Great Lakes Safety Training Center

What Great Lakes Safety Training Center does

Great Lakes Safety Training Center (GLSTC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit safety training organization founded in 1955 as the Midland Area Safety Task Force, headquartered in Midland, Michigan. It delivers OSHA, MIOSHA, and site-specific industrial safety training to contractors, manufacturing employees, and safety professionals, with particular depth in compliance-heavy verticals (construction, chemical manufacturing, automotive, warehousing). Its core products include instructor-led classroom training, hands-on lab courses at its 2012 Midland facility, site-specific contractor curricula for Dow, DuPont, Corteva, and Nexteer, automated background screening for industrial site badging, the COST (Contractor Owner Safety Team) program, and a COSS professional certification. Technology is centered on an LMS (ilevel.org) for registration and records, an online video library for members, and an eLearning storefront through a 360Learning partnership; the organization is also a host training organization for the OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Eastern Michigan University.

GLSTC monetizes primarily through transactional per-course fees (member vs. non-member tiered pricing, e.g., $193 member / $235 non-member for Aerial Lift; $1,799 member / $2,299 non-member for the 40-hour COSS certification; $69 member / $83 non-member for background checks) and an annual membership subscription that unlocks reduced pricing, free video library access, and invoicing terms. Grant funding from OSHA (Susan G. Harwood, ~$73,159 per cycle in 2024-2025 and 2025-2026) and MIOSHA CET subsidizes specific free courses (Fall Protection Authorized User, Arc Flash Awareness, Lockout/Tagout for Managers). In 2021 the organization reported approximately 20,000 training sessions delivered and over 6,600 background services performed, with reported customer outcomes including 975,000+ man-hours without a reportable injury for a member contractor.

The go-to-market is event- and relationship-driven: industrial owner-firms (notably Dow and DuPont) effectively mandate GLSTC training and background checks for site access, channeling a regional contractor long-tail through GLSTC's curriculum. Distribution spans four channels: instructor-led training at the Midland HQ with hands-on lab, on-site client delivery, global eLearning via 360Learning, and self-serve LMS registration. Marketing is primarily organic social (Facebook, LinkedIn), a monthly Constant Contact newsletter, community sponsorships (Michigan Safety Conference, Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational), and grassroots outreach through board roles in safety associations.

Name

Great Lakes Safety Training Center

Legal name

Great Lakes Safety Training Center

Website

https://glstc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Safety Training Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1955 in Midland, Michigan, delivering OSHA/MIOSHA and site-specific safety training, hands-on lab courses, and automated background screening for industrial contractors serving Dow, DuPont, and other Great Lakes Bay Region employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Occupational Safety Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety, Compliance & Regulatory (OSHA/HSE/GxP) Certifications (EDAAANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vertical/Industry-Specific LMS (e.g., Healthcare, Safety, Aviation, Government) (EDAFAAAM), Working at Heights, Fall Protection & Scaffolding (EDABAEAH), Hazard Communication (GHS/SDS) & Chemical Safety (EDABAEAB)

Keywords

• Occupational safety training
• OSHA certification courses
• Contractor background screening
• Industrial safety training
• Workplace safety compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Midland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Services: GLSTC generates revenue through safety training courses including OSHA certification, COSS certification, specialized industrial safety courses, and continuing education. Training is offered in-person, hands-on, and online formats with tiered pricing for members and non-members.
2. Background Check Services: Background screening and verification services for contractor badging at Dow and other industrial sites. Revenue generated from per-background-check fees with different pricing for members ($69) and non-members ($83).
3. Membership Program: Annual membership providing access to reduced pricing on training courses, free online video library access, and invoicing for background checks instead of upfront payment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GLSTC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit safety training organization that delivers OSHA and MIOSHA-aligned occupational safety training in instructor-led, hands-on, site-specific, and online formats. Beyond training, the organization runs an integrated background screening service that supports contractor badging at major industrial sites such as Dow and DuPont, supported by an LMS portal (ilevel.org) for registration and records management.

