IU to team up with University of Wisconsin to offer safety courses

This summer, IU will partner with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to add health centers that provide Occupational Safety and Health Administration courses. The courses are being added through the Safety Program in IU’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. \nThese courses will provide training in construction and general industry standards, as well as specific safety and health hazards. Although this training is targeted toward employees, employers and safety professionals, students will benefit from the courses as well.\n“Our (safety) program offers an undergraduate degree that focuses on occupational safety, as well as a master of science degree in safety management ... so we anticipate that our academic students will also benefit from attending,” said Department of Applied Health Science professor Mohammad R. Torabi.\nCheryl Holmes, professor at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and program director, advised students to consider taking the classes, even if they don’t count toward a degree.\n“Although these classes are non-college credit, they are resume builders and skill builders,” Holmes said.\nNot only does the Heartland Safety and Health Education Center, IU’s branch of the program, benefit academic students who are looking for more experience, it will benefit IU as a whole, said Andrew Kapp, associate professor of occupational and environmental safety and health at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.\n“This will strengthen the reputation of having good safety and health programs while increasing the prestige of our schools and improving the knowledge base of the professors,” Kapp said.\nIU-Bloomington and Wisconsin-Whitewater received this privilege based on their experience in occupational safety and health, in addition to their classroom and laboratory availability. IU and Wisconsin were each selected as one of the eight new education centers, which are now among the \n27 nationwide. \n“When OSHA advertised interest in considering new centers, we put together a very good application, and then OSHA sent a team out in Indiana,” Kapp said. “It was a very competitive process, and we are proud and honored to receive it.”\nThis center will be the first in Indiana and Wisconsin. Before these centers existed, people had to travel outside of their respective states to attend these courses. If the centers are a success, they will have the opportunity to expand by offering courses on any of the IU campuses and other locations throughout Indiana and Wisconsin.\n“We want to be able to contribute to the safety and health of America workers ...” Holmes said. “It’s going to be good for IU, the students and Indiana as a whole.”