Page 15 - Texas811 Magazine 2022 Issue 2

OSHA Alliance Construction Safety Workshops are a Success
By Jennifer Pratt
Program Manager I Texas811
n 2020, the Damage Prevention Council of Texas entered an official Alliance with OSHA Region VI to
heighten worker awareness of hazards associated with working in excavations and share information
with our stakeholders about OSHA’s enforcement initiatives, worker safety regulations, and efforts to reduce injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. While our original strategy focused on trench safety education at DPC Excavation Safety Days and in-person DPC chapter meetings, Covid derailed our efforts requiring us to go virtual in the form of quarterly construction safety webinars. The bonus to our virtual pivot led
to a partnership with the University
of Texas at Arlington which agreed
to issue Continuing Education Units
(CEUs) for workshop participants.
The combined efforts of volunteer instructors and subject matter experts representing OSHA and DPC of Texas enabled us to educate almost 1000 construction workers and occupational safety professionals over the course
of our two-year Alliance. As a result
of this cooperative success, OSHA has extended the Alliance for another five years. Thank you to everyone who participated in our workshops and our volunteer instructors for making the initiative a huge success.
Our quarterly workshops are 3 hours in length, offer 3 contact hours (.3 CEUs), and are FREE to everyone who attends the webinar. Visit our website at www. dpcoftexas.org/education to register for one of our upcoming workshops. For more information about DPC of Texas educational opportunities, Chapter
meetings, and events, email me at: jenniferpratt@texas811.org .
Virtual Construction Safety Workshop Schedule
June 14, 2022
9:00 am-Noon September 13, 2022 9:00 am-Noon December 13, 2022 9:00 am-Noon
2022, Issue 2
Texas811 • 13