NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA to receive a $160,000 Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grant for the 2022-2023 program year. The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations competitively. Awards are issued annually based on Congressional appropriation.
The new curriculum to be developed will be tailored specifically to the communications infrastructure industry and will include detailed instruction on electrical safety awareness that telecom workers need to know, such as overhead transmission and distribution, equipment, basic electrical theory, lock-out/tag-out procedures and standards, installation of electrical telecom equipment, underground power, grounding and bonding, induced current, PPE, batteries and necessary safety, tower lighting and capacitors, and job hazard analysis documentation specific to telecom electrical awareness.
In addition, the curriculum will include pertinent OSHA information regarding employer responsibilities, worker rights, whistleblower laws, and complaint procedures (including time constraints).
“NATE is thrilled to receive the Susan Harwood Grant once again. The grant program continues to be an invaluable resource for the Association to develop a high-quality industry curriculum and facilitate free training opportunities for workers throughout the United States,” said NATE Projects Manager Kimberly Elliott.
“Based on certain trends we are seeing in the field, there is a need for more industry-specific electrical safety awareness training geared specifically to telecom employees and employers,” said Ken Hill, Director of Network Safety at Crown Castle. He also serves as a member of the Association’s Curriculum Development Committee.
“I am excited to roll up my sleeves and collaborate with other NATE subject matter experts to develop the training curriculum and materials for this important program,” added Hill.
As a result of receiving the Harwood grant, NATE plans to host 12 Electrical Safety Awareness for Telecom Workers Training Courses throughout the country in 2022. NATE projects that a minimum of 336 employers and employees will receive this complimentary training throughout the grant period.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education, and assistance.
