It was Aristotle who said it first, about how you learn how to do something best by actually doing it. But, if we may be so bold, CSN’s own Dan Gouker said it better on Tuesday.
“You cannot learn stuff like safety out of a book,” said Gouker, the executive director of CSN’s Division of Workforce and Economic Development. “You have to do it.”
Dan Gouker, DWED executive director
Gouker, who was touting a new partnership between CSN and NV Energy that is leading to more hands-on safety classes, isn’t a man who says things he doesn’t mean. He backs them up.
Which is why his division applied for some federal grants through the Department of Labor’s Employment Training Administration, these things called Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grants. TAACCCT grants provide community colleges and other eligible higher education institutions with the money to expand and improve their ability to deliver education and career training programs. These are programs that can be finished in two years or less and prepare workers for high-wage, high-skill jobs.
In this case, CSN received a $2.5 million grant, and Gouker put it to good use by establishing a Facilities Maintenance and Operations Technician training program.
CSN President Michael Richards
This four-month program prepares students for National Center for Construction Education and Research certification and the complex demands of this growing field.
But Gouker wanted more than that. He wanted more safety training. State law mandates OSHA training for a variety of workers, from electrical lineman to construction workers. So it made sense for CSN, the largest higher education institution in the state, to provide that training.
It turns out, NV Energy was also interested in safety training. “NV Energy has been a real leader in safety,” said CSN President Michael Richards.
The company also has a long history with CSN, funding more than 100 scholarships.
Last month, CSN and NV Energy announced a $50,000 donation that would go toward CSN’s safety education program. On Tuesday, two safety training classrooms on CSN’s Charleston campus were dedicated in NV Energy’s name.
“Our top operational priority is safety,” said NV Energy President Paul Caudill. “There’s nothing more important to us.”
NV Energy President Paul Caudill
Gouker said NV Energy’s donation is going toward providing safety equipment for the OSHA classes. These classes, which run from five hours to 30 hours and cost anywhere from $60 to $179, typically train or refresh training for workers in the field. Pretty much anyone who works in construction or a related field needs this training.
The first class in the newly revamped classrooms will kick off today, Wednesday, May 14, with 18 workers from NV Energy who will be completing a mandatory refresher safety course.
Plenty more classes will be offered in the future.
For more information, visit the Division of Workforce and Economic Development’s website, or call 702-651-4747.