Advancing health & safety for all workers and their families.
WisCOSH has classes available on may aspects of workplace safety and health. Currently we are working on several Susan Harwood Grants from DOL-OSHA.
Vulnerable Worker Trainings
Basic OSHA Rights and How To Use Them To Remain Safe and Healthy on the Job
Our longest running grant concerns "vulnerable workers" and is a part of the National COSH Susan Harwood grant. This grant has been funded for a 7th year and started on Oct. 1st, 2006 and runs through Sept. 30th, 2007. Through this one grant WisCOSH has been able to train thousands of workers on what their workplace safety and health rights are and how to use them.
The definition of a vulnerable worker ( as used by OSHA ) is a new worker [adolescent/teen worker, widow/widower], a LEP worker, a worker returning to the workforce after not working for a time or a worker in a 'high risk' job catagory such as construction, meat cutting or temporary/contract worker as well as many other high hazard jobs.
WisCOSH currently holds classes at Repairers of the Breach in Milwaukee every other Tuesday. Repairers of the Breach is located at 14th and Vliet St. Call WisCOSH at (414) 933-2338 or 1-888-947-2674 toll free for more information. There are many other trainings which WisCOSH can provide under this grant. Please call to find out more.
Teen/New Worker Workplace Safety and Health Rights Training
Under the Vulnerable Worker Training Grant WisCOSH has also provided training to high school students now working or soon to be entering the workforce. This training has been provided in schools and in conjunction with other organizations.
Teens are some of the highest injury rates in the workplace due to unfamiliarity with the laws covering what jobs a teen is allowed to perform at what age by law and what hours they are allowed to work throughout the year. Teens have relatively low amount of workplace knowledge and are often taken advantage of by their employer. Contact WisCOSH for more information or to set up a training.
Focus 4 Hazards Training for Building and Construction Trades Workers
WisCOSH is participating with Central New York COSH (CNYCOSH) in it's Focus 4 Hazard Training Grant. WisCOSH has joined this grant in progress. New York COSH (NYCOSH) is currently producing the materials for use in this grant. WisCOSH is waiting for OSHA to approve the materials produced by NYCOSH so that we may begin training.
This grant is to provide training to construction workers on the most often reported injuries in the construction trades. They are : falls, electrocution, caught-in and struck-by. These trainings are open to those who are currently working in the building and construction trades or who are taking training classes to become a member of the building and construction trades. You do not need to belong to a union to receive this training.
Currently WisCOSH is making contact with building contractors to train their employees and supervisors as well as contacting unions to provide this training to their members. The training will consist of 4 modules targeted on each of the 4 hazards. Upon completion of all 4 modules the trainees will be eligable to recieve a current OSHA 10 card.
If your business or union would like additional information about this grant or would like to discuss training please Contact WisCOSH.
Respiratory Protection Program Train-the-Trainer for Nursing Home and Long Term Care Workers
WisCOSH has also recently completed a 'no cost' extension on the grant that we partnered with MCW to provide train-the-trainer training to nursing home and long term care workers in regards to setting up or updating a Respiratory Protection Program for Tb. There has been some changes to the regulations from the CDC.
While the grant has ended the training has not! WisCOSH is continueing to partner with the Wisconsin Directors of Nursing Education Council to provide this vital training. While the last of the free training classes was held in conjunction with the WI DON Spring Symposium 2007, WisCOSH is dedicated to continue to offer this training if there is sufficiant desire.
There has also been some confusion on what is required of a facility. After attending this training the trainers will have a manual and other materials to greatly simplify the implementation of this important safety measure. Having a proper program in place will not only protect the staff of the facility but also the residents, vendors and guests.
We have held several training sessions around the state of WI and two trainings in IA. We have trained personnel from approximately 40% of the nursing home facilities in WI, with a total of 321 trainers. These trainers will return to their facilities and train the other personnel of the facility.
If you have friends, family or other loved ones working or living in a nursing home or other long term care facility find out if the facility is in compliance with the current regulations.
Immegrant Worker Rights Training
WisCOSSH is working with immegrant and refugee community centers and organizations to provide training and advocacy for immegrant workers and refugees. Now more than ever corporations are putting workers with language and cultural barriors in jeopardy by refusing to provide proper training, materials and protective equipment nor safe working conditions. WisCOSH is working to provide training and information in bilingual trainings when possible. to set up a multilingual training.
Preventing Retaliation for for Safety and Health Activism in the workplace
It's against the law. It's punishable by fines. All to often workers are victims of retaliation for requesting safer and healthier workplaces. Learn how to prepare for retaliation for enforcing your workplace safety and health rights. Being prepared is one of the best ways to prevent retaliation. It will certainly help you if you have to defend yourself against accusations by the employer. Sign up to have a class.
Other Workplace Safety and Health Trainings
While we are focused on the OSHA grants at the current time, we are glad and able to schedule a class in many workplace safety or health subjects that will fill your needs. You don't need to be in a union or a member of WisCOSH to recieve training from us. We are willing to have a training class for your civic, religious, cooperative or community group. If you are an employer who wants his employees to be better informed of thier rights and responsibilities in the workplace we can help you. A well informed and well trained workforce is a more productive workforce and less prone to workplace injury. And that's a plus for everyone in these times of skyrocketing health care costs.
Materials Developement Grant for Community- and Faith-Based Outreach Organizations
WisCOSH has also received a Susan Harwood Training Materials Development Grant. This grant will produce materials for use in training workers who are working with the vulnerable population [i.e.: homeless shelter, food pantry, community health facilities, church or community outreach groups, etc..] which then puts the workers in vulnerable situations. MCW and WisCOSH will work with a number of groups to design materials on best practices. These materials, once reviewed by OSHA, will be hosted on a dedicated web site.
WisCOSH has done much preliminary research into the presentation and materials. These materials will be available and customisable for various groups and organizations without expensive, complicated training classes. Information will be able to be customised on a per trainee or potential hazard faced. WisCOSH has worked with many community- and faith-based groups to identify typical hazards faced in the organizations daily activities
WisCOSH is currently looking for some volunteers to attend some pilot training classes to check materials for ease of use and understandability. If you or your organization would like to volunteer please contact WisCOSH to participate in pilot training. It is vital that hazards are able to be recognized by workers and they are knowlegable to reduce or eliminate the danger.
