Hancock adds manufacturing safety class due to industry demand

The demand for machining and other manufacturing employees is expected to increase by 22 percent through 2020 in Santa Barbara County—that’s information from the California Employment Development Department, according to a press release from Allan Hancock College.

Because of the expected growth of the industry, Hancock is launching an online manufacturing safety course in the fall. The class will teach employees and potential employees about working in confined spaces, working with hazardous materials, storing flammable materials, record keeping, and other key safety regulations. The two-unit class begins the week of Aug. 18 and requires two hours of online work each week.

Hancock is partnering with the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council for the course, and students will be able to earn an industry-recognized safety certificate from the Council’s Certified Production Technician program.

“Short-term certificates like the [Certified Production Technician] are important because they are industry recognized and prove those who complete the course have mastered core technical skills related to high-demand jobs,” Robert Mabry, machining and manufacturing assistant professor, said in the press release.

Mabry works closely with local manufacturers and believes they will recognize the advantages of having current and new employees take the course.

“Workplace injuries can be very costly to the employee and employer. One of the biggest expenses of doing business in California is the cost of workmen’s compensation insurance,” he said in the press release.

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