OKLAHOMA CITY – Metro Technology Centers and the Oklahoma Department of Labor (ODOL) have signed an official alliance to establish a new and free online safety training program.

The Youth Employment Safety (YES) program, tentatively set to launch the week of Labor Day 2023, will educate young workers, their employers and community advocates about youth employment laws and related workplace standards.

The official signing of the alliance took place Wednesday, June 12th, 2023 at the Metro Tech District Center at 1900 Springlake Drive, Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Department of Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn’s remarks about the YES Alliance were followed by the reading of the alliance by ODOL Child Labor Officer Lester Claravall. The event culminated in the signing of the alliance by Metro Tech Superintendent Aaron Collins and Commissioner Osborn.

“The Oklahoma Department of Labor is excited to collaborate with Metro Tech on our duel project to promote safety in the workplace for our young workers across the state,” Commissioner Osborn said.

“The educational outreach capabilities of Metro Tech will help our agency in the mission of safe workplace conditions for all of our citizens. The YES Youth Employment Safety program will help educate and train youth across the state with free online training programs and is a great step to a more educated and trained workforce.”

The YES training program will be divided into three distinct training modules tailored for each group. Training designed for young workers will focus on youth employment laws, youth worker safety, workplace hiring and employment discrimination, mental health, emergency management, personal protective equipment, and taxes.

The training module designed for employers will cover topics such as youth employment laws, wage and hour protections, federal and state OSHA consultation programs, and workplace hiring and employment discrimination.

The third module, designed for parents, educators and community members, will offer education on youth employment laws, workplace hiring, employment discrimination, federal OSHA, and wage and hour protections.

Upon completion of the program, participants will be provided with an ODOL-recognized certificate of completion.

“The YES Alliance symbolizes our unwavering commitment to the safety, well-being and education of our youth,” Superintendent Collins said, in comments sent to CapitolBeatOK.com.

“By forming this alliance with the Oklahoma Department of Labor, we are able to combine our resources and expertise to provide a free and critical educational tool for everyone. It is an exemplification of what we can achieve when we come together to address vital issues in our community.”

Notes and Disclosure: As one of the largest and most diverse technology centers in Oklahoma, Metro Tech (Metro Technology Centers) has four campuses that offer full-time, short-term, career and customized business training. Campuses are located in South Oklahoma City, Northeast Oklahoma City, the Will Rogers World Airport and Downtown Oklahoma City. Pat McGuigan, founder and publisher of CapitolBeatOK.com, worked with Lester Claraval at the Oklahoma Department of Labor for four years during the tenure of the late Brenda Reneau, the longest-serving elected Commissioner of Labor in state history. Pat prepared this story working from material provided by Leslie Strehl of the Metro Tech staff.