October 19-21, 2022
Hybrid Workshop

Worker Training Program Fall awardee meeting and workshop examining the changing landscape of hazwoper training, October 19-21,2022, hybird meeting  

Purpose of the Awardee Meeting

The semi-annual WTP Awardee Meeting brought awardees together to provide program updates, exchange information regarding training, and discover new areas of interest to awardees.

Purpose and Scope of the Workshop

The purpose of the workshop was to ensure that the NIEHS Worker Training Program (WTP) continues to be a model training program for hazardous waste operations and emergency response (HAZWOPER) and HAZWOPER-supporting training. The workshop explored the ways in which HAZWOPER training has evolved over the last several years and considered changes that may take place in the future. Workshop participants were encouraged to consider and discuss the audience for HAZWOPER training, the conditions under which HAZWOPER work is performed, the changing distribution of hazards, and approaches for teaching refresher course. Participants heard insights from WTP grantee organizations who deliver HAZWOPER training, as well as perspectives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on trends they have seen related to HAZWOPER work and hazmat emergency response. 

Agendas

Workshop Report

Presentations

WTP Awardee Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Time Topic
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Welcome and NIEHS Update (8MB) (Recorded Webinar)
  • Sharon Beard, Demia Wright, Kathy Ahlmark, Jim Remington, Talin Barnes, NIEHS Worker Training Program 
2:00 – 2:15 p.m. Grants Management Branch (GMB) NIH Update (201KB)  (Recorded Webinar)
  • James Williams, NIEHS GMB
2:15 – 2:25 p.m. Clearinghouse Update
  • Deborah Weinstock, MDB, Inc.
2:25 – 2:30 p.m. SBIR Evaluation Overview (350KB) (Recorded Webinar)
  • Eric Persaud, Dr.PH, NIEHS Contractor 
2:30 – 2:50 p.m. Legislative Update (657KB) (Recorded Webinar)
  • April Bennett, NIEHS Office of the Director
2:50 – 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Program Official Meeting (Recorded Webinar)
Hazardous Waste Worker Training/Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training/Department of Energy Issues
  • NIEHS WTP Staff
4:00  – 5:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

Environmental Career Worker Training Program (ECWTP) Meeting (2MB) (Recorded Webinar)
  • Sharon Beard, NIEHS WTP
Business Official Meeting 
  • James Williams, NIEHS GMB
  • Kathy Ahlmark, NIEHS WTP
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
5:30 p.m. Working Dinner

Workshop: Examining the Changing Landscape of HAZWOPER Training 

Workshop Day 1: Thursday, October 20, 2022

Time Topic
10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Welcome (712KB)  (Recorded Webinar)
  • Sharon D. Beard, Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program (WTP)
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. Looking Back, Looking Forward: How Did We Get Here and Where are We Going? (3MB)  (Recorded Webinar)
  • Mitchel Rosen, Ph.D., Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training 
10:45 – 11:15 a.m. Understanding Emerging Hazards (4MB) (Recorded Webinar)
  • Christina Baxter, Ph.D., Emergency Response TIPS, LLC 
11:15 – 11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Reaching New and Diverse Audiences (Recorded Webinar)
MODERATOR: Eric Persaud, Dr.PH, NIEHS Contractor 
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. The Changing Landscape of HAZWOPER Training, Part 1 (Recorded Webinar)
MODERATOR: Demia Wright, NIEHS WTP
2:30 – 2:50 p.m. Longtime HAZWOPER Trainees - Why People Take Our Training, Results from a Multi-Grantee Evaluation (8MB)  (Recorded Webinar)
  • Megan Rockafellow Baldoni, Ph.D., Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training
2:50 – 3:00 p.m. WTP Strategic Plan Update and Charge to Breakouts (Recorded Webinar)
  • Deborah Weinstock, National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training
3:00 – 3:10 p.m. Break
3:10 – 4:10 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Discussed questions related to the new WTP strategic plan, and what makes WTP a model program for HAZWOPER and HAZWOPER-supporting training
4:10 – 4:20 p.m. Break
4:20 – 4:45 p.m.  Report Back 
4:45 – 5:00 p.m.  Closing Remarks and Adjourn 

Workshop Day 2: Friday, October 21, 2022

Time Topic
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Keynote Address (Recorded Webinar)
  • James Frederick, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
    TOPIC: Implications for Training Based on Regulatory Insights into HAZWOPER Work and OSHA Insights Regarding Hazmat Emergency Response Activity
10:30 – 10:40 a.m. Break
10:40 – 11:25 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Engagement with Small Businesses and Associations 
  • Facilitators: Janelle Rios, Ph.D., Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Consortium (P2R) and Aurora Le, Ph.D., P2R (virtual)
New Ways to Deliver Refresher Courses 
  • Facilitators: Pete Raynor, Ph.D., Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training and Jonathan Rosen, National Clearinghouse (virtual)
Dealing with Competition from Other Training Providers; Maintaining Our Competitive Edge
  • Facilitators: Bruce McClue, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Historically Black Colleges and Universities Consortium and Amber Mitchell, Dr. PH, NIEHS WTP contractor (virtual)
11:25 – 11:45 a.m. Report Back (Recorded Webinar)
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch
12:45 – 1:30 p.m. The Changing Landscape of HAZWOPER Training, Part 2 (Recorded Webinar)
MODERATOR: Jim Remington, NIEHS WTP
1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Using HAZWOPER for Workforce Development , Part 2 (Recorded Webinar)
MODERATOR: Sharon D. Beard, NIEHS WTP
2:00 p.m. Wrap-up and Adjourn
  • Sharon D. Beard, NIEHS WTP