OTI Education Center hosts national conference

What is the OTI Education Center? In 1992, MCC was designated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as an OSHA Training Institute Education Center (OTI/EC), which is located at MCC-Business & Technology. It was one of the four originally created and is currently among 46 centers across the nation. The OTI/EC at BTC is considered to be one of the premier places in the nation to get health and safety training. The OTI Education Center is managed by the Institute for Workforce Innovation’s Business & Learning Solutions unit.

By hosting the national OTI/EC conference in Kansas City this week, BTC had an opportunity to showcase to their peers what they have to offer; and for the OSHA officials to come see what we do. Having the OSHA officials in town is especially important now due to OTI's reauthorization coming in 2012.

“Having a training center in Kansas City is great for us,” said Annette Braam, director for the OTI Education Center. “We are responsible for a four state region, providing training for students in the safety and health profession in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Our work reaches beyond Kansas City.”

Braam came to MCC with the goal of expanding the scope of the OTI/EC. The center provides training and consulting services to businesses and individuals so they can maintain the highest standards of safety, which are outlined by OSHA.



The conference focused on new programs, emphasis programs, outreach, as well as discussions on what’s working across the country.

“It is a really good time to share ideas with each other,” said John Littleton, performance consultant manager from BTC. “Why should we reinvent the wheel when other successful programs already exist? We share our programs with others and everyone wins. It costs nothing to share.”

A good example of a win-win is the sharing of a certificate program already being used in Texas. Braam met with Lisa London from the University of Texas, Arlington, to swap curriculum. “We have the product in hand and can be tweaked for your community,” said London. “We don’t compete with each other, we collaborate.” In the tough economic times facing higher education institutions across the nation, conferences like these allow colleges to work more efficiently.

Chancellor Mark James welcomed the attendees at the kickoff on Tuesday morning. “We are committed to the programming and to be a part of making the workplace safer for their employees,” said James.

More information about OTI/EC is available here.

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