GVSU Occupational Safety & Health

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GVSU Occupational Safety & Health

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Grand Valley State University's Occupational Safety and Health program is designed to prepare individuals for entry level safety management positions while at the same time setting the stage for professional certification.

05/07/2025

Happy OSH Professional Day!! Thank you for all that you do to make our workplaces safer!

05/01/2025

Last week, we had the privilege to see our beloved OSH Seniors walk the stage at the April 2025 Commencement Ceremony. We are so proud of you! We know you will all continue to do great things! Go Lakers!!

04/25/2025

Today, the plan to restructure the Padnos College of Engineering at Grand Valley State University was announced to the GVSU Board of Trustees! The new structure will contain three departments: Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Integrated Engineering. With this change, we have the opportunity to provide our students with an individualized, flexible approach to engineering education. The new structure allows us to design innovative new programs, showcasing a modern engineering education.

Read more at gvsu.edu/pce/restructure

04/18/2025

Good luck to everyone as we approach finals week. Hopefully it is a chill and stress-free finals week.

🎉Good luck from all of us at OSH!🎉

04/16/2025

🎓Senior Spotlight🎓

Today we are spotlighting one of our amazing OSH Seniors, Rylie Dettwiler '25!

"I always knew I wanted to pursue a degree where I would be helping people. Originally I had my heart set on Biomedical engineering. After realizing that the coding and programming part of it wasn’t for me, I talked to my advisor who suggested I look into the Occupational Safety and Health Management program here at Grand Valley. After taking the introductory OSH 300 class, I immediately fell in love with safety. I wish I would have known about this program when I had entered college. I would choose OSH over and over again.

One of my favorite aspects of Grand Valley, and the OSHM program specifically, is that because we are so small, you truly create long lasting relationships with the professors and fellow classmates. My professors truly do care about me and that makes coming to class so much easier especially when I am having a rough day. Another great thing about becoming a safety major is that the internship opportunities are abundant.

This past summer I worked as a safety intern at Cannon-Muskegon in Muskegon, Mi. Cannon-Muskegon is a foundry where metal is melted into bars. At my internship, I conducted audits and risk assessments. I also created their fire extinguisher map and updated their emergency exit routes.

This summer I will be the safety intern at Plascore in Zeeland. I am super excited about this opportunity and I can’t wait to see what it has in store for me."

We love hearing from our alumni, if you are interested in being highlighted, please send a photo of yourself, a short bio, and a statement outlining how you think your GVSU OSH Degree assisted you in your career, to OSHDept@gvsu.edu.

04/11/2025

✨Alumni Spotlight✨

Today we are spotlighting Liam Little ‘21, Environmental, Health & Safety Client Supervisor.

Liam Little is an Environmental, Health & Safety Client Supervisor at U.S. Compliance Corporation and currently resides in New York City, where he’s lived for nearly four years. During that time he has supported dozens of clients across the United States and Canada.

In his role, Liam has designed and implemented site-specific programs that have led to major reductions in OSHA recordable incidents and lost-time injuries. As a Corporate Account Manager, he oversees deliverables, mentors new consultants, and contributes to the development of internal service materials.

Liam graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health Management. His internships with Parker Hannifin and the Muskegon County Road Commission gave him early insight into real-world safety applications and sparked his drive to pursue impactful, people-centered safety work.

“My journey into EHS really took shape at GVSU,” Liam reflects. “The OSH program gave me a strong technical foundation, but what stood out most was how much it strengthened my interpersonal skills. The professors created a space where asking questions and engaging in meaningful conversation were encouraged, and that made all the difference.”

Liam firmly believes that success in EHS goes far beyond knowing the regulations. “You have to be deeply people-oriented and a strong communicator. No matter what you are doing, your ability to listen actively, adapt your message, and build trust is what makes you effective. GVSU prepared me to do that.”

“Be curious. Ask questions. Say yes to the things that scare you, they’re usually the experiences where you learn the most. Always remember that listening is just as important as speaking. The best safety professionals are the ones who know how to connect with people.”

We love hearing from our alumni, if you are interested in being highlighted, please send a photo of yourself, a short bio, and a statement outlining how you think your GVSU OSH Degree assisted you in your career, to OSHDept@gvsu.edu.

04/02/2025

🎓Senior Spotlight🎓

Today we are spotlighting one of our amazing OSH Seniors, Taylor Cross '25!

Taylor Cross is a senior in her final semester at Grand Valley State University. Before transferring to GVSU in 2022, she earned an associate’s degree in Math, Science, and Engineering from Grand Rapids Community College, where she was also a member of the softball team.

Initially pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Taylor discovered the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) program through a friend, sparking her interest in the field. With a strong passion for ensuring people are safe and promoting best practices, she made the decision to switch major and hasn’t looked back.

One of Taylor’s favorite aspects of the OSH program has been the opportunity to participate in site tours, allowing her to explore various industries and witness firsthand how classroom knowledge translates into real-world applications.

