October 18-19, 2023
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program Fall Awardee Meeting and Workshop. A Pulse on the Nation's Workforce: Addressing the Implications of Emerging Hazards, Careers, and Technologies. October 18-19, 2023 in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.


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. 

Purpose and Scope of the Workshop 

Participants discussed challenges that exist in developing and equipping the workforce and strategies to enhance training models and addressed the implications of clean energy and new technologies in the workplace. 

Agendas

Awardee Meeting Agenda (373KB) 
Workshop Agenda (674KB) 

Presentations 

Awardee Meeting
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Time Topic
Noon - 1:00 p.m.  Registration
1:100 - 1:10 p.m.  Legislative Update (760KB)
  • April Bennett, NIEHS Office of the Director
1:10 - 2:10 p.m. Welcome and NIEHS Update (2MB)
  • Sharon D. Beard, Jim Remington, Gary Johnson, Kathy Ahlmark, Eric Persaud, Dr.P.H., NIEHS Worker Training Program
2:10 - 2:20 p.m.  Grants Management Branch (GMB) NIH Update (237KB)
  • Lisa Edwards, NIEHS GMB
2:20 - 2:30 p.m.  National Clearinghouse Update
  • Deborah Weinstock, National Clearinghouse/MDB, Inc. 
2:30 - 2:45 p.m.  Break
2:45 - 3:45 p.m.  Panel Discussion About Human Subjects, Clinical Trials, and Institutional Review Boards 
FACILITATOR: Aurora Le, Ph.D., Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (P2R) Consortium 
  • Chris Cain, CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training
  • Megan Rockafellow-Baldoni, Ph.D., Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training
  • Cesar Bandera, Ph.D., Cell Podium, LLC
3:45 - 4:00 p.m.  Break
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.  Concurrent Sessions
Program Official Meeting
Hazardous Wate Worker Training/HAZMAT Disaster Preparedness Training/Department of Energy Issues
  • Jim Remington and Gary Johnson, NIEHS WTP
Environmental Career Worker Training Program (ECWTP) Meeting
  • Sharon D. Beard and Eric Persaud, Dr.P.H., NIEHS WTP
Business Official Meeting (588KB)
  • Lisa Edwards, NIEHS GMB 
  • Kathy Ahlmark, NIEHS WTP
5:00 p.m.  Adjourn

Workshop 
Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Time Topic
8:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 - 9:05 a.m. Welcome
  • Sharon D. Beard, Director, NIEHS Worker Training Program (WTP)
9:05 - 9:10 a.m.  Housekeeping and Instructions
9:10 - 9:25 a.m.  Networking
9:25 - 10:00 a.m.  Keynote Interview: Workforce Development - Focus on Apprenticeships (1MB)
FACILITATOR: Eric Persaud, Dr.P.H., NIEHS WTP
  • Bernadette Oliveira-Rivera, LIUNA Training and Education Fund
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. All Eyes on Us Panel: Expanding Training Across Generations
FACILITATOR: Sharon D. Beard, NIEHS WTP
  • Marina Jabsky, New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) 
    TOPIC: NYCOSH Young Worker Program
  • Kevin Riley, Ph.D., Western Region Universities Consortium (WRUC)
    TOPIC: Young Worker Leadership Academy (YWLA) (709KB) 
  • Pete Raynor, Ph.D., Midwest Consortium 
    TOPIC: Training Initiatives for Young Workers
11:00 - 11:10 a.m.  Break
11:10 - 11:30 a.m.  Group Presentations: SBIR and Workforce Development (2MB)
FACILITATOR: Kathy Ahlmark, NIEHS WTP
  • Cesar Bandera, Ph.D., Cell Podium, LLC
  • Peter Schmitt, Ph.D., Cell Podium, LLC
  • Domiana Carter, Green Door Initiative
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 - 1:45 p.m.  All Eyes on Us Panel: Clean Energy and Safety Implications for Workers
FACILITATOR: Gary Johnson, NIEHS WTP
1:45 - 2:00 p.m.  Break
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.  All Eyes on Us Panel: Implications of Evolving Technologies
FACILITATOR: Jim Remington, NIEHS WTP 
  • Chris Cain, CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training 
    TOPIC: How AI is Impacting Construction Workers' Health and Safety
  • Charles Austin, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
    TOPIC: Autonomous Vehicles (3MB)
  • James Burgess, International Association of Fire Fighters
    TOPIC: Adoption and Usage of AI in the Fire Service
  • David Walko, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, Federal Trade Commission
    TOPIC: AI and Technology Impacting the Workforce - Ethics and Worker Protections
3:30 - 3:35 p.m.  Explanation of Breakout Room Activity
FACILITATOR: Allison Weingarten, National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training
3:35 - 3:45 p.m. Move to Breakout Rooms
3:45 - 5:00 p.m.  Breakouts with Table Talk Exercises
5:00 - 5:15 p.m.  Wrap-up and Adjourn

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Time Topic
9:00 - 9:05 a.m.  Welcome Back
  • Sharon D. Beard, NIEHS WTP
9:05 - 9:30 a.m.  Economic Impacts of Workforce Development: ECWTP as a Case Study (588KB) 
FACILITATOR: Eric Persaud, Dr.P.H., NIEHS WTP
  • Benjamin Artz, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
9:30 - 9:45 a.m. Explanation of Breakout Room Activity
FACILITATOR: Allison Weingarten, National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training
9:45 - 10:00 a.m.  Move to Chosen Breakout Room
10:00 - 11:45 a.m. Interactive Breakout Sessions
11:45 a.m. - Noon Move Back to General Session Room
Noon - 12:30 p.m.  Report Back
12:30 p.m.  Wrap-up and Adjourn