May 2-4, 2023
Indianapolis, Indiana

National Trainers' Exchange: Creating Adaptable and Innovative Safety and Health Training

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 Trainers’ Exchange

The 8th National Trainers' Exchange was hosted by OAI, Inc. in conjunction with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program (WTP). A trainers' exchange is designed for trainers to share best practices and new techniques through a series of workshops conducted by the trainers themselves. The goals are to meet and share ideas about how to create more effective and empowering training, improve training skills, and exchange best practices and techniques.

The National Trainers’ Exchange brought together over 300 participants representing WTP-funded training programs. Participants met and exchanged ideas about how to make training for hazardous materials and emergency response workers more effective and empowering. In workshop sessions, participants were encouraged to share their thoughts on training techniques and best practices, as well as how to overcome challenges to deliver training. For more information, please read the National Trainers' Exchange fact sheet (3MB).

Agendas

Presentations

Click on the links below to view the presentations from the Spring Awardee Meeting and National Trainers' Exchange.

Awardee Meeting

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Time Topic
1:00 - 2:15 p.m. Welcome and NIEHS Update (3MB)
  • Sharon Beard, Kathy Ahlmark, Jim Remington, Gary Johnson, NIEHS WTP
  • Ken Martinez, Eric Persaud, NIEHS Contractors
2:15 - 2:30 p.m. Grants Management Branch (GMB) NIH Update (528KB)
  • James Williams, NIEHS GMB
2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Clearinghouse Update (1MB)
  • Deborah Weinstock, MDB, Inc.
2:45 - 3:45 p.m. NIEHS/DOE Nuclear Worker Training Program: Successes Over 30 Years (1MB)
  • INTRODUCTION: Sharon Beard, NIEHS WTP and Rochelle Zimmerman, U.S. Department of Energy, EM-3.111
  • MODERATOR: Ted Giltz, NIEHS Contractor
  • Ashlee Fitch, The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
  • Gary Gustafson, CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training
  • Kirk Laflin, National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education
3:45 - 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

Program Official Meeting
Hazardous Waste Worker Training/Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training/Department of Energy Issues
  • Jim Remington, NIEHS WTP
  • Gary Johnson, NIEHS WTP
  • Ken Martinez, NIEHS contractor
Environmental Career Worker Training Program (ECWTP) Meeting
  • Sharon Beard, NIEHS
  • Eric Persaud, NIEHS Contractor
Business Official Meeting
  • James Williams, NIEHS GMB
  • Lisa Edwards, NIEHS GMB
  • Kathy Ahlmark, NIEHS WTP
5:00 p.m. Adjourn

National Trainers' Exchange

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Time Topic
8:00-9:30 a.m. Opening Plenary Session

Welcome
  • Amanda Allen, Executive Director, OAI, Inc. 
  • Krystal Hepburn, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, OAI, Inc. 
  • Sharon D. Beard, Director, Worker Training Program (WTP), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Nervous Investigators Entertaining Hazmat Students (the NIEHS) players Presents: WTP Through the Years 
  • NIEHS WTP grantees and NIEHS National Clearinghouse staff
Ice Breaker
  • Kevin Riley, Ph. D., Western Region Universities Consortium (WRUC)
Open Dialogue: What Participants Aim to get Out of the Trainers' Exchange
  • All attendees 
Agenda Overview, Housekeeping, and Logistics 
  • Deborah Weinstock, NIEHS National Clearinghouse
9:30-9:45 a.m.  Break
9:45-10:45 a.m. Workshop Block 1
  1. Mass Casualty Incident Triage Exercise
    Alabama Fire College
  2. Supporting the Implementation of Infectious Diseases Programs in Schools in Puerto Rico 
    Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training
  3. Training the Community for Disasters: What's in Your Toolbox?
    WRUC/University of Washington International Union, United Auto Workers
  4. Where Rubber Meets the Road
    International Union, United Auto Workers
  5. Personal Protective Equipment Storage, Management, and Maintenance for Training
    Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training 
  6. Preparing Atmospheres that Demonstrate Air Monitoring Principles
    Alabama Fire College
  7. Heat and Cold Stress
    New England Consortium-Civil Service Employees Association
  8. Using Hybrid Approach to Teach 40-Hour HW Classes: The Good, the Bad and the Truly Ugly!
    CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training 
  9. Handling Difficult Conversations
    The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
  10. Roundtable: Trainer and Curriculum Development and Training Techniques
    • Advanced Decision Making with Emerging Infectious Diseases
      Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (P2R) Consortium
    • Virtual/Face-to-Face (F2F) Engagement through Training or Exercises
      Partnership for Environmental Technology Education
    • How to Keep Annual Required Trainings Engaging
      The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization 
    • Rumination Management and Positive Reframing; Tools for Emotional Resiliency
      Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training
    • Training Techniques for On-line Conferencing 
      International Union, United Auto Workers
10:45-11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m.-noon Workshop Block 2
  1. The ERG and NIOSH Pocket Guide Escape
    International Chemical Workers Union Council Center for Worker Health and Safety Education  
  2. Training Workers in a Language They Understand
    OAI, Inc.
  3. Understanding and Complying with OSHA's Rule Governing Respirable Silica
    Historically Black Colleges and Universities Consortium  
  4. Virtual Reality Tools for Industrial Emergency Response Training
    International Union, United Auto Workers
  5. An All Hazards Approach to Infectious Disease Training by Simplifying the PSD Training Module
    NIEHS National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training 
  6. HARM Worksheet 4.0 and Other Techniques
    WRUC/Global Vision Consortium
  7. A Trainer's Approach to Increase Awareness of Engineered Nanomaterials in Construction
    CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training
  8. Building Social Media Campaigns to Use as Educational Tools
    The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
  9. Open Ended Comments on Class Evaluations: Using Comments to Improve Online Training 
    Partnership for Environmental Technology Education
  10. Instruction = Learning + Retention
    International Association of Fire Fighters
noon-1:15 p.m. Lunch Plenary Session 

