Thiel College partners with safety firm to use risk assessment app in its curriculum

Posted March 17, 2020Communications and Marketing Department

GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College’s Environmental Safety Management program is the first academic safety program in the nation to use a Pittsburgh-based safety firm’s risk assessment app in its curriculum.

“We are very excited about this use of technology,” Safety Management program coordinator David Shafer said. “It is another way that our program is distinguished from other academic safety management programs. The concept and understanding of risk is an important theme of Thiel College’s safety management program.” 

The College’s Department of Environmental Science has teamed with MAC Safety Consultants, Inc. to give our students access to their cutting edge risk assessment application NIXN. NIXN is a cloud-based tool that quantifies risk in real-time based on task conditions and actions taken to reduce the likelihood and severity of exposure to hazards. Depending on user input, NIXN will provide a risk score that reflects the overall risk of the activity. When conditions are altered the risk score will change accordingly.  It can be used not only to review activities prior to their start, but NIXN can also be used to create job safety analysis reports and facilitate incident investigations.  

In the curriculum, Thiel College students are using NIXN in conjunction with case studies to learn about which factors increase and decrease risks.

“Regardless of whether the student will employ NIXN in their future career, we know that using the tool now will strengthen their overall ability to conduct a risk assessment,” Shafer said. 

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About Thiel College

Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.



Thiel College
75 College Ave
Greenville, PA 16125
1-800-248-4435