Taylor completed her internship at Roskam Foods, where she continues to work. Her experience includes updating lockout/tagout procedures, revising company policies, updating hearing protection areas, and leading a major project to implement new cut-resistant gloves. These gloves will be distributed through PPE vending machines, ensuring easier access for employees and reinforcing workplace safety.

Taylor looks forward to applying her knowledge and experience to help create safer work environments in her future career.

We wish Taylor all the best as she approaches graduation and heads into the world of Occupational Safety!

03/31/2025

✨Alumni Spotlight✨

Today we are spotlighting Courtney Aloul '12, Affiliate Faculty at GVSU

Upon graduating at GVSU, I started my career in manufacturing at a site that had every EH&S facet imaginable and an established safety and health program. This exposure prepared me to take on a never ending to do list of continuous improvement knowing that it can be accomplished and progress is possible. From there, I joined the Loss Control field. Every week it was like an episode of how it’s made, and I was there to evaluate risk and identify opportunities to protect their property, employees, and fleet. I was often meeting with business owners or operational leaders to help support their business by identifying their unique safety related risks, and provide them resources to help improve their systems and prevent losses. Since 2021, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work with Dr. Huizen and Dr. Wu at GVSU teaching in the OSH program full time. It’s extremely rewarding to return to this institution that provided me with the life I have today, and help to prepare the next generation of safety professionals to go be great.

Finding the OSH program at GVSU has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I was standing at the crossroads that many college students face in making the daunting decision of what to do with the rest of my life. While enrolled in OSH300 David Cox, the Safety Manager of the University, was the instructor for that course and he asked to talk to me after class one day about the career. From there, I set up a meeting with Dr. Huizen, and the rest is history! One of the most amazing things that comes to mind as I write this is the network of professional colleagues as well as some of my closest friends that I made through this program and my career in safety. SAFE to say, I am proud to be a Laker, and proud to be an OSH alum!
We love hearing from our alumni, if you are interested in being highlighted, please send a photo of yourself, a short bio, and a statement outlining how you think your GVSU OSH Degree assisted you in your career, to OSHDept@gvsu.edu.

03/28/2025

“Honoring Innovation and Safety during Women’s History Month!”

Mary Riggin is known for her invention of railroad crossing signs. After witnessing a horrific accident, Riggin’s used her love for engineering and design to create a railroad crossing sign operated automatically by sensors and hydraulics. This invention not only protected many lives from train accidents, but also set a precedent for the inclusion of technology in railroad safety. Let’s celebrate her legacy and the lasting impact she’s had on safety in our communities.

03/26/2025

🎓Senior Spotlight🎓

Today we are spotlighting one of our amazing OSH Seniors, Gloria Benguche '25!

"Originally from Detroit, Michigan, I graduated from Cass Technical High School in 2021. I am currently a senior majoring in Occupational Safety & Health Management and plan to graduate in December 2025.

As a first-generation college student, I entered college undecided, unsure of my career path, but always had an interest in S.T.E.M. Initially, I pursued a degree in mechanical engineering, but after some time, my academic advisor introduced me to the OSHM program. Intrigued by the aspect of being able to help others, I enrolled in OSHM courses my sophomore year of college.

One of my favorite aspects of the OSHM program is the amount of resources available to students. We have ample opportunities to network with professionals from various safety sectors, along with access to scholarships and internship opportunities.

In the summer of 2024, I completed an Safety Co-op at Toyota. My plant site was located in Mississippi and it is otherwise known as Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi (TMMMS).During my time there, I supported the regional ergonomics and safety kaizen competition, conducted safety walks during the summer shutdown, performed a PPE cost analysis, and gathered data to develop countermeasures to encourage team members to report work-related discomfort early to help prevent long-term injuries. Some of the countermeasures included daily required group leader reads to team members about on time reporting and informational brochures.

I look forward to gaining new experiences, expanding my network, and applying my knowledge to real-world challenges. I am eager to collaborate with professionals in the field, learn from their expertise, and contribute to meaningful projects that drive safety improvements and innovation in the workplace. Through these opportunities, I hope to further develop my skills, make a positive impact, and continue growing both professionally and personally."

We wish Gloria all the best as she approaches graduation and heads into the world of Occupational Safety!

03/21/2025

Honoring Innovation and Safety during Women’s History Month!

Florence Lawrence was one of the first film stars of the early days of film. However, she also had a major impact on the technology that keeps our roads safe. As the daughter of a carriage maker, Lawrence had an understanding of how transportation worked. She is credited with the creation of an early design for an auto signaling arm (the predecessor for the modern turn signal) and an early form of the mechanical brake signal. This helped to remove the mystery of where people were stopping and going on the roads. Let’s celebrate her legacy and the lasting impact she’s had on safety in our communities and workplaces.

03/21/2025

Congratulations to three of our GVSU OSH (Gloria Benguche, Taylor Cross, Adam Williamson) Students for being awarded the 2025 Michigan Safety Conference Scholarships! 75% of the scholarships awarded from the Michigan Safety Conference were awarded to GVSU Students. We are so proud of your accomplishments! Go Lakers!

Address

301 W Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, MI
49504

Telephone

+16163316300

Website

https://www.gvsu.edu/osh/

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