OSHA Seeks Training Institute Education Center Applications

Nonprofit organizations interested in providing instructor-led classes on occupational safety and health as part of the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers Program can apply.

OSHA is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations interested in providing instructor-led classes on occupational safety and health as part of the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers Program. The national program serves private and public sector employers, supervisors, and workers within OSHA’s jurisdiction.

occupational safety
Georgia Institute of Technology serves as an OSHA Training Institute Education Center. (Photo: Georgia Institute of Technology)

The program was initiated in 1992 to meet a growing demand for private and public sector training similar to that provided by the agency’s OSHA Training Institute (OTI) in Arlington Heights, IL. In the past 10 years, OTI Education Centers have trained more than a quarter of a million students and more than 52,000 students received training in FY 2016 alone.

Educational institutions, trade associations, labor unions, and community- and faith-based organizations that are not an agency of a state or local government may submit applications to become an OSHA Training Institute Education Center and deliver standard classroom instruction on a regional basis. State or local government-supported institutions of higher education may also apply.

OTI Education Center courses include OSHA standards and Outreach Training Program trainer and update courses. The OTI Education Centers offer more than 50 courses on various safety and health topics including record keeping, machine guarding, confined space, electrical standards, ergonomics, safety and health management, and fall protection. Information regarding the OTI Education Centers Program background, including a complete list of current organizations, OSHA numbered course offerings, and descriptions can be found on the OSHA website.

For information on how to apply, see the Federal Register notice. Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. CDT on Friday, June 30, 2017, and must be submitted by regular mail to Jim Brock, U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Directorate of Training and Education, 2020 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4102. Prospective applicants with questions should contact Brock at Brock.James.E@dol.gov or by telephone at 847-759-7700.

A proposal conference will be held at the same Arlington Heights location on May 17, 2017, to provide potential applicants with information about the training program, expectations for OTI Education Centers, and administrative and program requirements.

OSHA does not predetermine the number of organizations selected to act as OTI Education Centers but selects organizations according to each applicant’s qualifications, ability to serve regional populations and OSHA’s training needs.