RecycleForce: A Preview (1MB)
  • Gregg Keesling, Founder, RecycleForce
1:15-2:15 p.m. Workshop Block 3
  1. Elevating HAZWOPER Training with Augmented Reality
    Midwest Consortium and SBIR-Cell Podium, LLC
  2. Stress and Resiliency Training
    The New England Consortium-Civil Service Employees Association
  3. Launching Effective Ergonomic Committees
    International Union, United Auto Workers
  4. Case Studies and Lessons Learned: Interactive Strategies for Health and Safety Training
    WRUC/UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program
  5. Effective Trainer Development Programs
    Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training
  6. Advanced Chemical Risk Assessment and Analysis
    OAI, Inc.  
  7. The HAZWOPER Challenge: Using Gamification to Teach Difficult Concepts
    Sustainable Workplace Alliance
  8. Hazards of Gas/Vapor Density
    International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  9. Community Response During Disasters
    Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training
  10. Roundtable: Disaster Preparedness and Response
    • Addressing Climate Change in Health and Safety Training
      The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
    • Balancing Infection Control in High Level Containment Care with Sustainable Practices
      Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (P2R) Consortium
    • First Responder/Community Pre-Plan Tools and Incident Command Training Demos
      SBIR - inXsol, LLC
    • Opioid Use Reduction Through Alternatives to Pain Management
      International Union, United Auto Workers
2:15-2:30 p.m. Break
3:00 - 3:45 p.m. Workshop Block 4
  1. Something's in the Air: Incorporating Air Quality Monitoring Tools in Training on Wildfire Smoke
    WRUC/UCLA Labor Occupational Safety & Health Program
  2. Ergonomics and Opioid Use in Construction
    CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training
  3. Examples of Heat Stress
    International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  4. Hybrid Hazmat Case Study-What Did We Learn?
    Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training
  5. Mindfulness-based Conflict Resolution in the Workplace, Home, and Community
    International Union, United Auto Workers
  6. The Book Way or The Way? Ensuring Safety of Responders Via Risk-Based Decision Making.
    International Association of Fire Fighters
  7. First-in Engine
    OAI, Inc.
  8. Tailoring Courses to be More Inclusive and Relatable
    Sustainable Workplace Alliance
  9. Emerging 21st Century Disaster Response & Recovery
    International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  10. Roundtable: Community Engagement
    • Centering Culture in Community Engagement 
      Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training
    • Building Partnerships with DOE Facilities and Communities
      The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
    • COVID Myth Busting: Lessons from Latino Outreach Project in Southeast Michigan
      International Union, United Auto Workers
3:30 - 4:00 p.m. Networking Break with Exhibitors
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Workshop Block 5
  1. Equipment for Consistent Hands-on Training - Local and Distant
    Alabama Fire College
  2. A Women's Caucus- A Voice for Women in Workplace Safety and Health
    The New England Consortium-Civil Service Employees Association/The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
  3. Creative Pathways for Underrepresented Workers to High Road Careers
    WRUC/UCLA Labor Occupational Safety & Health Program 
  4. Fresh Air and Filters: Ventilation Training Techniques to Fight the Pandemic
    International Union, United Auto Workers
  5. Impact of COVID-19 Crisis on Training: Changes, Challenges, "New Norms"
    Historically Black Colleges and Universities Consortium
  6. Canceled Session
  7. Research-Based Training & Awareness Programs
    CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training
  8. Community Participation in Evaluation: Discussing Practices
    OAI, Inc.
  9. Escaping the Monotony of Training Using Game-Based Learning
    Volpentest HAMMER Federal Training Center
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Reception

