by Kerran McFadden

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OHSA, is a new class that can be taken this spring. The OHSA safety class is an introduction to the following fields: plumbing, electrical, welding, sheet metal, insulator, carpentry, and HVAC. Students interested in continuing with plumbing and electrical courses offered through Camblin Mechanical next year will benefit from earning the OSHA work safety certificate.

According to guidance counselor Craig Fredin, the program is for students to be job ready when they leave high school, and also if they don’t go to college. They will be able to be in an apprenticeship for plumbing if they complete the course. The class will be two semesters, one credit per semester. It will be held at the middle school in the old shop room, and is offered to juniors and seniors.

Randy Watts will be teaching the OSHA safety class in the first week of January. It will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Watts is going to teach about safety around construction equipment. Watts said that he wants the student to be “self-relining.” The class will start out by reading a book about safety. He will then teach how to do plumbing, electrical, welding, sheet metal, insulator, carpentry, and HVAC, which stands for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning.

Watts decided to teach the class because “as a contractor, there is a drastic shortage of craftsmen.” He has been teaching apprentices in his job. Watts has a teaching license, a state board of education license, and a license with the NCCER.

Senior Dacoda Schwarte said he is interested in “building apartment and homes,” but is not interested in the OSHA safety class, which is next spring.

Senior Blake Thomas said that he is considering the OSHA safety class because he is interested in all parts of construction. He said he would have been interested in the Camblin P&H class if it had been offered this year.

If you are interested in this class, go to the guidance office and sign up.