The WKU Center For Environmental And Workplace Health Received A $983,000 CDC NIOSH Training Project Grant

WKU's Center for Environmental and Occupational Health (CEWH) has received a $983,000 Training Project Grant (TPG) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This scholarship is to educate the next generation in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practice and research in the Environmental Science and Occupational Health (EOHS) degree program. This is from the College of Health and Human Services, Professor of Public Health, Ms. Jacqueline Basham, Dr. Science and Engineering, Department of Psychology, Dr. Starring Katrina Burch.

This five-year scholarship is offered through the EOHS program (WKU EOHS Program) in Bachelor of Science and Master of Science. The scholarship fund provides scholarships to students in these programs, opportunities for advanced occupational safety education and work experience in occupational safety research. The implementation of TPG at WKU will play an important role in preparing the future occupational health and safety workforce for the new challenges posed by the region's innovation and economic development. According to the NIOSH TPG, the changing nature of work is "an inevitable result of technological advances, globalization, new and emerging hazards, workplace health disparities, the demographics of the U.S. workforce, and many other factors." A specific website. The WKU NIOSH TPG offers students the opportunity to receive an education that will prepare them to successfully pass these exams.

A specific component of the WKU NIOSH TPG is applied research. Students supported by a TPG grant will gain extensive research experience in occupational safety and health. Current research by faculty and students focuses on improving firefighter health, safely transporting hazardous materials, assessing workplace violence, and understanding and improving the public health of the workforce. Graduates of the EOHS program respond to the high demand for professionals in the fields of occupational safety and health, environmental safety, and health and environmental management.

Dr. Taylor, the project's principal investigator, said, "EOHS as a profession is growing rapidly and enrolling students in WKU's EOHS programs is urgently needed. The next generation of EOHS leaders is needed. WKU's EOHS graduates play a vital role in occupational health and safety" for industry, government, private companies and others. Organizations to improve worker health and safety and reduce occupational exposures and worker injuries. Our current research portfolio reflects the range of interests in the field of EOHs at CEWH.

For more information Dr. Ritchie Taylor at ritchie.taylor@wku.edu.

Executive Effectiveness Working Group (09/26/22)