EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Community College says it is continuing to expand and strengthen its partnership with Texas Mutual Insurance Company.
Since 2015, the partnership has supported the EPCC Risk Management Institute (RMI), offering no cost or low-cost safety training to employers, workers, and community members throughout the El Paso area, EPCC said.
EPCC’s RMI, along with EPCC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director Audrey Marrufo and Workforce Solutions Borderplex, were part of a Texas Mutual “Texans Get It” Small Business summit discussing safety in the workplace Tuesday, Oct. 7 in Downtown El Paso.
Funded by a grant from Texas Mutual, the EPCC RMI provides vital health and safety education to more than 4,000 workers annually, covering over 35 key safety topics, EPCC said.
Training includes OSHA 10- and 30-hour certifications for construction and general industry, as well as specialized sessions on fall prevention, lockout/lagout, hazard communication (HazCom), bloodborne pathogens, ergonomics, and more.
“Through our partnership with Texas Mutual, EPCC is helping ensure that safety education is accessible to everyone, from small business owners to large contractors,” EPCC RMI Coordinator Cecy Maurer said. “Together, we’re creating safer workplaces and empowering our community with the knowledge to prevent accidents before they happen.”
The RMI has developed over 250 partnerships with businesses of all sizes, collaborating with general contractors, subcontractors, and industry suppliers to deliver customized safety training, EPCC said.
The institute also leads large-scale safety initiatives, such as the upcoming EPCC RMI Excavation Safety Festival, taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday Oct. 17 at EPCC’s Mission del Paso Campus. This community event is expected to draw more than 500 participants. It will feature hands-on learning, safety demonstrations, and participation from emergency response teams to promote safe excavation practices.
Texas Mutual said safety is an expensive endeavor, and it is an incredible burden for small businesses, so their grants to the college over the years helps support the community, employers, employees, and small businesses.
“Our end goal is to provide the money for safety training and that’s the role EPCC fulfills,” Texas Mutual Regional Safety Manager Scott Bain said. “They provide that training in a reduced cost. Reach out to EPCC for safety needs because they do a great job and many of the resources are free, and it’s such a valuable asset to our region.”
For more information about the EPCC Risk Management Institute, training opportunities, or the upcoming Excavation Safety Festival, you can click here.
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