Bobby Tupper

President & CEO

Safety Essentials Reaches a Major Industry Milestone

Some amazing news, fresh off the presses – Safety Essentials surpassed 250,000 units delivered in 2025! This milestone reflects strong industry-wide support for training that is cost-effective, innovative, flexible, and built to meet real-world operational needs.

This achievement belongs to the organizations, contractors, and safety professionals who continue to choose Safety Essentials as their premier reciprocal PSM contractor safety orientation. Your commitment to consistent, high-quality training helps raise the safety standard across facilities nationwide. Thank you for being part of this success.

SE-MARSEC Now Includes Cybersecurity Awareness

In another example of Safety Essentials responding directly to industry needs, the Safety Essentials Element – Maritime Security Awareness (SE-MARSEC) course has officially been expanded to include MTSA cybersecurity awareness content.

As cybersecurity threats increasingly impact maritime operations and facility security, this enhancement provides workers with critical awareness aligned with Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) expectations. It’s a timely update designed to help protect people, assets, and operations, onshore and offshore.

This addition reinforces the Safety Essentials mission: meeting the evolving needs of industry to keep employees safe in every environment.

In 2025, ISTC officially launched LINK, a new scheduling platform designed to replace Atlas and significantly improve the user experience for our customers.

LINK was built with ease of use and efficiency in mind. The platform offers a more intuitive interface, streamlined navigation, and improved functionality, making it faster and simpler for organizations to schedule training, manage participants, and stay organized. Whether you’re booking a single class or coordinating training for an entire workforce, LINK provides a smoother, more modern experience.

Benefits of LINK Include:

• User-friendly design for faster scheduling
• Improved visibility into a trainee’s history, classes, rosters, and availability
• Streamlined workflows that reduce administrative time
• Reliable access across devices
• Enhanced performance and stability To support a successful transition, ISTC has developed training resources to help users get up to speed quickly.

The launch of LINK reflects ISTC’s continued investment in technology that supports industry needs and improves the overall training experience. We’re excited to bring this next-generation scheduling solution to our customers and look forward to continuing to serve you with tools that work as hard as you do.

Looking for a professional, comfortable space for your next corporate meeting, executive conference, or virtual session? The ISTC Conference Center is open and ready to serve you.

Our flexible meeting spaces accommodate 5 to 60 attendees and feature complimentary coffee and water, Wi-Fi, smart boards with podiums, refreshment areas, and the latest technology to keep your meeting running smoothly. Convenient lobby workstations allow attendees to step out and stay productive without disrupting the session, while our dedicated team supports you from start to finish, including room setup, logistics, and catering coordination.

Call 409-554-8458 or email conferencecenter@istc.net to speak with our Conference Center team.

Let ISTC handle the details—so you can focus on what matters most.

Building on more than 30 years of expertise, ISTC has expanded services to offer custom onboarding solutions for businesses across all industries. Effective onboarding is critical to long-term success, yet outdated approaches often leave new hires feeling disconnected, unprepared, and disengaged.

ISTC’s onboarding solutions are designed to change that. From introducing company culture and expectations to teaching job-specific skills, our programs can be delivered through computer-based training, hands-on instruction, or a blended approach. The result is an onboarding experience that is engaging, relevant, and built to stick.

With ISTC, onboarding becomes more than a checklist, it becomes the foundation for a safer, more confident, and more productive workforce.

Contact Client Relations today for more information

(409) 554-8461 or clientrelations@istc.net. 

Norman Outley

ISTC Baytown Instructor

With decades of experience in industrial safety, ISTC’s Baytown Safety Instructor, Norman Outley, brings both discipline and passion to every day at ISTC.

Each morning for Norm starts early, a routine shaped by years at ExxonMobil, where long hours and preparation were simply part of the job. “Planning ahead is second nature, especially when it comes to safety,” said Norm. “Being proactive and anticipating questions before they arise allows for a focused, effective approach to the day’s work.”

Norm believes he was “called” to the profession of safety and finds it very fulfilling. “Safety isn’t just a profession; it’s a calling,” said Norm. “A lifelong commitment to helping others recognize hazards and prevent injuries has defined my career, and I hope my dedication is evident in every interaction.”

