Free Training

Identifying and Preventing Occupationally-related Infectious Diseases, Including COVID-19

This training is brought to you through the Susan Harwood Training Grant, which provides under-served, low-literacy, high-hazard workers and employers with free training on workplace safety and health hazards, responsibilities, and rights. NIU is proud to receive this grant and provide you with these classes. As part of the grant program, NIU offers 90 minute or four hours free training.

This grant funded training targets identifying and preventing occupationally-related infectious diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19, ebola, hepatitis, influenzas, norovirus, and tuberculosis. The training will cover subjects such as protective measures in the workplace, using personal protective equipment and workplace controls, understanding and implementing OSHA and CDC guidelines, preventing exposure, record-keeping requirements, respirator requirements and OSHA standards related to infectious diseases in the workplace.This training is intended for employees and employers in general industry and industry sectors covered by the OSHA COVID-19 Healthcare ETS.

The virtual courses are fully interactive and the use of a device with internet access, webcam and audio is required. The length of the class represents the depth of material it will cover; however, topics are the same for 90-minute and 4-hour classes.

This material is presented under grant number SH-36984-HA1 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Additional Coronavirus Resources

Frequently Asked Questions - OSHA

The Department of Labor provides an updated set of answers to frequently asked questions related to the coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic. Read it here. The page addresses topics such as:

Practical Guides for Employers: COVID-19 and the Workplace

OSHA Publications- Find the latest OSHA guidelines for general and industry-specific safety practices, including Retail Pharmacy, Dental, Rideshare and Taxi, Nursing Home, Meatpacking, and more. Resources include downloadable posters in multiple languages.
Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 -U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s detailed guide for safe work practices
OSHA COVID-19 Webpage -U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s webpage containing detailed information about COVID-19, healthcare respiratory protection, hazard recognition, OSHA standards, and more
Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce Guidance -United States Department of Homeland Security’s advisory webpage about how to identify essential critical infrastructure workers during the COVID-19 response
When and How to Use Masks -World Health Organization’s guide to understanding when and how you should wear a mask

State-specific Resources

The federal government is providing general guidance for the COVID-19 response. States and municipalities are adding their own responses based on local needs. To find out your state’s additional responses, visit these sites:

State Resources and Restrictions - The Council of State Governments’ COVID-19 site shows state resources, curfews, school closures, crowd size limits, and more
Steps States have Taken to Address Coronavirus - The National Governors Association’s webpage with info about state emergency/public health emergency declarations, restricted travel/travel bans, limits on gatherings, closure of non-essential businesses, state/territorial resource pages, and more
State Legislative Action on Coronavirus - The National Conference of State Legislatures shows how state legislation is responding to COVID-19