Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC)

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Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC)

Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation

The Worker Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education Program (WOSHTEP)

WOSHTEP is:

An exciting statewide initiative aimed at reducing occupational injuries and illnesses and workers' compensation costs in California workplaces.
Created under Labor Code Section 6354.7 in 2002 as part of workers' compensation reform.
Administered by the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation in the Department of Industrial Relations, through interagency agreements with the Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at UC Berkeley, serving Northern California, the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS) at UC Davis, serving California's Central Valley, and the Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (LOSH) at UCLA, serving Southern California.

The purpose of WOSHTEP is to reduce job-related injuries and illnesses among California workers. By promoting health and safety on the job, WOSHTEP can also help lower workers' compensation costs for employers. WOSHTEP serves a variety of industries, and participants come from diverse occupations and work settings. Special emphasis is placed on reaching employers and workers in industries with significant injuries, illnesses and workers' compensation cost. Focus is also on groups with special needs, such as those who do not speak English as their first language, workers with limited literacy, young workers, and other traditionally underserved industries or groups of workers.

WOSHTEP Brochure English version Spanish version
WOSHTEP List of Publications, 2013 version
For more information about the three WOSHTEP Regional Resource Centers in Northern California, Southern California, and the Central Valley and CHSWC.

Jump to specific programs and resources:

Get specific schedule dates of training programs:

Schedule of Training Programs

WOSHTEP Programs

Worker Occupational Safety and Health (WOSH) Specialist Training for Workers

One of the goals of WOSHTEP is to train California workers to be Worker Occupational Safety and Health (WOSH) Specialists who will take leadership roles in promoting health and safety in their workplaces. These Specialists can:

Help promote employers' workplace injury and illness prevention efforts and the development of an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) at their workplace.
Serve as a health and safety resource for others, including co-workers, workplace health and safety committees, unions and employers.
Identify workplace hazards.
Identify the underlying causes of injuries.
Promote solutions to health and safety problems.
Support the successful return to work of injured employees.

WOSHTEP participation

WOSH Specialist Requirements

Workers interested in becoming WOSH Specialists attend a free 24-hour course where they learn key occupational safety and health concepts. They also learn how to take a leadership role in the workplace. The curriculum includes core modules addressing topics relevant to workers in a variety of California workplaces, as well as a series of supplemental modules covering specific topics and hazards.

The training program is offered in English, Spanish and Chinese and is provided free of charge. It is taught through a statewide network of trainers coordinated by the Northern California Resource Center at the University of California, Berkeley, and by the Southern California Resource Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The program provides training to workers who can take on health and safety responsibilities, such as serving on a health and safety committee or as a designated safety representative, and/or training other workers.

A participant in the WOSH Specialist Program will need to take 24 hours of training: six core modules (16 hours) and a minimum of three supplemental modules (8 hours). Descriptions of the core modules plus a list of possible supplemental topics are listed below.

Core Modules

Module 1: Promoting Effective Safety Programs
Module 2: Identifying Hazards in the Workplace
Module 3: Controlling Hazards in the Workplace
Module 4: Health and Safety Rights and Responsibilities
Module 5: Workers' Compensation and Return-to-Work Programs
Module 6: Resources and Strategies for Taking Action

Supplemental Modules

Bloodborne Pathogens
Chemical Hazards and Hazard Communication
Communicating Effectively about Workplace Health and Safety
Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders: Introduction to Ergonomics
Joint Labor-Management Health and Safety Committees
How Adults Learn Best: Sharing Health and Safety Information in the Workplace
Workplace Violence Prevention
Workplace Emergency Preparedness

A training program participant who successfully completes this training will receive a certificate of completion.

WOSH Specialists will be able to:

Understand the importance and key elements of a successful injury and illness prevention program (IIPP) in the workplace.
Identify a full range of potential hazards on the job and uncover root causes of injury and illness.
Evaluate possible control measures for common hazards.
Explain the legal requirements for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and support an employer's compliance efforts.
Participate actively in injury and illness prevention efforts and problem-solving in the workplace.
Serve as a health and safety resource for others, including co-workers, joint labor-management committees, unions and employers.
Contribute to reduction of workers' compensation costs through promotion of prevention and early return to work.

WOSH Specialist Course: Related Materials

Materials for Organizations Serving Individuals with Disabilities

NISH Occupational Health and Safety course flier version
A three-day course, adapted from the WOSH Specialist Course, offered to NISH-affiliated Community Rehabilitation Programs that serve and employ individuals with disabilities.