Norm says ISTC-Baytown has proven to be the ideal environment. The organization is small enough to feel personal, yet large enough to offer growth opportunities and bring innovative ideas to life. It’s a place where experience is valued and where meaningful impact is made every day.

For Norm, safety is far more than a checklist or requirement; it’s a mindset. Nearly 45 years were spent at ExxonMobil, beginning at an Enco service station while attending the University of Houston. From those early days, a strong culture of safety left a lasting impression on Norm. That influence was reinforced at home as well, inspired by an uncle who dedicated 41 years to ExxonMobil and lived out the same commitment to safety both on and off the job. To Norm, safety is a personal promise, not just another task to complete.

“In a world that moves faster than ever, safety training has become increasingly critical,” said Norm. “Today’s workforce often expects immediate results, sometimes without the benefit of experience that teaches what can go wrong. Safety awareness helps close that gap, preparing workers to recognize risks and respond effectively to unexpected situations.”

Norm believes, and teaches, that staying alert and avoiding complacency is a daily habit, whether at work or at home, and that constant awareness can make the difference between preventing an incident and suffering an injury.

“The most rewarding part of the job comes when understanding truly clicks for someone,” said Norm. “You can see it in their eyes and expressions when the importance of safety fully registers. While students may begin classes hesitant or unsure, they often finish engaged, asking thoughtful questions and participating in meaningful discussions.”

Norm’s advice to those new to industrial safety training is simple but powerful: never stop learning. “Experience is invaluable, but there is always more to discover,” said Norm. “Remaining flexible and open-minded is essential in an industry where conditions and expectations can change quickly.”

ISTC is proud to collaborate with key owner stakeholders across Southeast Texas to establish the Southeast Texas Safety Academy—an instructor-led training initiative designed to elevate our region’s commitment to safety, strengthen safety culture, and reduce life-altering injuries and fatalities across industry.

This academy delivers a combination of computer-based and hands-on instruction focused on the 12 Life-Saving Rules—a set of critical safety principles developed to prevent serious incidents in high-risk environments. These consistent, industry-wide standards aim to align expectations and drive meaningful, lasting improvements in workplace safety.

We are grateful for the support and leadership of our participating owner partners in bringing this vital program to our region:

This two-hour training is now available at our Beaumont and Baytown locations. Schedule your team today!

Together, we are building a safer Southeast Texas—one standard, one worker, one life at a time.

Build skills. Support compliance. Strengthen job site safety.

• Excavation & Trenching Competent Person – Covers OSHA standards, soil mechanics, testing methods, and safe shoring practices.
• Fall Protection Competent Person – Focuses on OSHA 1926 Subpart M, emphasizing safe fall protection systems and procedures.
• Scaffold User Competent Person – Explores scaffold safety per OSHA 1926 Subpart L, including scaffold types, planking, and tie-ins.
• Frontline Supervisor – Equips new leaders with tools for effective communication, conflict resolution, and safety leadership. Offered monthly.

Courses available at ISTC or on-site.

Note: Completion does not designate “Competent Person” status; employers make this determination based on training, education, and experience

Your Home Medical services ISTC customers in both Beaumont and Baytown locations offering:

• DISA Drug Screens
• Breath Alcohol
• Fit Test
• Physicals
• Audiometric Testing

Schedule an appointment by calling 833.698.6825 or visiting the Your Medical Home Website.

Have your heard? ISTC is expanding!

Our building renovation is designed to improve efficiency, safety, and comfort across campus, streamlining trainee flow, and creating a better experience for both trainees and staff. Learn more about the expansion and what it means for our industrial community!

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required for several ISTC hands-on training courses. Before your visit, check with the person who scheduled your training or call ISTC to confirm PPE requirements.

When in doubt—bring your PPE!

Mark your calendars for our future customer luncheons

Beaumont Customer Luncheons

• April 28, 2026
• July 28, 2026
• October 27, 2026

Baytown Customer Luncheons

• May 28, 2026
• August 27, 2026
• November 19, 2026

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