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The Worker Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education Program (WOSHTEP) is a statewide educational initiative dedicated to reducing occupational injuries and illnesses.

The Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) administers WOSHTEP through interagency agreements with three University of California programs. WOSHTEP prioritizes high hazard industries, with a focus on populations that face disproportionate risks or barriers to accessing occupational health and safety information, including workers with limited literacy, young workers, workers with limited English proficiency, and other underserved communities. For more information about the three WOSHTEP Regional Resource Centers, please see below:

WOSHTEP Regional Resource Centers

Training Descriptions

Are you interested in scheduling or hosting any of the training courses below? Fill out the WOSHTEP Training Request Form or email us at loshinfo@ucla.edu with your inquiries. 

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The Worker Occupational Safety and Health (WOSH) Specialist training program is designed to equip workers with the skills and knowledge needed to take an active role in workplace safety and health. This training provides the following essential skills:

  • Identifying and addressing a range of workplace hazards and root causes of occupational injuries and illnesses
  • Understanding the legal requirements for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace 
  • Participating effectively on a health and safety committee
  • Serving as a health and safety resource for their co-workers, union, employer, and community.  

To earn certification as a WOSH Specialist, participants must complete six Core Modules, which build foundational skills for effective participation in injury and illness prevention programs and health and safety committees. Participants must also complete at least three Supplemental Modules, selected based on the specific needs of their workplace.

The curriculum consists of the following:

Six Core Modules:

  1. Promoting Effective Safety Programs
  2. Identifying Hazards in the Workplace
  3. Controlling Hazards in the Workplace
  4. Health and Safety Rights and Responsibilities
  5. Workers’ Compensation and Return-to-Work Programs
  6. Resources and Strategies for Taking Action

Potential Supplemental Modules (Minimum of three topics):

  • Heat Illness Prevention
  • Workplace Violence Prevention
  • Bloodborne Pathogens
  • Chemical Hazards and Hazard Communication
  • Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention
  • Effective Health and Safety Communication
  • Joint Labor-Management Health and Safety Committees
  • Workplace Emergency Preparedness

Participants who complete the program acquire the skills needed to assume health and safety responsibilities, serve on safety committees, and train their peers. This training can be offered in-person and/or online, with materials available in English and Spanish.

A WOSH Specialist certificate demonstrates the participant’s commitment to workplace health and safety. It equips them to take on a leadership role in promoting health and safety in their workplace and community. The certificate also gives them the tools to form or participate in a health and safety committee at their workplace.

Participants will also join the Southern California WOSH Specialist Network, which provides ongoing support and opportunities for continued education.

Please note: the WOSH Specialist certificate is not equivalent to OSHA 10 or 30 certification.

WOSHTEP Refresher Sessions are training sessions designed to familiarize workers with the content included in any of the WOSHTEP Specialist course modules. Refresher sessions may also cover emerging topics or new occupational safety and health updates for workers in California. These trainings are offered to participants who would like to re-familiarize themselves with the course module content or are seeking new information related to any emerging topics or updates. 

Potential topics include:

  • Mental Health at Work
  • Leadership Development and Working in Groups
  • Popular Education 101: How Adults Learn Best
  • Cal/OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Standard

WOSHTEP Awareness Sessions are one-to-two-hour-long introductory trainings designed to provide workers with a basic understanding of key safety and health topics. These sessions aim to raise awareness and equip participants with foundational knowledge that can help them recognize risks and take proactive steps to promote a safe and healthy work environment. 

Potential topics include:

  • Introduction to Workplace Safety and Health 
  • Heat Illness Prevention 
  • Chemical Hazards at Work
  • Wildfire Smoke Protection
  • Workplace Violence Prevention
  • And much more! 

Sessions can be offered in-person or online and are available in both English and Spanish.

Interested and eligible WOSH Specialists are invited to attend the advanced Training of Trainers (TOT) course. This course prepares WOSH Specialists to assist WOSHTEP staff in conducting trainings and supporting other WOSHTEP activities.

Currently, the WOSH Trainers Network has more than 35 trainers who represent a variety of workplaces and organizations. 

Eligibility criteria for WOSH Trainers:

  • Can reach high hazard workplaces and workers in high-risk industries
  • Can access a large number of workers/workplaces
  • Can engage workers with workplace health and safety responsibilities
  • Can extend geographic reach of program
  • Has workplace health and safety training expertise
  • Can conduct open enrollment classes
  • Preferably bilingual

This course can be offered in-person or online and can be taught in both English and Spanish. For more information about this program or to schedule a customized training, please contact loshinfo@ucla.edu.

WOSHTEP IIPP courses are designed to support employers in developing and implementing an effective health and safety program at their workplace that meets the requirements of Cal/OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) standard. 

The course covers the following:

  • Requirements and expectations of an effective IIPP
  • Identifying and solving common health and safety problems
  • Steps for investigating work-related accidents, injuries, and illnesses when they occur
  • Ways to involve workers in their workplace safety program
  • Guides, templates, and resources for developing your own IIPP

Sessions can be offered in-person or virtually and in English or Spanish.

For more information or to attend a training, please contact loshinfo@ucla.edu. 

FAQs

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Training Questions

All WOSHTEP trainings are offered at no cost.

Our courses can be held virtually or in-person at a site provided by the partner organization.

We offer trainings to workers of any industry with priority given to those from high-hazard industries and to underserved groups such as those in informal work settings or with limited formal education as well as young workers and/or members of migrant communities.

Yes, we currently offer trainings in English and/or Spanish. Interpretation services may also be provided.

You can register for a course by completing a registration form, which will be posted on our website. Announcements for upcoming courses will be posted on our social media pages and sent via email to our contact database. Please check our website for updates or sign up to receive email notifications by emailing loshinfo@ucla.edu.

Outreach Questions

We offer resources on a wide variety of workplace health and safety topics that include emerging issues and topics relevant to the Southern California region. This includes factsheets and guides on topics including but not limited to protection from wildfire smoke, workplace violence prevention, heat illness prevention, and workplace health and safety rights.

Absolutely. Please contact loshinfo@ucla.edu for questions on any health and safety topics that are of interest and we will do our best to provide you with resources. You can also find a range of factsheets on our website under our Resources Tab.

Please contact loshinfo@ucla.edu if you would like us to attend your event.

Hear from Our Trainees

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Contact Us

Contact the WOSHTEP team at:  loshinfo@ucla.edu.

Follow Our Facebook Group:

SoCalWOSH Specialists
Especialista WOSH de SoCal

Acknowledgement

The Worker Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education Program (WOSHTEP) is administered by the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation in the California Department of Industrial Relations through interagency agreements with the Labor Occupational Health Program at the University of California, Berkeley; the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety at the University of California, Davis; and the Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program at the University of California, Los Angeles.