Awareness Materials

Preventing Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – Awareness Session – English version and Spanish version
Training Cards – English version and Spanish version

Small Business Resources

Free safety training materials to use with your employees.
Free tips on how to comply with Cal/OSHA's IPPP regulation.

These materials help small business managers and owners to:

Identify ways to prevent injuries in your workplace.
Engage workers in your safety program.
Meet Cal/OSHA training requirements.
Provide short interactive safety training activities tailored to your business.

By using these materials, your employees will be able to:

Identify safety hazards in the workplace.
Learn about and find solutions to hazards in the workplace.
Contribute to a safe working environment.

Training materials:

General

California Small Business Materials - Small Business General Health and Safety Materials (in English and Spanish)
National Small Business Materials - English version

Industry-Specific

Restaurant Industry - Small Business Model/Restaurant Materials
Janitorial Industry - Small Business/Janitorial Materials
Dairy Industry - Small Business/Dairy Industry

Small Business Flyers:

Small Business Flyer - General
Small Business Flyer - Restaurant
Small Business Flyer - Janitorial

Young Worker Health and Safety Programs

DIR is committed to providing necessary education and resources about health and safety requirements including employment rights so teens can be safe in the workplace.

Young Worker Programs
The Young Worker Leadership Academy Flyer
Applications typically due in November
Summary of Young Worker Leadership Academies, by year
(Typically held in January or February in Berkeley, CA)
"Teens Speak Out About Safety on the Job: Lessons Learned from the Young Worker Leadership Academy," A Guide to Create Young Worker Leadership Programs in other States and Localities version

Outdoor and Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Materials

Heat Hazards in Agriculture
Heat Hazards in Agriculture, A Guide For Employers To Carry Out Tailgate Training for Workers English version - Spanish version

Excessive Heat at Work: How to Prevent Indoor Heat Illness

Participant Handouts – English version
Checklist – English version
Participant Handouts – Spanish version
Checklist – Spanish version

Safety, Health, and Wellness Resources and Publications

Materials for the Construction Industry

WOSHTEP NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT: Opportunities to Integrate Worker Health and Safety Education into Building Trades Apprenticeship Programs, March 2010 version
Construction Study Training Guide, 2012 version

Safety, Health, and Wellness Resources and Publications: Other

The Whole Worker: Guidelines for Integrating Occupational Health and Safety with Workplace Wellness Programs, 2010 version
Letter To All Interested Parties from Christine Baker, Executive Officer, introducing The Whole Worker booklet version
Heat Hazards in Agriculture
Heat Hazards in Agriculture, A Guide For Employers To Carry Out Tailgate Training for Workers English version - Spanish version
TEENS WORKING IN AGRICULTURE: Activities for High School ESL Classes, 2009 version
Motor Vehicle Safety Programs Fact Sheet version
Summary of July 16, 2008 Workplace Wellness Roundtable version
Workplace Health and Safety Worker Training Materials: An Electronic Multilingual Resource List

Multilingual Health and Resource Guide

This Guide is a collection of links to worker training materials such as fact sheets, checklists, and other educational resources that are available online and can be printed to distribute to workers participating in workplace injury and illness prevention programs.

About the Guide
Multilingual Health and Safety Resources: Worker Training Materials on the Web English version
Multilingual Health and Safety Resource Guide Flyer version

Annual Reports

WOSHTEP - 2012 Advisory Board annual report version
WOSHTEP - 2011 Advisory Board annual report version
WOSHTEP - 2010 Advisory Board annual report version
WOSHTEP - 2009 Advisory Board annual report version
WOSHTEP - 2008 Advisory Board annual report version
WOSHTEP - 2007 Advisory Board annual report version
WOSHTEP - 2006 Advisory Board annual report version
WOSHTEP - 2005 Advisory Board annual report version
WOSHTEP - 2004 Advisory Board annual report version

News Articles and Related Publications

California's Worker Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education Program: A model for other states. IAIABC Journal, 2005 version
California group trains workplace health, safety leaders." SafetyNet, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., No. 23, Washington, D.C. 2005. version
Youth discuss policy and plan action at leadership academy." Bridges, Center for Occupational & Environmental Health (COEH), University of California, Berkeley, Fall 2005 version

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Revised March 26, 2013

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