Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today announced that a new partnership between the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) and the Department of Correction (DOC) will create a new 10-hour construction safety and health training class to persons in DOC custody who are nearing the end of their sentences and preparing to seek employment. The federally-approved course, often referred to as the “OSHA-10,” is a new initiative with the goal of increasing the education and skills of those leaving incarceration so they become more marketable to prospective employers.

Held over the course of five weeks in two-hour segments, the course will be provided by staff from CTDOL’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a course completion card from the federal OSHA Region 1 Training Institute Education Center.

The governor stressed that these efforts aim to continue reducing the state’s historically low crime rate by providing those who are soon-to-be released with the tools needed to become productive members of society and prevent recidivism.

“OSHA-10 provides the general knowledge an entry-level construction worker needs for recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site, and offers an educational advantage to those leaving our correctional system,” CTDOL Commissioner Scott D. Jackson said in a statement. “We are pleased to be working with Commissioner Semple on this new initiative – this is a way to provide those deserving a second chance with better opportunities when they begin their job search and transition from inmates to a productive and contributing resident of their communities.”

More than 100 people in DOC custody have already expressed interest in the course and are registered to begin the classes, which begin June 21 at the DOC’s Cybulski Community Reintegration Center in Enfield.