The 2 1/2-hour mandatory class was developed for employees who function in a supervisory capacity. The first group of supervisors completing the training will be those in the Finance and Administration area, according to Director of Environmental Health and Safety Joe Adams. The training will be adapted for other campus areas in early 2009.

Supervisors who complete this training will acquire skills such as identifying safety hazards, promoting safer workplace practices and improving ergonomics.

Adams said. "We feel that the key to increasing safety on campus is getting everyone involved. That is why we are training the supervisors with the hope that they will pass the information down to their workers."

EHS decided to implement the workplace safety initiative in response to the rising cost of workers' compensation claims and injury-related medical expenses at Ohio University. Over the past three years, the university accumulated about $5.5 million in injury-related expenses.

Additionally, EHS is developing an "operational hazard reporting" system to allow anyone to report potential hazards on campus, by phone or by filling out an online form. The system should be in place before the start of winter quarter.

Adams said EHS hopes to fully implement all 12 steps of the workplace safety initiative by July.

To read more about the initiative, visit www.ohio.edu/ehs.

-- George Mauzy