Product overview

Great Lakes Safety Training Center (GLSTC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of safety training services and solutions. The organization operates primarily as a training provider rather than a software platform, offering instructor-led, hands-on, and eLearning courses through its Learning Management System. Core offerings include safety training courses (OSHA, MIOSHA, and site-specific training for Dow, DuPont, Corteva, and Nexteer), background screening services, the COST (Contractor Owner Safety Team) program, and membership benefits including reduced pricing and access to an online video library. The product portfolio includes specialized training such as Arc Flash Awareness, Fall Protection, Aerial Lift Operation, Fork Truck Operation, HAZWOPER, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS), Sologic RCA courses, Confined Space, Scaffold, Excavation, Leadership Institute, and various OSHA Outreach trainer courses. GLSTC partners with organizations like 360 Learning for online course delivery and serves as a host training organization for the Great Lakes OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Eastern Michigan University.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safety Training Courses Comprehensive safety training delivered in instructor-led, hands-on, site-specific, and online formats covering OSHA standards, MIOSHA standards, construction safety, industrial hygiene, and emergency response for industrial contractors and manufacturing employers.
• Background Checks Highly automated background and security screening services used for contractor site access and badging at major industrial sites including Dow; tiered pricing for members ($69) and non-members ($83) per background check.
• COST (Contractor Owner Safety Team) Program that promotes and sustains safe work practices among contractors and owners through safety standards and verification programs, supporting contractor-owner alignment on worksite safety.
• Learning Management System (LMS) Online platform for managing training records, tracking course completions, and accessing training materials and schedules for registered GLSTC students and member companies.
• Membership Program Annual membership providing reduced pricing on training courses, free online video library access, invoiced background check billing (instead of upfront payment), and priority scheduling for member companies.
• Online Video Library Digital library of safety training videos available to GLSTC members for ongoing education and reference.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 20,000 training sessions provided in 2021
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 360LearningcoreTechnology or IntegrationGLSTC partners with 360Learning to provide online OSHA and EH&S training in a convenient online format through their store.360training.com platform.
• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLSTC is an authorized American Red Cross training provider, offering Adult First Aid/CPR/AED courses through the Red Cross curriculum and certification program.
• OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Eastern Michigan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLSTC serves as a host training organization for the Great Lakes OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Eastern Michigan University, offering OSHA #500, #501, #502, #503, #510, and #511 courses.
• DowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLSTC provides required contractor safety training (CMT, OSL, Delivery courses) and background screening services for Dow's industrial sites in the Midland area.
• DuPontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLSTC provides contractor training for DuPont I-Park and Larkin sites, including office administration, construction maintenance, and general contractor training modules.
• Michigan Safety ConferencecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGLSTC serves as a sponsor, exhibitor, and board member of the Michigan Safety Conference, participating annually with booth presence.
• American Association of Safety Councils (AASC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLSTC is a member of AASC, an international association of safety professionals, and participates in their annual scholarship program ($1,500 scholarship to a sophomore or higher).
• Midland, Bay, and Saginaw Community FoundationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLSTC partners with community foundations in the Great Lakes Bay Region to oversee Safety for the Kids scholarships, awarding three $1,500 annual scholarships to trade or college students.
• Greater Michigan Construction AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLSTC partners with GMCA to offer a $1,500 annual scholarship to construction academy students pursuing safety-focused trades education.
• STT Security Training Division and ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLSTC partnered with STT Security to deliver a FREE Risk Management through Drug Recognition Workshop covering substance abuse recognition and documentation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• UL PureSafety (UL Solutions): Enterprise EHS training and compliance platform (formerly PureSafety) under UL's broader safety and certification portfolio, competing for the same enterprise contractor-training budgets GLSTC serves locally.
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP): Large professional society offering safety certifications, continuing education, and chapter-led training events; GLSTC's Executive Director and team are members, and ASSP's courses overlap with COSS-style credentials.

Direct peers

• National Safety Council: Largest U.S. non-profit safety organization, offering OSHA-aligned workplace safety training, certifications, and courses that directly overlap GLSTC's core catalog of fall protection, confined space, forklift, and Hazwoper training.
• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): National craft and safety training, assessment, and certification body for the construction industry, delivering scaffold, fall protection, and OSHA-aligned training that overlaps GLSTC's construction safety catalog.
• OSHA Training Institute Education Centers: Network of 27+ authorized OTI Education Centers (including GLSTC's host partner at Eastern Michigan University) delivering OSHA #500/#501 trainer courses; GLSTC is a host training organization within this network.
• ClickSafety: Online EHS and OSHA-compliance training provider serving construction and general industry with a similar course catalog (OSHA 10/30, fall protection, confined space) that overlaps GLSTC's offerings.
• 360training (360Learning): Major online OSHA/EHS training marketplace that GLSTC itself partners with; sells the same OSHA 10/30, Hazwoper, and environmental safety courses online, competing for the same compliance-buyer wallet.

Others

• American Red Cross Training Services: Authorized training partner of GLSTC (First Aid/CPR/AED), but also a national direct provider of the same lifesaving and safety certifications, making it both collaborator and adjacent competitor.

Emerging players

• SafetySkills: Cloud-based EHS training platform for OSHA, Hazwoper, and environmental courses, competing for the same mid-market safety training dollars with a digital-only model.
• CareerSafe: Online OSHA 10-Hour construction safety training provider focused on youth and trade-school entrants, overlapping with GLSTC's OSHA 10/30 and trade-school scholarship offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GLSTC101
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-safety-training-center
• Xx.com/glstc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Safety Training Center