The needs of occupational workforce development are constantly evolving. Two West Virginia University national leaders in occupational safety and health are coming together to extend the reach, outcomes and sustainability of training programs.
The WVU National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) has joined WVU Safety and Health Extension. The move aligns the mission and goals of both organizations, creating synergy and collaboration to address workforce training in key fields.
NAFTC provides alternative fuels education and workforce training to educate new and existing automotive technicians to support the growing industry of alternative fuel and electric vehicles. WVU Safety and Health Extension, a nationally recognized leader in safety and health, oversees the National Resource Center, OSHA Training Institute Education Center along with center partner CPWR (The Center for Construction Research and Training).
“Bringing NAFTC under the WVU Safety and Health Extension umbrella strengthens collaboration and outreach for our workforce,” Mark Fullen, director of WVU Safety and Health Extension. “It allows us to better align our mission, goals and resources by expanding training programs to include alternative fuel automotive technician and clean energy transition workforce preparation, as well as alternative fuel vehicle emergency response training for first and second responders.”
Fullen noted that another benefit of bringing the two units together is expanded outreach and community engagement. WVU Safety and Health Extension has an established statewide and national network of industry, government and community partnerships that can enhance NAFTC’s outreach and impact while NAFTC is nationally recognized as a leader in alternative fuels training and curriculum development. Providing strong occupational safety training programs, including OSHA, workplace hazard assessments and emergency response preparedness. It also will enhance specialized safety training in a growing alternative fuels industry, which requires specialized workforce training. While these two programs are distinct from one another, they overlap in the areas of worker preparation, workforce development and safety.
In addition to the collaboration with Safety and Health, WVU Extension’s Fire Service faculty and staff have been key partners with the NAFTC. The WVU Fire Service Extension is NAFTC’s exclusive first responder training provider. WVU Fire Service Extension faculty, seasoned first responders and educators helped develop training materials and have delivered alternative fuel vehicle first responder training in West Virginia, as well as at national events and for groups across the country. For EV training, WVU Fire Service Extension uses a Hybrid Electric Vehicle Training Educator, which is a cutaway Toyota Prius™ that allows first responders to actually see major high-voltage and other internal vehicle components.
“This unification is a unique opportunity to expand our educational efforts to train our citizens to be ‘workforce ready,’ while also enhancing their ability to be competitive in today’s business environment,” Fullen said.
