ISTC is proud to support our industrial community as a 501(c) 3 Non-Profit training and education organization. We are excited to share the latest essential updates and highlight our commitment to excellence in safety, training, and community engagement. Here you’ll find the latest ISTC procedure updates, safety information, key points from our upcoming building renovations and many more valuable resources.

Both Baytown and Beaumont ISTC locations will be closed Tuesday, January 21, 2025 due to winter weather conditions.

We will continue to monitor how this weather event unfolds. We currently anticipate resuming normal business operations at 12:00PM on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Our distance learning platform will remain open and operational during this time.

ISTC is excited to offer LINK as our new and improved scheduling platform. Training webinars will begin the week of Monday, February 17, 2025 – Stay tuned for more details on dates and times!

The Industrial Safety Training Council (ISTC) is proud to announce that beginning January 1, 2025, all ISTC locations will exclusively offer Safety Essentials® as the industry preferred Process Safety Management (PSM) Contractor Safety Orientation Program. ISTC will no longer deliver Basic Orientation Plus® or Basic Orientation Plus® Refresher. This decision reflects industry demand for a unified solution and our commitment to maintaining high-quality, compliant training through Safety Essentials, supported by a human-first Live Online Proctoring (LOP) model.

ISTC will continue offering the Web General Safety Orientation (WEBGSO) through the ISTC Distance Learning Platform and all ISTC locations until March 1, 2025. We will also allow transfers for Basic Orientation Plus® and Basic Orientation Plus® Refresher taken prior to January 1, 2025.

Frequently asked questions:

• If I currently have Basic Plus, do I need to take Safety Essentials before the Safety Essentials Enhancer?
• Yes. The initial Safety Essentials (SE-SAFE) course is the same length as the BOPR course and satisfies the PSM requirement in place of BOPR. Safety Essentials is a prerequisite for Safety Essentials Enhancer (SE-SAFER).
• When does Safety Essentials expire?
• Safety Essentials (SE-SAFE) is valid for one year from the date taken. Upon successful completion, individuals become eligible to renew the following year with the Safety Essentials Enhancer (SE-SAFER), a 90-minute annual refresher for PSM compliance.
• How do I get Safety Essentials accepted at a job site?
• Contact the ISTC Client Relations team at clientrelations@istc.net.
• What if Safety Essentials isn’t accepted at a job site?
• If you encounter this issue, please let us know at clientrelations@istc.net, and we’ll reach out on your behalf to address it. Additionally, we encourage you to work with the site directly to request acceptance of Safety Essentials. Reaching out directly is often the most effective way to resolve the issue.

ISTC’s goal is to answer the call from Industry for one comprehensive, reciprocal, cost-effective PSM training solution. Our team is eager to discuss how we can assist you during this transition. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to clientrelations@istc.net. As always, thank you for your continued support of ISTC.

Ever wonder about an asset owner site’s Safety Program requirements? We’re here to help! To clarify the requirements for each site, ISTC has developed an Owner Site Requirements Matrix. This resource is available 24/7 on our website and is regularly updated to ensure accuracy. You can view the matrix by clicking below, and see all the requirements for our owner sites throughout Southeast Texas!

We are thrilled about the exciting new addition to our building, which will soon house our state-of-the-art badging complex! This expansion represents a significant step forward, providing us with a dedicated space to showcase our commitment to quality, innovation, and growth while enhancing our capabilities to serve our community and partners better.

Industrial Safety Training Council (ISTC) is excited to announce its role as a founding member of the newly established Petrochemical, Refining, and Energy Safety Council Association (PRESCA™). This groundbreaking initiative underscores ISTC’s ongoing dedication to advancing safety excellence and fostering collaboration and reciprocity across the energy sector.

What is PRESCA?

PRESCA, a Texas-based nonprofit organization, unites safety councils and industry representatives to uphold quality, integrity, and reciprocity in safety training. By bringing together key stakeholders, PRESCA addresses the complex challenges facing the petrochemical, refining, and energy industries while driving meaningful progress toward a safer, more resilient future.

Comprised of the largest volume of contractor safety training nationwide, ISTC is proud to join the founding PRESCA members The Health and Safety Council (HASC®), Industry Business Roundtable (IBR), and Golden Triangle Business Roundtable (GTBR), as well as collaborate with additional safety councils nationwide, to support industry and represent the contractor and owner voices of industry. ISTC also collaborates with other industry leaders and organizations to champion best practices in safety training and compliance.

PRESCA key initiatives

• Reciprocity and Collaboration: PRESCA fosters alignment between contractors and owners, simplifying safety processes and enhancing compliance.

• Rigorous Standards: PRESCA assures consistency and integrity in safety training delivery through the most rigorous, robust accreditation and auditing protocols that extend beyond just one area to promote verified reciprocity across all courses, including site-specific and Live Online Proctoring.

• Industry-Leading Programs: PRESCA supports initiatives like Safety Essentials®, recognized as the most widely accepted, industry-chosen Process Safety Management (PSM) required contractor orientation.

Hurricane Season is here, be prepared with SmartStorm – a disaster response community impact initiative produced in partnership with Lamar University Center for Resiliency and SETX VOAD (Southeast Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster).

This learning portal, available to the community via distance learning, will provide useful and critical information for preparing for and coping with the effects of Hurricanes, floods and damaging weather.

Learn more today!