Risk Management Institute begins free safety training classes here

The new Kilgore College Risk Management Institute will offer free courses to the public beginning in May. The institute, created through a grant from Texas Mutual Insurance Company, is a division of the KC Workforce Development Program, and will use the money to offer and promote free safety training to employees across East Texas.

"Many companies in the area have had to cut more and more safety courses out of their budgets," said Martha Woodruff, director of KC Workforce Development. "We were thrilled to get this grant to offer free highquality employee training to help businesses keep their workers safe. The employees and employers don't have to pay a cent for this service. It's all free of charge and there is no catch."

KC will offer sessions from May - August, taught by Texas Mutual instructors certified by Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Classes offered are Hazardous Communications/Personal Protective Equipment, Healthcare and Nursing Home Safety, OSHA Construction, OSHA General Industry, Occupational Ergonomics and Back Injury Prevention and Small Business Safety/Basic Industrial Hygiene.

Training cards will be issued by OSHA upon completion of the class. All classes meet 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on the main KC campus. Graduates will receive both an OSHA certificate as well as one from KC, and classes will be kept to a maximum of 35 per session to maintain a high level of quality instruction.

"We are encouraging all employers to let us know what kind of training they need for their employees in the future," Woodruff said. "We are always willing to work with employers to create training programs to meet any of their needs."

All of the training is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information, or to sign up for the training programs, contact KC Workforce Development at (903) 988-7426.