Principal Investigator / Institution

Program Contact

Program Description

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Consortium represents and has ready access to tens of thousands of workers throughout the U.S. who remediate hazardous waste sites; transport hazardous wastes; handle, package, transport and warehouse hazardous materials (HAZMAT); and respond to hazardous materials releases. The IBT Consortium has access to various stakeholders including environmental groups, public health workers, railroad workers, and Tribal entities. The consortium participates in the Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (HWWTP) and the HAZMAT Disaster Preparedness Training Program (HDPTP).

The long-term objectives and specific aims of the IBT Consortium are to increase worker, community, and environmental safety and resilience by training workers to appropriately respond to accidental releases of hazardous materials; work safely on hazardous waste remediation projects; safely transport hazardous materials via truck, rail, and air; and safely respond to natural disasters.

Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program

The targeted population for the HWWTP is workers who are engaged in hazardous waste remediation, hazardous materials transportation, warehousing, solid waste and recycling, airline, rail, and emergency response. The IBT Consortium recruits workers within the targeted industry sectors through relationships and partnerships with employers, unions, community-based organizations, and 12 regional training centers.

HAZMAT Disaster Preparedness Training Program

The HDPTP will target workers and community members who work and live in disaster-prone areas and are likely to be involved in response and recovery activities. Under the HDPTP, the IBT Consortium will build institutional competency, increase community resilience, and create a sustainable worker health and safety training program. It is critically important for these workers and community members to receive training to ensure that they are able to identify occupational hazards and able to take actions to protect themselves, their coworkers and the surrounding environment.

Project Duration

• August 1, 2025 - May 31, 2030 (HWWTP, HDPTP)

Grant Numbers

• U45 ES014084 (HWWTP, HDPTP)

Other Participating Organizations

• Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program (https://railworkertrainingprogram.org/)