TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Paul S. Ray, professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at The University of Alabama, recently passed the final examination for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction Industry.

As an OSHA Construction Outreach Trainer, Ray is certified to issue OSHA training certificates to students who complete his safety engineering course.

“This additional qualification provides our students with a competitive edge over graduates in civil and construction engineering from other engineering institutions,” said Ray.

OSHA’s construction industry training course provides an overview of the most hazardous and referenced standards in the field. OSHA safety and health alliances are part of the U.S. Labor Department’s efforts to improve the health and safety of employees through cooperative partnerships with trade associations, labor organizations, employers and government agencies.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has more than 2,300 students and more than 100 faculty. In the last seven years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.