Eastern Michigan University’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Training Center has received a nearly $600,000 OSHA Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grant. This is the first time the center has been awarded this federal funding. The announcement coincides with the center’s 30th anniversary.
The grant arrives as the warehousing and distribution sector faces rapid growth and increased workplace safety risks. Between February 2022 and February 2024, 21 workers in the United States died in warehouse-related incidents. Many of these deaths could have been prevented through better safety training, hazard awareness, and improved operational procedures.
“This grant helps to advance Eastern’s commitment to worker safety and workforce development,” said Beth Heiss, director of Professional Programs and Training at EMU. “For three decades, our OSHA Training Center has helped employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities under federal safety standards. This funding will allow us to expand that impact even further, particularly in high-risk warehousing and distribution environments.”
With support from the Susan Harwood grant, EMU’s OSHA Training Center will offer more targeted, no-cost safety training courses focusing on hazard prevention, worker protection, and best practices for reducing injuries and fatalities in high-risk settings.
John Rupp Jr., an experienced safety professional and longtime EMU instructor, leads course development and instructor training. The curriculum integrates current industry practices, regulatory requirements, case studies, hands-on activities, and small-group discussions tailored to logistics environments.
Founded in 1995, EMU’s OSHA Training Center trains thousands of professionals each year in partnership with industry groups, labor organizations, and regulatory agencies. It is one of a limited number of university-based OSHA Training Institutes nationwide.
The milestone anniversary highlights EMU’s ongoing commitment to supporting Michigan’s workforce through practical learning designed to meet changing industry needs.
Eastern Michigan University was established in 1849 as a school dedicated to teacher training but has since evolved into a comprehensive public university offering over 200 undergraduate majors and minors as well as various graduate programs [source]. The university is recognized nationally for its programs across fields such as education, business, health sciences, arts [source], maintains its main campus in Ypsilanti [source], extends educational access through online initiatives [source], holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission [source], and prepares students for significant societal contributions [source].
For more information about upcoming safety training programs at EMU’s OSHA Training Center or details about Eastern Michigan University’s academic offerings or history visit their official website at https://www.emich.edu/.
