Hazardous Material Maritime Industry Response Training Safety Initiative

Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale FL

Investigators

Abstract

Program Summary/Abstract: HDPTP Accidents, natural disasters, exposure to hazardous agents, and terrorism pose significant threats to the maritime industry. While hazardous materials incidents are infrequent, their occurrence can be catastrophic, leading to severe injuries and fatalities. Maritime workers often have limited experience and knowledge in responding to hazardous materials emergencies and lack rapid access to qualified emergency hazmat responders. The Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness (IDEP) within Nova Southeastern University (NSU)’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) is a regional, national and international resource for the provision of educational services, trainings and programs focused on all-hazards preparedness, disaster and emergency preparedness, and hazardous waste worker safety training. Initially established as a task force after 9/11, IDEP has evolved into a formally recognized Institute for its expertise and major support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Florida Department of Health. For nearly 10 years, Project Hazardous Material Maritime Industry Response Training Initiative (HazMIRTSI), a Hazmat Preparedness Disaster Training Program (HPDTP), funded by a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), has built on existing programs and relationships established by IDEP and the greater SEAMIST program (a Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (HWWTP) targeting health and safety for personnel whose jobs may bring them into contact with hazardous materials). Specifically, Project HazMIRTSI has expanded our presence from the Northern Atlantic states to the Gulf states and all along the Atlantic coastline. To date, we have trained in 13 states including Florida, Louisiana, Texas South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Maine, and the most recent addition, Wisconsin. Since the Baltimore Bridge collapse and other recent hazardous materials incidents, interest and demand for our training has increased. In the next funding cycle, we aim to expand our training opportunities throughout these areas and to other states. Project HazMIRTSI trains fire rescue and emergency medicine service (EMS) personnel to respond to emergencies at sea and in port. It also provides preparedness and recovery training to healthcare workers, volunteers and communities impacted by disasters, with a particular emphasis on hurricanes and flooding. To date, Project HazMIRTSI has trained more than 5,000 first responders, enhancing their ability to effectively handle disasters on our waterways and thereby reducing and possibly eliminating incidences of injuries and deaths among first responders and community members. In the next five years, Project HazMIRTSI aims to expand our disaster response training to 4,500 skilled response personnel, provide new disaster preparedness training to 500 community members and continue to revise, optimize, and enhance our training curricula and evaluation protocols.