West Virginia University Extension Safety and Health held a graduation and dedication ceremony to celebrate students who completed the Certified Safety Trainer and the Certified Safety Specialist programs as well as the new David Harper Classroom.
WVU Extension Safety and Health has been a leader in providing professional continuing education courses since 1994 by serving as the lead organization in the National Resource Center, an OSHA Training Institute Education Center – one of 25 in the United States.
The Certified Safety Specialist program is for students seeking to strengthen their education in occupational safety and health. The Certified Safety Trainer program is an add-on to the Certified Safety Specialist program, allowing students to personally teach OSHA classes upon completion and to educate others on the hazards associated with a workplace.
"Every worker in the United States has a right, by law, to a safe and healthy workplace,” said Tiffany Rice, director, NRC-WVU OSHA Training Institute Education Center. “Often, production takes precedent over safety, so it is critical for companies to have an employee whose focus is purely on the safety of the worker.”
Often times in the safety and health industry, the task of implementing and managing a safety and health program is put on employees who may not have the education or background. For example, sometimes the human resources manager or facilities director will be tasked to manage a safety and health program, explained Rice. The certificate programs are designed to provide individuals with regulatory background that, if implemented, will reduce the companies risk of an OSHA citation, reduce the likelihood of a serious injury occurring or a worker fatality, and reduce companies' workers compensation insurance costs.
Mark Dale, a recent graduate of both the Certified Safety Training program and the Certified Safety Specialist program, has been working as a site safety and health officer. In this role, he writes safety plans and activity hazard analyses, conducts site inspections and evaluations, and he also administers daily safety briefings and weekly safety talks. He credits the certificates with helping him get this position and earn an increase in salary.
"I enrolled in the certificate programs because, in a previous role, I was asked to fill a position and I wanted to expand my safety knowledge,” Dale said. “This program helped me to learn more about safety in the workplace, and it gave me an understanding without getting a degree. I also enjoyed the ease of taking the courses online and they were easy to navigate compared to other online courses I have done.”
Students can choose between four industry tracks — general industry, construction, maritime, or oil and gas. There are eight certificate programs across each industry. The track chosen dictates which classes a student takes, as each track has different requirements. To graduate from the programs, students must complete at least 150 hours of training.
"We have countless examples of graduates from our program advancing within their company or getting a new job after completing one of our certificate programs,” Rice said. “These advances and new opportunities result in a higher salary and more professional opportunities. We also have several companies that send their employees to us to prepare them for the safety and health role within their company.”
The program attracts students from a variety of professional scenarios, including those with a college degree in safety and health but need more education on the practical aspects of safety and health regulations as well as those who are workers from the trades who have been asked to take on safety duties in the field. These students are experts in their craft but have not been exposed to the breadth and depth of all of the OSHA regulations, explained Rice. WVU Extension Safety and Health continues to offer valuable education to those in the safety and health industry.
“For me, the highlight of graduation was hearing the stories from the graduates thanking the faculty for their commitment to the program,” said Mark Fullen, Safety and Health director.
The graduation ceremony honored 21 students who graduated from both programs.
In addition to honoring graduates, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to dedicate a training room to honor the late David Warren Harper. Through a planned giving approach, Nancy Valentine Harper, Ed.D., a distinguished alumna of WVU and WVU Extension associate professor emerita, provided a financial gift to establish the training room in memory of Harper’s late husband, who had a long and successful career in occupational safety and health.
The David Harper Classroom offers a space to teach courses, including many OSHA specialty courses, first aid and CPR training, and oil and gas safety and health training. The room also will be used as a breakout space for train-the-trainer courses that require students to develop and deliver safety training during their week of in-person class.
"It was great to highlight the successes of our graduates and the importance of the financial support from Nancy Valentine Harper,” Fullen said. “Having the support of President Gee and Dean Atiles at this event also showed the importance of the work being done.”
In addition to the training room, a planned scholarship endowment was also established by Nancy Valentine Harper in memory of her late husband. This is the first time scholarship assistance will be available to provide support to students completing one of the eight certificate programs, reflecting the values and dedication that both Nancy and David have exemplified throughout their lives.
“David would be so pleased and humbled to have this classroom dedicated to him, for he was never one to seek honor and attention,” Nancy Valentine Harper said. “He quietly went about his career making a positive difference in the lives of people and improving health and safety programs in a variety of settings.”
Harper’s gifts were made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
The Certified Safety Specialist program is just one of many types of workforce training available. WVU Extension Safety and Health offers trainings and programs to help individuals lead safe, prosperous lives – including more than 40 OSHA courses covering everything from basic workplace safety to specialized safety trainings, as well as health care continuing education opportunities through the Shirley M. Kimble Training Center.
To learn more about WVU Extension Safety and Health, visit https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/safety-health.
If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, YouTube, X and Instagram.
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sd/06/03/25
CONTACT: Sophia Darmelio
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WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement
304-293-9490;
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