Principal Investigator / Institution

Program Description

The Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness (IDEP) within Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine 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. For nearly 15 years, Project South East Area Maritime Industry Safety Training (SEAMIST) and Project Hazardous Material Maritime Industry Response Training Initiative (HazMIRTSI) have addressed the needs of hazardous materials safety and disaster response preparedness training specifically tailored for the maritime industry by training nearly 27,500 workers. These projects aim to build upon prior efforts by providing expanded trainings imperative for improving the safety of those who work directly and indirectly with hazardous materials in the maritime industry. This includes individuals who work in and out of the various ports and waterways, as well as skilled response personnel and community volunteers responding to disasters. The goal is to train approximately 16,000 workers and volunteers throughout the United States over the next five years.

Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (HWWTP)

Project SEAMIST provides health and safety training for personnel whose jobs may require them to handle, transport, remove, or dispose of hazardous materials on or off the ports. To date, the program has successfully trained more than 22,000 participants, targeting several occupational areas in the maritime industry within NSU stronghold states of Florida, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico, and extending NSU’s presence in Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, New York, New Jersey, and California. Over the next five years, NSU aims to provide safety and hazardous preparedness training for 16,000 maritime workers in English and Spanish, including both the current and incoming workforce, and expand trainings to new states. NSU also aims to continue to revise, optimize, and enhance its training curricula and evaluation protocols to reduce and possibly eliminate incidences of injuries and deaths among maritime workers and those who work in concert with the maritime industry.

HAZMAT Disaster Preparedness Training Program (HDPTP)

For nearly 10 years, Project HazMIRTSI has built on existing programs and relationships established by IDEP and the greater SEAMIST program. Specifically, Project HazMIRTSI has expanded NSU’s presence from the Northern Atlantic states to the Gulf states and all along the Atlantic coastline. To date, NSU has 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 NSU training have increased. In the next funding cycle, NSU aims to expand its training opportunities throughout these areas and to other states. Project HazMIRTSI trains fire rescue and emergency medicine service 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 its 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 its training curricula and evaluation protocols.

Project Duration

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

Grant Numbers

• U45 ES019350 (HWWTP, HDPTP)

Other Participating Organizations

• None