The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association stated that the US Department of Labor – OSHA has chosen it to receive a $160,000 Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grant for the 2022-2023 programme year. The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program provides competitive grants to nonprofit organisations. Annual awards are given out based on Congressional authorization.
The new curriculum will be tailored specifically to the communications infrastructure industry and will include detailed instruction on electrical safety awareness that telecom workers will need to know, such as overhead transmission and distribution, equipment, basic electrical theory, lock-out/tag-out procedures and standards, installation of electrical telecom equipment, underground power, grounding and bonding, induced current, PPE, batteries, and other necessary equipment.
In addition, the curriculum will include pertinent OSHA information regarding employer responsibilities, worker rights, whistleblower laws, and complaint procedures (including time constraints).
“NATE is thrilled to receive the Susan Harwood Grant once again. The grant program continues to be an invaluable resource for the Association to develop a high-quality industry curriculum and facilitate free training opportunities for workers throughout the United States,” said NATE Projects Manager Kimberly Elliott.
“Based on certain trends we are seeing in the field, there is a need for more industry-specific electrical safety awareness training geared specifically to telecom employees and employers,” said Ken Hill, Director of Network Safety at Crown Castle. He also serves as a member of the Association’s Curriculum Development Committee.
“I am excited to roll up my sleeves and collaborate with other NATE subject matter experts to develop the training curriculum and materials for this important program,” added Hill.
Because of the Harwood grant, NATE intends to hold 12 Electrical Safety Awareness for Telecom Workers Training Courses around the country in 2022. Throughout the grant period, NATE anticipates that at least 336 firms and employees will benefit from this free training.
Employers are responsible for creating safe and healthy workplaces for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. OSHA’s role is to ensure these circumstances for America’s workers by developing and enforcing rules as well as providing training, information, and assistance.