Eastern Kentucky University has entered into an agreement with the United States Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center to provide credit courses in the CP-12 safety program at Fort Rucker in Alabama.
Representatives of the University and the Army met on the Richmond campus recently to sign a memorandum of understanding that will provide for up to six hours of academic credit in the University’s graduate program in Safety, Security and Emergency Management for the successful completion of the CP-12 (safety and health) program.
The CP-12 program, designed by EKU’s Division of Continuing Education and Outreach with courses taught at Fort Rucker by EKU faculty, is a 240-hour program for civilian personnel operating within the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. The program encompasses safety requirements identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for military application.
“Safety and occupational health specialists have become an increasingly integral part of all military operations, regardless of branch,” said Dr. Brenda Miller, senior safety advisor to the Director of Army Safety/Functional Chief Representative for CP-12. “They are an essential component of readiness.
“These professionals are trained to advise, administer, supervise, and perform work in the field of safety and occupational health far exceeding the administrative level,” Miller continued. “They are deploying to tactical environments, involved in peacekeeping operations and participating in joint exercises, continuing to meet the challenging assignments demanded of them at installations and activities all over the world.
“They are anticipating and identifying hazardous conditions and practices; assessing risks; developing hazard control designs, methods, procedures and programs; implementing, administering, and advising others on hazard control initiatives; and measuring, auditing, and evaluating the effectiveness of accident prevention programs.”
All entry-level CP-12 interns complete a two-year program – 15 weeks of formal training at the Center at Fort Rucker (six weeks provided by EKU) and the remaining time in specialized and on-the-job training. Interns who complete the 15-week program acquire the Certified Safety and Health Official designation from EKU, an approved OSHA Training Institute Outreach Center.
For each CP-12 iteration, EKU provides the following courses: Standards for the Construction Industry, Electrical Standards, Hazardous Materials, Ergonomics, Recordkeeping, Industrial Hygiene, Confined Space and Standards for General Industry.
Miller commended EKU for its responsiveness and flexibility.
“The instructor cadre does an outstanding job of working in a military environment to ensure our students obtain the requisite knowledge in safety and health,” she said. “These educational initiatives will benefit all safety and occupational health professionals assigned to support organizations within the Department of Defense.”
Miller said similar educational partnerships with EKU might be explored in the areas of fire, explosives safety training and occupational health.
EKU also provides instruction for a Ground Safety Officer Course and an Aviation Safety Officer Course at Fort Rucker, which is located near Dothan in southeastern Alabama.
