TCC partners with USF to serve as host site for OSHA training

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 2, 2008) - Tallahassee Community College in partnership with the University of South Florida Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Training Institute Education Center will be a host USF OTI Education Center (OTIEC) Training Site to offer OSHA safety and health training to the local community.

Beginning Monday, January 14, TCC will host safety and health training courses to interested participants from Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. Previously, anyone in the aforementioned states had to travel to the USF campus, located in Tampa, Fla., in order to receive workplace safety training. With the new partnership now in place, instructors from USF will travel to TCC to lead the courses. As a result, participants can receive OSHA training in a manner that is equally effective academically, but without the excessive travel expenses.

"We are very pleased to partner with USF to provide the OSHA courses here in Tallahassee to meet the needs of the employers in this area," stated Carol Easley, Director of Workforce Programs and Continuing Education. "We look forward to expanding our offerings and opportunities through this partnership."

The OTIEC works in conjunction with the USF Sunshine Education Research Center and the USF Safety Florida Consultation Program to offer employers and employees a wide array of services and courses. OTIEC has formed partnerships with alliances and numerous organizations outside of USF in order to provide top quality classes, workshops and seminars, all with the goal of improving workplace safety and health through education.

Bob Nesbit, Program Manager for the USF OTIEC stated, "The addition of Tallahassee Community College will further expand our goal of making excellent quality low cost safety and health training available to all Florida employers and employees."

By serving as a host site, TCC can customize its course offerings based on the demand of the community's needs. TCC can also request additional courses be offered if ten or more employees express an interest.

The first course offered at TCC will be 511-OSHA Standards for the General Industry on January 14-17. For more information please call Economic and Workforce Development Division at 850-201-8760 or log on to www.tcc.fl.edu/ewd.