Workplace Health & Safety
A collaborative effort between WorkAbility I and U.C. Berkeley's Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP)
California's WorkAbility I program has made a strong commitment to workplace health and safety education for students participating in the program. Developing basic health and safety skills not only helps students know what to do if they are concerned about workplace hazards or other problems at work, but it also increases their employability. Employers appreciate new workers coming to the worksite already armed with basic health and safety skills. The employer's responsibility to provide training about specific hazards on the job and the workplace's safety rules is made easier if they can build on previous learning.
Working in partnership with the Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at UC Berkeley, WorkAbility programs around the state have provided basic health and safety training to their students. Two free curricula are available to help staff and teachers teach these skills. One is the Youth@Work: Talking Safety curriculum, accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/talkingsafety/. (Then click on the California version.) The other is Staying Safe at Work, accessed at http://lohp.org/safe-at-work-curriculum/. Staying Safe at Work was specifically developed for teaching youth and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities (though many of the same activities are in both curricula). LOHP trainers are available to conduct trainings at regional WorkAbility conferences to prepare teachers to teach the class to students.
What are the basic occupational safety and health skills every worker needs?
Every worker should be able to do the following:
Identify the things on the job that can hurt you, make you sick or harm your mental health (the hazards)
Recognize that hazards can be controlled and work injuries and illnesses prevented
Know what to do in an emergency
Understand that workers have rights, as well as responsibilities, on the job
Speak up effectively if a problem arises at work.
Resources for More Information and Training
The Young Worker Safety Resource Center is a collaborative project of U.C. Berkeley’s Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) and the California Partnership for Young Worker Health and Safety. Visit www.youngworkers.org for more information and materials related to young worker health and safety issues.
Visit LOHP's website at lohp.org for more information about a variety of health and safety topics, as well as materials in English and other languages. LOHP conducts a number of projects for workers with disabilities and their employers, and for young workers and their employers. See the publications page to download materials that may be of interest.
While the question of “if students can work” would be a local-level decision, it is recommended you consult the CDE Guidance that was delivered on March 17, 2021, regarding the allowance for expanded on-campus placements: WorkAbility I 2020-21 Program Guidance — Laws, Regulations, & Policies (CA Department of Education) https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/lr/om031721.asp. It describes the allowance for expanded on-campus placements for the Workability I grant in certain circumstances, such as when community placements are not available due to closures while the LEA remains open for in-person learning:
“the CDE is providing the additional guidance for use during any upcoming time period in which community placements remain limited and will need to exceed the five percent on-campus placement. In such situations, WAI grantees may choose to offer expanded opportunities for on-campus placements to all students enrolled in WAI, including those who lack placement opportunities and could benefit from participating in an on-campus placement; and students who previously participated in unpaid experiences in on-campus placements.”