Celebrating 30 Years of the NIEHS/DOE Anniversary Program
  • Sharon Beard, Director, NIEHS WTP 
  • Evan Dunne, Program Manager, Enterprise Learning, National Training Center (NTC), U.S. Department of Energy
  • Paul Vandervert, Director, Volpentest HAMMER Federal Training Center, U.S. Department of Energy
  • John Morawetz, Former Principal Investigator, International Chemical Workers Union Council Center for Worker Health and Safety (retired)

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Time Topic
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Workshops Block 6
  1. Canceled Session
  2. Community response During Disasters
    Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training
  3. Emerging 21st Century Disaster Response & Recovery
    International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  4. Methods for Reviewing and Evaluating Course Curriculum Annually
    Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training
  5. Effective Systematic Plant Inspections and Audits: Driving Training Through Onsite Needs Assess
    International Union, United Auto Workers
  6. Construction Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention
    CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training 
  7. Phones and Tablets in The Classroom? When and How to Use Electronic Resources for Hazmat Training
    International Association of Fire Fighters 
  8. Tailoring Courses To Be More Inclusive and Relatable 
    Sustainable Workplace Alliance
  9. Personal Protective Equipment Storage, Management, and Maintenance for Training 
    Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training 
  10. Roundtable: Technology
    • Work Smarter Not Harder with Phone Apps 
      The New England Consortium-Civil Service Employees Association
    • Tik-Tok Training Challenge
      The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
    • Bread and Butter Air Monitoring
      Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training 
    • The Future of Classroom Learning 
      NIEHS DOE
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. Networking Break with Exhibitors
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Workshops Block 7
  1. Escaping the Monotony of Training Using Game-Based Learning
    Volpentest HAMMER Federal Training Center
  2. Empowering Voices via Language Justice! Going Beyond Interpretation to Create Safer Workplaces
    International Chemical Workers Union Council Center for Worker Health and Safety Education
  3. Climate Change Science, Climate Crisis Solutions, and Worker Education
    The New England Consortium-Civil Service Employees Association      
  4. Novel Hands-on Approaches to HAZWOPER Training
    Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training 
  5. Risk Assessment & Management During Hazmat Emergencies
    WRUC/UCLA Labor Occupational Safety & Health Program
  6. Live (and Safe!) Demonstrations of Chemical Properties
    Alabama Fire College 
  7. First-in Engine
    OAI, Inc. 
  8. Incorporating Wide Area Exposure Simulation in Field Exercises
    SBIR - CellPodium, LLC and Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training 
  9. Canceled Session
  10. Understanding and Complying with OSHA's Rule Governing Respirable Silica
    Historically Black Colleges and Universities Consortium
10:30-10:45 a.m. Break 
10:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. RecycleForce Tour
1:00-1:15 p.m.  Break
1:15-2:30 p.m. Lunch Plenary Session

Amplifying Worker Voices through Language Justice: A Brief Overview of Best Practices for Creating Multilingual Spaces
  • Jessica Martinez, National Council for Occupational Safety and Health
  • Jessie Cruz, National Council for Occupational safety and Health 
  • Luis Vasquez, International Chemical Workers Union Council for Worker Health and Safety Education
2:30-3:30 p.m. Workshops Block 8
  1. DOE TEPP Training Utilizing MERRTT, Adapting to You Audience
    International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  2. Introduction to Resiliency Training
    International Chemical Workers Union Council for Worker Health and Safety Education
  3. Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment
    The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
  4. What is My Meter Telling Me?
    International Association of Fire Fighters
  5. Independent Assessment of Risks &Clinical Lab Instrument Design than Impact HHCD Response 
    Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (P2R) Consortium
  6. Fluidity and Adaptability, Overcoming Barriers to Training
    Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training
  7. A Hybrid Model for Mold Remediation Training
    Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training
  8. Hazards of Gas/Vapor Density
    International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  9. Elevating HAZWOPER Training with Augmented Reality
    Midwest Consortium and SBIR-Cell Podium, LLC 
  10. A Trainer's Approach to Increase Awareness of Engineered Nanomaterials in Construction
    CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training
3:30-3:45 p.m. Break
3:45-5:00 p.m. Closing Plenary Session

Insights from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (815KB)
  • James Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OSHA
NIEHS Supporting the Work of WTP
  • David Balshaw, Ph.D., Director of Extramural Research and Training, NIEHS
Closing activity
  • Ashlee Fitch, Principal Investigator, The Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization 
5:00 p.m. Adjourn