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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Paula A. Paris, MMHS, JFYNetWorks, 125 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108, 617-338-0815, pparis@jfynet.org

The OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER is the basic certification required to work in the environmental services industry or on any site where hazardous substances may be present. Day laborers and entry-level workers who do not have this certificate are often the most vulnerable to being exposed to toxins and other dangerous materials because they are an inexpensive source of labor. Many companies often do not provide their workers with the appropriate levels of protection, and the workers do not know to ask. Workers can be empowered, with targeted training, to recognize unsafe conditions, learn how to protect themselves, and possess the skills to make informed decisions about what to expect for health and safety conditions in their work environments. JFYNetWorks, a community-based organization in Boston, Massachusetts has been training underserved low-income, unemployed and underemployed adults as entry-level technicians for the environmental services and biopharmaceutical industries for 15 years. Its 14-week program equips trainees with basic sampling and remediation skills, and also places a strong emphasis on environmental health and safety. The curriculum includes environmental science and chemistry laboratory, OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER, 32-hour Asbestos and 8-hour Mold Remediation, 8-hour Confined Space Entry, and 8-hour Emergency Response Awareness. Graduates leave the program prepared to succeed and to be safe in the workplace. JFYNetWorks is one of USEPA's first job training pilot demonstrations, and is also funded by NIEHS, through the Center to Protect Workers' Rights consortium.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to

• Indentify best practices for providing health and safety training to entry-level workers.
• Discuss strategies for effectively training minority populations.
• Recognize the risks that entry-level workers are most likely to encounter.

Keywords: Occupational Safety, Environmental Justice

Related Web page: www.jfyboston.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No