Education And Saving Lives Top Priority for EOC Tech and CareerTech

By Kathleen Kennedy
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center

CHOCTAW-  Unfortunately we have all heard of the tragic deaths on the evening news of Oklahoman’s working in an un-safe trenches and being buried alive and sometimes if they are spared death, they incur injuries that prevent them from ever working again. 

Saving lives and educating Oklahoman’s is a top priority for the Business and Industry Services of Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center and the Business and Industry Services division of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Trenching, Excavation, and Shoring safety training provided by EOC Tech is conducted at the only center in Oklahoma named as a specialty center in this area, can help prevent these horrible accidents and deaths.  Oklahoma’s only permanent trench safety training facility is located on the EOC Tech campus in Choctaw. 

The partnership between EOC Tech and CareerTech resulted in a $35,000 grant to help upgrade the facility and purchase training equipment.   With the work mostly completed, Oklahoma’s only Trench Safety Trainer was dedicated with a live demonstration in November on the EOC Tech campus.

Operating in a safe manner prevents trenching accidents, according to Erick Reynolds, director of Business and Industry Services at EOC Tech.

“We are dedicated to helping save lives and to preventing on-the-job accidents in trenches.  Our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities will only improve Oklahoma’s safety record,” Reynolds said.

Not only does EOC Tech have an on-site trainer, but a trainer that is available to travel to other sites across the state. 

“We would like as many Oklahoman’s as possible to be trained to operate safely in a trench environment.  Trench excavation is the fifth highest cited violation cited by the Oklahoma Health and Safety Administration construction standards.  We have the capabilities to lower this number as well as offering customized training needs for business and industry,” said Reynolds. 

For more information about scheduling a safety training class, call 405-390-9591 or visit the website at www.eoctech.org.