TSTC students gain workplace-safety experience

(WACO, Texas) – Isolation is a good thing in Texas State Technical College’s Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance program.

Students taking the Physical Hazards Control class recently worked on a safety lockout and tag-out exercise that taught how to control and isolate hazardous energy. Students worked with ball valves, breaker panels, gate valves and switches. This kind of work is done in the construction, manufacturing, process operations, and oil and gas industries.

“I enjoyed how we would work together and figure out our mistakes and do it right,” said Bianca Perez, of Los Angeles, California, a TSTC Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance student.

Perez became interested in her field of study because she has family members working in construction who talk to her about safety issues. After graduation, Perez wants to work in the construction field and build on her fascination with cranes.

“I think it’s right to care about your safety,” she said.

Brant Buzbee, an instructor in TSTC’s Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance program in Waco, said this hands-on training is important for students to know once they graduate and go to work.

“They are going to know how to do this and train them (other employees) to do this and verify it is being done correctly,” he said.

The students also learn how to develop compliance and inspection programs that are equipment-specific and used in all industries.  

Fernando Luna, of Rockdale, an Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance student, said hands-on work means more efficiency in learning.

“Practice makes perfect,” he said. “The more you do it, the more you understand.”

Luna said the program has made him think more about breakers and knobs.

“It’s very interesting to find safety mechanisms that apply to daily life,” he said.

Buzbee said the class focuses on how to reduce physical hazards in the workplace and includes training in confined spaces, driving, loss control and personal protective equipment.

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance at the Breckenridge, Fort Bend County and Waco campuses.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.