24-hour WOSH Specialist

Health and Safety Leadership Program

The 24-hour WOSH Specialist course is the keystone of the WOSHTEP program. The Specialist course is an interactive educational leadership program which prepares front-line workers to take an active role in improving health and safety conditions in their workplaces. The training program covers the basics of workplace health and safety through a participatory curriculum which aims at reducing job related injuries and illnesses among California workers.

The 24-hour WOSH Specialist course targets the following groups:

• Worker leaders who are employed in high hazard industries
• Employees who have significant health and safety responsibilities, such as those serving on a health and safety committee, or acting as a company’s designated safety representative
• Those who are able to train other workers
• Workers and employers in industries with significant injuries and illnesses
• Groups with special needs, such as workers who do not speak English as their first language, have limited literacy, work in traditionally underserved industries and occupations, or are young and just entering the workforce.

Courses are offered in two formats. “Open Enrollment” Specialist courses are open to the public and are offered in Los Angeles, San Diego and the Inland Empire. These courses are usually held in collaboration with a community college such as Los Angeles Trade Technical College or San Diego City College or at a community training site such as the UCLA Downtown Labor Center.

The 24-hour course can also be offered on site for employers, labor-management health and safety programs, labor unions, community-based organizations, adult education programs, and other organizations. To be eligible, host employers seeking training for their employees must:

• Have a demonstrated commitment to worker injury and illness prevention
• Have a worker’s compensation insurance carrier (i.e. not be self-insured) or provide some cost-sharing such as space, refreshments, or reproduction of course materials
• Be an industry or trade where workers are experiencing numerous or significant injuries or illnesses
• Identify up to 25 frontline employees to participate in all 24 hours of classroom training (average class size is 15 participants)
• Select participants based on demonstrated or potential peer leadership qualities in the workplace
• Pay employees their regular salary for all hours they participate in the training
• Facilitate participants’ contribution to the ongoing evaluation of WOSHTEP such as hosting a “refresher” training that includes follow-up on actions taken post-training to improve safety in the workplace

WOSH Specialist Certification and Skills

A WOSH Specialist who successfully completes this training will be able to complete the following:

• Understand the importance and key elements of a successful injury and illness prevention program in the workplace
• Identify a full range of potential hazards on the job and uncover root causes of injury and illness
• Evaluate possible control measures for common hazards
• Explain the legal requirements for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and support an employer’s compliance efforts
• Participate actively in injury and illness prevention efforts and problem-solving in the workplace
• Serve as a health and safety resource for others, including co-workers, workplace health and safety committees, unions, and employers
• Contribute to reduction of workers’ compensation costs through promotion of prevention and early return-to-work efforts

Course Curriculum

The 24-hour curriculum consists of six core modules covering topics relevant to workers in a variety of California workplaces. In addition, three supplemental modules chosen to focus on specific topics and hazards relevant to the course participants are included.

All training materials are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.