Harper to offer free safety courses for area businesses

Harper College will offer free safety awareness courses in an effort to create a safer workplace environment for all employees.

Two courses for small business owners, managers and employees will be held on the following dates:

• Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls: A Training Program for Small Businesses will be from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29. Additional dates for the half-day course include Feb. 19 and 26, March 6 and 18.

• Introduction to Safety and Health Management for Managers and Supervisors will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. Additional dates for the full-day course include Feb. 18, March 13 and April 1.

Courses take place on the college's main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. More safety topics, such as electrical hazards awareness, will be added in the future.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, about 6,000 employees in this country die from workplace injuries, while another 50,000 die from illnesses caused by exposure to workplace hazards.

In addition, 6 million workers suffer nonfatal workplace injuries at an annual cost to U.S. businesses of more than $125 billion.

Benefits of attending Harper's free and interactive training courses include decreased employee turnover, training expenses, workman's compensation expenses and time away from work. The courses can also help businesses avoid workplace disruptions, loss of productivity and insurance premium increases, among others.

Experienced safety professionals and Occupational Safety and Health Administration outreach trainers will lead the sessions.

Harper College will provide these courses with the support of an $180,0000 Susan Harwood Training Grant. This grant provides training and education for workers and employers on workplace safety and health hazards, responsibilities and rights.

Target audiences include businesses with two to 250 employees within the United States, including low-literacy and high-hazard industry workers and employers. Government employees are ineligible to participate due to grant regulations. With sufficient notice, Harper also can provide training in Spanish and American Sign Language.

For information, visit harpercollege.edu/safety.