In collaboration with the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC) Center for Worker Health and Safety Education, AFGE is providing supplementary health and safety resources to help members make their workplaces safer.
The ICWUC’s center receives grant funding from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide training for partner union members. AFGE is part of a consortium of unions led by the ICWUC that includes the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the International Association of Machinists and Aero Space Workers (IAMAW), and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), and others.
This program offers valuable, cost-free training resources to AFGE.
AFGE Health and Safety Specialist Milly Rodríguez frequently collaborates with the center to conduct training at various AFGE conferences. Local union health and safety officers and committee members have also participated in training at the center’s facility in Cincinnati. Scholarships, funded by grants, are available for eligible workers.
“Participants gain essential tools that empower them to advocate more effectively for improved working conditions,” Rodríguez said. “Equipped with this knowledge, they can protect themselves and their colleagues from workplace hazards. At the Center, participants not only learn about health and safety but also have the valuable opportunity to engage with members from other unions within the consortium, drawing insights from their diverse experiences.”
AFGE members have access to two Center programs: A Chemical Emergency Response Program and a Hazardous Materials Instructor Training Program. Members and locals interested in these programs can reach out to Milly Rodríguez at [email protected].
Here are the details of the programs:
Chemical Emergency Response (CER)
This four-day, hands-on CER class equips workers to handle chemicals safely and manage chemical emergencies. The curriculum now encompasses a broad range of workplace hazards and general health and safety topics. Locals have found this course highly beneficial for enhancing health and safety programs.
Next classes: Aug. 5-9 and Oct. 7-10
DOT Hazardous Materials Instructor Training (Train the Trainer)
A DOT grant enables the ICWUC Center to train worker trainers in collaboration with the ICWUC, United Auto Workers (UAW), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This grant focuses on workers at facilities where hazardous chemicals are loaded and unloaded, shipped, or received, or handle biological wastes. The aim is to establish a nationwide network of qualified trainers to conduct DOT training onsite.
Next classes: Sept. 23-26
OSHA Outreach Classes
The Center provides OSHA 10- and 30-Hour General Industry classes, with OSHA cards awarded upon completion. OSHA outreach training gives an overview of potential job site hazards. While no classes are scheduled at present, members and locals can contact Milly Rodriguez for more information.