Students returning this week for classes in safety science laboratories at Indiana University of Pennsylvania will use new sampling and monitoring equipment donated by MSA Safety Inc.

The equipment, valued at more than $36,500, will help support IUP's Department of Safety Sciences' industrial hygiene and construction labs. It will provide students a hands-on learning environment that is critical to the learning process. Because the equipment and technology are utilized in real work environments, students are in a better position to effectively solve work-related problems. 

“These lab courses introduce students to the chemical and physical hazards in the workplace,” said Dr. Tracey Cekada, chairwoman of IUP's Safety Sciences Department. “It teaches them how to utilize various sampling/monitoring equipment and technology to assess and evaluate worker exposure … skills necessary for protecting workers' lives on the job.”

Roughly 150 undergraduate and graduate students at IUP enrolled in Principles of Industrial Safety, Applied Industrial Hygiene and Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Occupational Health Hazards classes will use new hard hats and other MSA Safety-produced materials.