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September 26, 2005-Baton Rouge, LA — the Safety Council announced that the Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Program (C.O.S.S.) has received formal recognition from the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). C.O.S.S. is the first program of its kind to receive this level of recognition from the ACCE. The ACCE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the national accrediting agency for programs in construction education. Accreditation is a means for recognizing educational institutions that achieve and maintain a level of performance, integrity, and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public they serve.
“SCLCA is honored to receive this recognition,” said Alan Thomas,
Vice-President of the Safety Council, "We are constantly striving to improve the value of our programs
for our membership and the construction industry; this recognition shows that we continue to move in
the right direction." The C.O.S.S. program is one of the top-ranked safety programs in the nation. Since its inception
in 2002, more than 1,500 students have graduated, many of them going on to become leaders in the
construction safety field. The C.O.S.S. program underwent a panel review and passed the rigorous
quality standards set forth by ACCE for both the program and provider. “The construction industry has
become a $500 billion dollar per year industry marked by continuous and dramatic change. The demand for
capable and highly trained construction management professionals, who can adapt and become effective leaders
in the field, remains strong,” said Thomas. Additionally, C.O.S.S. addresses the interface that General
Industry and Construction have. General Industry businesses hire contractors to do work on a continual
basis. Typically, those contractors fall under Construction Industry regulations. But General Industry has
its own regulations... some overlap, some contradict, some are totally different. General Industry
representatives, at best, know little about what is required to keep a construction worker safe, yet it is
incumbent upon them to do so. C.O.S.S. goes a long way in resolving this disparity. The Certified Occupational Safety Specialist program is a unique,
curriculum-based training course designed by safety professionals to prepare and equip workers
with the core competencies of occupational safety and health. Due to the focused, relevant and
applicable content, concentrated learning activities, and the certification method, C.O.S.S. is
especially useful in the Construction Industry. The curriculum-based format is more practical, efficient
and appropriate than an exam based certification and is an integral part of the Louisiana State
University’s Construction Management Program. “Employment opportunities are excellent in the construction industry. Properly educated
and trained people can expect exceptional job opportunities,” says Thomas, “C.O.S.S. effectively
turns the construction worker into a competent construction safety practitioner.” |
