Worker Training Program

Two workers
(Photo courtesy of the LIUNA Training and Education Fund)

Currently, WTP funds organizations under six major training program areas.

  • The Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program provides occupational safety and health training for workers who may be engaged in activities related to hazardous waste removal, containment, or chemical emergency response. This program is the core component of WTP.
  • The NIEHS/DOE Nuclear Worker Training Program focuses on training workers engaged in environmental restoration, waste treatment, and emergency response activities at sites in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons complex. Grants awarded under this program area are funded through an interagency agreement with DOE.
  • The Environmental Career Worker Training Program focuses on delivering comprehensive training to increase the number of disadvantaged and underrepresented minority workers in areas such as environmental restoration, construction, hazardous materials/waste handling, and emergency response.
  • The HAZMAT Disaster Preparedness Training Program supports the development and delivery of training for hazardous material and debris cleanup commonly needed after natural and man-made disasters.
  • The Infectious Disease and Biological Hazards Training develops and delivers infection control practices and hazard recognition training for workers in health care and non-health care settings who may be at risk of exposure to infectious diseases, such as Ebola, Zika, and highly contagious flu.
  • The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) E-Learning for HAZMAT Program provides grants to develop e-learning products, such as virtual reality and handheld device applications. These products support health and safety training of hazardous materials workers, emergency responders, and skilled support personnel; community and citizen preparation and resiliency; and research into the acute and long-term health effects of environmental disasters.