The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the renewal of Eastern Kentucky University’s OSHA Training Institute Education Center (OTI Education Center).
According to the Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development, in the past five years manufacturers announced over 1,100 facility locations or expansion projects with a reported capital investment of more than $21 billion and nearly 39,000 additional jobs in the state of Kentucky.
With continued expected growth in the manufacturing sector in Kentucky, the OTI Education Center helps manufacturers and companies to train employees in workplace health and safety.
Established in 2003, Eastern Kentucky University’s OTI Education Center serves the eight-state Region IV (KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, FL). It is one of only 26 OSHA Training Institute Education Centers in the United States.
“I am very excited to see EKU’s authorization as an OSHA Training Institute Education Center renewed,” Zach Rhodus, associate director of the OTI Education Center, said.
“In our time as an OTI Education Center, EKU has successfully established and maintained long-lasting relationships with private businesses, as well as local, state and federal government entities. We look forward to continuing OSHA’s mission to protect American workers and send them home safely to their families each and every day.”
EKU’s OTI Education Center draws upon the expertise of internationally-recognized safety and health professionals to develop and provide a variety of different trainings.
The Center experienced an eight percent increase in students since fiscal year 2021 and trained 1,187 students in fiscal year 2022.
The Center conducts regular trainings for companies including Hyster Yale, AGC, Humana, the Bluegrass Army Depot and many other manufacturing and construction companies; maintains a partnership with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet to provide their employees with free training opportunities; partners with Kentucky’s departments of corrections, transportation and education for state employee training; and provides multiple classes across the country for the Air National Guard.
To learn more about EKU’s OTI Education Center visit osha.eku.edu.