The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66865

Sharon D. Beard, MS, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH/DHHS, Worker Education and Training Program, P.O. Box 12233, Mail Drop EC-25, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233, Myra M. Lewis, PhD, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Dr, Box 45B, New Orleans, LA 70125, Dwayne Jones, BS, Laborers-AGC Education & Training Fund, Young Community Develops, Inc, 1715 Yosemite, San Francisco, CA 94124, and Alonzo Emery, BA, Center to Protect Workers' Rights, Opportunities Industrialization Center West/CPWR, 1200 O'Brien Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025, (650) 462-7262, Aemeryoicw@aol.com.

This panel presentation reports the results and strategies utilized to develop a national job-training program for minority workers especially those younger adults from the ages of 18-25. Historically specialized health and safety and apprenticeship programs targeting minority workers in the construction and hazardous waste industries have been sparse, however the NIEHS program has been working to increase these numbers. The Brownfields and Minority Worker Training program conducted training in over 40 cities through a diversity of union-based health and safety organizations, non-profit community based organizations, and minority institutions including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's). Approximately 3800 minority workers have acquired a wealth of new skills since 1996 with 2500 workers employed. This panel will illustrate the different approaches to developing programs within the economic, social and health needs of each community. In particular, the panel will describe why strong connections to apprenticeship programs influence the success of the training and why training programs are successful when they improve basic academic and life skills, enhance safety, health, and environmental justice awareness while providing specific job skills training for employment in the construction, environmental remediation and hazardous materials industries. Independent evaluation results that assessed the participants' training performance, provided insight into lessons learned, and elucidated successful outcomes of training will be shared. Considering that minority workers are often employed in the dirtiest or more highly exposed occupational job categories, programs that provide training prior to entry can be critical in providing skills to protect the worker on the job.

Learning Objectives:

• As a result of this 1.5 -2 hour panel presentation, participants will be able to:
• 1. Describe the essential components of the NIEHS training program.
• 2. Articulate the evaluation results of the programs as well as understand the lessons learned from training.
• 3. Recognize that minority workers are at higher risk in construction and other occupational categories.
• 4. Describe the different strategies used to promote partnerships between labor and apprenticeship programs with community groups and colleges to bring specialized training to a target audience.
• 5. List ways of developing integrated learning approaches within the context of the social and health needs of the targeted community.

Keywords: Hazardous Waste Workers, Training

Related Web page: www.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.