Creating a culture of safety
Photo by MARY JO RAWLSKY Craig Jobb (right) transitioned from keeping people healthy in the field health care to occupational safety for his career as a safety specialist for Tedder Industries in Post Falls.
By KAYE THORNBRUGH
North Idaho College
Craig Jobb didn’t set out to be a safety specialist. In fact, his background is in health care: he’s worked as a medical assistant in trauma centers and coordinated clinical trials.
“Working in health care, your whole heart has to be in it,” he said. “That’s someone’s family in that bed.”
That background in health care, and his focused approach to working with people, have dovetailed surprisingly well with a career as a safety specialist for Tedder Industries in Post Falls. He’s refined his approach in part by becoming a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist.
Jobb became certified after taking the COSS program offered by North Idaho College, through the Workforce Training Center in Post Falls.
COSS is an intensive, interactive course that provides individuals in the safety and health field with the tools and techniques to coordinate and implement corporate health plans, conduct safety and health training, and provide support to safety and training managers. The program consists of 40 hours of hands-on, face-to-face learning, delivered by an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer.
“It was awesome to be in the class with other safety people,” Jobb said. “The instructor was very knowledgeable, and the information was comprehensive.”
By learning to promote safety on a jobsite, COSS graduates have the knowledge to help lower fatalities, near misses and OSHA citations. The program is designed for the entry-level person, or for the experienced safety professional who needs a refresher.
Case studies and workshops are used to show students the practical applications of what they’re learning. The program ends with a comprehensive final exam that allows students to demonstrate their competency in the class.
Through the COSS program, Jobb said he learned about recording and reporting injuries, researching incident rates, and the real cost of workplace injuries. He also learned how to quickly navigate the OSHA standards book, as well as what to expect from an OSHA inspection, including a breakdown of the complete inspection process.
“It’s helped to broaden my vision of safety,” Jobb said. “We’re creating a culture of safety, across the spectrum of all employees. That was also important from my employer’s point of view — to bring that information back.”
Taking the class was also a valuable networking opportunity for Jobb’s company, Tedder Industries. He connected with other professionals he met through the COSS program, which developed into business relationships that have been beneficial for all parties.
Jobb says that the training he received through the COSS program has helped his company to enhance the way they report accidents and incidents.
“For anybody who has a role in safety, this will be beneficial,” he said. “Regardless of how much experience you have, this class will enhance your knowledge.”
The next COSS class will be Monday, Dec. 4, through Friday, Dec. 8. Class will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Workforce Training Center.
For more information about the COSS program, contact the NIC Workforce Training Center at (208) 769-3333 or visit www.workforcetraining.nic.edu.