three supplemental modules (6-8 hours). Descriptions
of the core modules plus a list of possible supplemental topics are attached. A WOSH Specialist
who successfully completes this training will be able to:
- Understand the importance and key elements of a successful injury and illness prevention program in the workplace.
- Identify a full range of potential hazards on the job and uncover root causes of injury and illness.
- Evaluate possible control measures for common hazards.
- Explain the legal requirements for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and support an employer’s compliance efforts.
- Participate actively in injury and illness prevention efforts and problem-solving in the workplace.
- Serve as a health and safety resource for others, including co-workers, workplace health and safety committees, unions, and employers.
- Contribute to reduction of workers’ compensation costs through promotion of prevention and early return to work efforts.
Core Modules
- Module 1: Promoting Effective Safety Programs
- Module 2: Identifying Hazards in the Workplace
- Module 3: Controlling Hazards in the Workplace
- Module 4: Health and Safety Rights and Responsibilities
- Module 5: Workers’ Compensation and Return-to-Work Programs
- Module 6: Taking Action
Supplemental Subjects
Each supplemental module is 2 hours or more in length. Completion of the
core curriculum and a minimum of 3 supplemental modules is required for
certification.
Current:
- Back Injury Prevention
- Chemical Hazards and Hazard Communication
- Communicating Effectively about Workplace Health and Safety
- How Adults Learn Best: Sharing Health and Safety Information in the Workplace
- How Adults Learn Best
- Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders: Introduction to Ergonomics
- Health and Safety Committees
Planned for future development:
- Lockout/Blockout/Tagout
- Fall Prevention
- Noise/Hearing
- Violence Prevention
- Workplace Stress
Other modules will be added over time
Refresher Training
WOSH Specialists will be encouraged to attend a refresher training each year to get updated on new health and safety issues.
Network of Providers
Those who wish to offer WOSHTEP Specialist course training will need to do the following:
- Take 20-24 hours of training: six core modules (14-16 hours) and a minimum of three supplemental modules (6-8 hours).
- Complete an additional 16-30 hour “train the trainer” course to learn effective training skills and become familiar with teaching all modules.
- Complete an “apprenticeship” including teaching at least one class with a mentor trainer and completing an evaluation process.
- Attend a refresher training each year to get updated on new health and safety issues.
|
For More Information in Southern California, please contact:
| |
Laurie Kominski
Associate Director of Program Administration
UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health
(LOSH) Program
Hershey Hall, P.O. Box 951478
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1478
Phone: (310) 794-5992 Fax: (310) 794-6403
lauriek@ucla.edu
|
|
|
Home
>> Projects >> WOSHTEP
