Representatives from NorthWest Arkansas Community College, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Arkansas Department of Labor signed an agreement today (Sept. 5) continuing a safety and health alliance among the three organizations.
An agreement among the organizations was implemented previously in 2005, and since that time, the partnership has allowed thousands of individuals to attend training conferences hosted by the college to improve workplace safety and worker well-being.
David Hartman from the college’s environmental regulatory science faculty said the collaboration between the organizations had allowed an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 workers to attend low-cost or free training that meets the needs of the workforce in Northwest Arkansas and beyond.
An advisory team made up of representatives from local employers helps to organize those conferences to address specific training needs of area businesses.
In a related initiative, a video library has been established at NWACC’s Pauline Whitaker Library, which allows individuals, including the public, to check out a wide array of DVDs related to workplace safety.
Ricky Belk, director of the Arkansas Department of Labor; Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson, president of NWACC; and Dr. Marvin Galloway, dean of the Division of Math and Sciences, signed the agreement.