Principal Investigator / Institution

David A. Casavant
David A. Casavant
Program Director
Tel 863-676-4100
[email protected]
Sustainable Workplace Alliance
216 E. Stuart Avenue
Lake Wales, Florida 33853

Program Contact

Sarah McKee
Sarah McKee
Outreach & Financial Director
Tel 863-676-4100
Fax 863-638-5074
[email protected]

Program Description

The Sustainable Workplace Alliance (SWA) and its alliance partners will provide model training to better protect workers, first responders and citizens in underserved communities that have been negatively impacted by pollution, blight and emergency events. These vulnerable populations are unlikely to know their rights to a safe workplace, the inherent risks of the work they do, the hazards created by pollution or hazardous materials, and the most effective ways to protect themselves from these harms.

Special emphasis will be given to training and placing underserved citizens in jobs that involve cleanup of the nation’s hazardous waste infrastructure, especially within the communities they live in. Additionally, SWA will focus on reaching Hispanic workers, the hazards of coal ash exposure and the opioid epidemic and its negative effect on worker health.

For the last seven years, the SWA and its alliance partners have been leading the HAZMAT P.A.C.T. (Pacific Atlantic & Caribbean Training) initiative, and as a continuation of that initiative, we will focus on providing outreach in Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Island regions including Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa.

Over five years, SWA will conduct 460 classes, train 4,695 students and cover 69,520 contact hours.

Additionally, 90 of these students will receive HAZWOPER train-the-trainer instruction and it is expected that these new trainers will go back to work and train 900 workers, bringing the total number of direct and tier two workers benefitting from this training program to 5,595.

Other project aims include:

  • Develop a cadre of HAZMAT trainers and advocates who can assist their local communities before and after an emergency event.
  • Continue to mentor ECWTP graduates and track the longevity of post-training employment including type of jobs and specific types of sites where graduates work.
  • Develop, test, and publish innovative adult training methods and data-driven research for HAZWOPER training topics.

Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (HWWTP)

Under the HWWTP, the Sustainable Workplace Alliance and its partners will provide training to workers engaged in activities related to hazardous materials and waste generation, removal, containment and transportation. Training topics include 40-hour HAZWOPER, 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher, OSHA 10-hour certification in construction, hazard communication, personal protective equipment (including respiratory protection) and permit required confined space entry and rescue.

HAZMAT Disaster Preparedness Training Program (HDPTP)

Under the HDPTP, the Sustainable Workplace Alliance and its partners will provide training at both the community level (volunteers) and operations level (professional responders) to assist these populations in preparing for and responding to HAZMAT releases and disasters in their communities.

The target audiences include fire (career and volunteer), police and paramedics, with a specific focus on rural responders. Additionally, we are targeting CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) members, LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) members and first receivers at hospitals.

Environmental Career Worker Training Program (ECWTP)

Under the ECWTP, the Sustainable Workplace Alliance and its partners will provide training, mentorship, and job placement services for residents in underserved and vulnerable communities.

Each student will receive 138 hours of technical training and be awarded five certifications including a 10 hour OSHA card in construction, an OSHA disaster site responder card, HAZWOPER 40 hour certification, certified lead, asbestos and mold remediation card and first aid and CPR certifications.

Project Duration

  • August 17, 2020 - May 31, 2025

Grant Numbers

  • U45 ES032171

Other Participating Organizations