Workplace Health and Safety (Release Candidate)

Topics

We provide public and on-site courses and workshops for management, labor unions, and the public, serving approximately 2500 trainees per year with instruction. Training is conducted on technical health and safety concerns including:

• workplace exposure to chemicals (including our USEPA-certified lead–based paint training programs listed below); green cleaning; toxics use reduction; product substitution; laboratory hazards; art hazards; cannabis/marijuana issues in the workplace; endocrine-disrupting chemicals
• biological agents (including diseases (including bloodborne pathogens), coronavirus/COVID-19, allergens, molds and fungi, bedbugs, lice, scabies (and other critters)
• ergonomics; computer ergonomics; noise and hearing conservation; thermal stress
• confined space entry
• occupational stress; wellness
• shift-work and long hours of work
• hazard analysis techniques (vulnerability analysis, accident investigation, process hazard/failure analysis, and job hazard analysis including job hazard analysis for workplace disability issues)
• indoor air quality: sources, solutions, conducting site investigations
• crisis and violence prevention; crisis management and recovery; critical incident stress
• train-the-trainer courses for health and safety instructors
• specialized topics such as: aging workforce, gender and the workplace, young workers, composting, anaerobic digestion (municipal and on-farm)
• health and safety committee training and meeting skills

Custom Training

Workshops can also be tailored to the hazards of specific workplaces. Some examples of past programs are:

• Farm safety; confined spaces including manure pits; on-farm anaerobic digesters and biogas production from manure and other wastes
• Composting
• Food processing and related product manufacturing
• Microelectronic fabrication
• Schools: colleges and universities; high schools and vocational education
• Heavy construction equipment manufacture
• Ventilation equipment manufacture
• Libraries
• Museums
• Printing
• Machine shops and metalworking; metals processing
• Plastics injection molding

Certification programs (some used for licenses, license renewal, or preparation for licenses for):

• lead abatement supervisor/contractor and refresher (workshops certified by USEPA)
• lead abatement worker and refresher (workshops certified by USEPA)
• lead inspector and refresher (workshops certified by USEPA)
• lead risk assessor and refresher (workshops certified by USEPA)
• lead safe work practices for remodelers, renovators, and painters (and its refresher course) (workshops certified by USEPA)
• water or wastewater treatment plant operator (workshops approved by NYSDEC and NYSDOH)
• continuing education for safety or other professionals

Train-the-trainer programs, including training skills in health and safety.

An even greater number of people are potentially reached through technical assistance. Examples of technical assistance services available are:

• on-site hazard evaluation including job hazard analysis, process failure analysis, overall workplace vulnerability assessments, and indoor air investigations;
• guidance for medical surveillance and periodic screenings;
• assistance in selection of engineering controls, administrative controls, protective clothing or equipment; and
• assistance in product or process substitution (toxics use reduction) to reduce workplace hazards.

The Program publishes health hazard manuals, fact sheets, and technical articles, as well, and delivers workshops and papers at conferences.

Workshops are available on specific occupational exposures; some examples are:

• Water and wastewater treatment plant workers; collections systems workers
• Cosmetologists/hairdressers/nail technicians
• Physicians, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, health care providers
• Police officers and firefighters
• Metalworkers and machinists
• Custodial workers
• Teachers (science, art, technology, vocational education)
• Autobody shop workers
• Maintenance workers (including HVAC, painting, welding)
• Construction workers and roofers
• Operating engineers; stationary engineers
• Office workers; computer users
• Printers and photographers
• Warehousing and materials handling workers
• Farmers
• Composting facilities operators

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON CORNELL UNIVERSITY – ILR/

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM

In 1945, the New York State Legislature founded Cornell’s ILR School to improve work, working conditions, labor relations, and employment in New York. Cornell ILR-Extension and Public Service’s mission is, in part, “to improve industrial and labor conditions in the state through the provision of instruction, the conduct of research, and the dissemination of information in all aspects of industrial, labor, and public relations affecting employers and employees.” Cornell University – ILR is the premier educational institution in the United States on the world of work. Experts on work and employment educate people in today’s workforce to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

The Workplace Health and Safety Program was created within ILR Extension in 1986 (as the Chemical Hazard Information Program) by Dr. James Platner, Susan Woods, and Michelle Kaplan. Prior to the establishment of this program, Cornell ILR-Extension had provided training and education on issues of health and safety involving worker rights and OSHA, generally. Besides these, we provide more technically-based training and technical assistance services to assist management, labor, and medical and legal professionals in putting scientific and technical information to practical use in resolving work environment problems. Nellie Brown, MS, CIH, has been part of the Program since 1986 and became Statewide Director in 1998. The Program also provides industrial hygiene services for the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine – Western New York, a clinic funded by NYSDOH for diagnosis and treatment of occupational injuries and illnesses. The Program also works with the Worker Institute at Cornell-ILR.

Meet the program director