FY25-FY29 WTP HDPTP

Sustainable Workplace Alliance, Inc., Lake Wales FL

Investigators

Abstract

The Sustainable Workplace Alliance (SWA) proposes to provide model training and outreach to workers and volunteers engaged in emergency preparation and response activities. The tasks these workers do are typically very labor intensive and historically feature injury and fatality rates that are much higher than industry averages. Since 2012, SWA and its alliance partners have been leading the HAZMAT P.A.C.T. (Pacific Atlantic & Caribbean Training) initiative, which has trained over 5,915 responders in our target geographic areas over the last five years. As a continuation of the HAZMAT P.A.C.T. initiative, we will focus on providing outreach in Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. Additionally, we will service the U.S. Territories of the Pacific Islands, including American Samoa, Guam and Saipan. These locations are especially vulnerable to severe weather-related emergencies. Our needs assessments for the FY20 – FY24 NIEHS WTP identified emergencies such as oil spills, overturned tanker trucks, factory fires, ammonia & chlorine leaks as being current concerns for first responders and we will continue to provide training in these areas. For volunteer responders, our needs assessments have identified emergency response awareness, OSHA’s Disaster Site Worker training, muck & gut, mold, lead paint and asbestos remediation as training needed. Trainees would typically be employed as fire fighters, police or paramedics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 191,630 workers serve as paid first responders in our geographic targets. This number does not include volunteer fire fighters and other volunteer responders including Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members, do-it-yourselfers, faith-based organizations and similar community-based organizations. It is these often diligent but under-trained citizens who are most in need of emergency-related training. Over the five-year duration of this Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training Program (HDPTP), SWA will conduct 385 classes, train 3,412 responders and cover 26,660 contact hours. This model training and outreach program is designed to inform workers how to recognize hazards and how to eliminate or reduce hazards through engineering controls, administrative controls or personal protective equipment. Students trained under this model program will experience fewer workplace injuries and fatalities resulting in a positive effect on public health.