Principal Investigator / Institution
Kevin Riley, Ph.D.
Program Description
The overall goal of the Western Region Universities Consortium (WRUC) training program is to protect workers and communities from exposure to hazardous materials and hazardous waste; to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies/disasters; and to create pathways to careers in the environmental field and construction industry. WRUC training programs are delivered in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regions 9 and 10 through the University of California, Los Angeles Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (LOSH) as the lead institution; the University of California, Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP); the Arizona State University Fulton Schools of Engineering, Environmental, & Resource Management Program (ASU); and the University of Washington Department of Sociology (UW).
The Consortium has developed model training programs since 1987 and will continue to do so in the coming five years through three NIEHS components: the Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (HWWTP), the HAZMAT Disaster Preparedness Training Program (HDPTP), and the Environmental Career Worker Training Program (ECWTP). WRUC training courses address hazards to workers in hazardous waste cleanup and hazardous materials treatment, storage, transport, and disposal operations; promote biosafety preparedness among healthcare workers; strengthen emergency response, disaster prevention, preparedness, and response and recovery activities; and provide job readiness and life skills. WRUC also focuses on reaching untrained populations; responding to new and emerging hazards; building capacity to sustain training activities, safety, and emergency response programs; and supporting a national network of Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) trainers and emergency responders.
HWWTP
The goal of WRUC’s HWWT program is to provide training to workers and supervisors involved in HAZWOPER activities at cleanup sites, hazardous waste generators, and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and those who handle or transport hazardous materials in California, Arizona, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. Target initiatives extend training resources to health care workers with potential occupational exposures to infectious diseases, participants of apprenticeship readiness programs, and emergency responders in remote Tribal communities in the Southwest, Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
HDPTP
The goals of WRUC’s HDPT program are to:
- Train workers engaged in disaster response and recovery efforts related to wildfires, earthquakes, severe storms and floods, and other environmental disasters.
- Prevent and mitigate the impact of extreme weather disasters and industrial incidents on workers and residents of at-risk communities through community-based emergency response training programs.
- Support the capacity of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel to respond to hazardous materials issues associated with wildfires and floods in rural communities.
These goals are accomplished through strategic partnerships with worker, community, state, and local responder groups. WRUC also participates in the NIEHS Worker Training Program Emergency Support Activation Plan. These efforts will build and strengthen emergency response capacity and institutionalize disaster preparedness efforts with communities across the region and support national disaster response initiatives.
ECWTP
The goal of WRUC’s ECWT program is to train individuals for jobs in the construction, hazardous waste, and environmental remediation, fields with a focus on recruiting from under- and unemployed communities that are affected by environmental exposures.
WRUC partners with workforce development and apprenticeship readiness programs in Los Angeles; Portland, OR; and Anchorage, AK, to deliver comprehensive training and wraparound services that reinforce worker health and safety and job readiness to support both environmental and economic revitalization in communities. These partnerships sustain the program’s ability to conduct successful outreach and recruitment, training, mentorship, job placement, and follow-up support activities. The program capitalizes on shifting labor and industry market demands and career pipeline opportunities in each target community.
Project Duration
- August 1, 2025 - May 31, 2030 (HWWTP, ECWTP, HDPTP)
Grant Numbers
- U45 ES006173 (HWWTP, ECWTP, HDPTP)
Other Participating Organizations
- Arizona State University Fulton Schools of Engineering Environmental & Resource Management Program (https://poly.engineering.asu.edu/erm/)
- University of California, Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program (https://lohp.berkeley.edu/ )
- University of California, Los Angeles Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (https://losh.ucla.edu/)
- University of Washington Department of Sociology (https://soc.washington.edu/niehs-worker-training-program)