Creation of Model Safety and Health Training for Green Jobs

This session will review lessons learned from NIEHS WETP-funded safety and health training programs in the emerging green sector including: commercial and residential weatherization; alternative energy development, green remediation and environmental cleanup, green construction and emerging industries like nanotechnology. To assure that green economic development improves public health, it must include worker and community health concerns in the job training process. NIEHS has found that training partnerships at the local level must continue to foster the links between environmental justice organizations, community health groups and unions in developing green jobs. Design of green development must include the impacts of green work on worker safety and health within the LEED certification process for green buildings, as well as include green building principles in health and safety plans for all government contracts for remediation, construction and renovation. Lessons learned from the NIEHS-funded green training projects will be presented to help share resources and strategies with other organizations. One grantee, the International Chemical Workers Union partnered with the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists to provide displaced worker training in Chicago, Oakland, CA and Anniston, AL to give workers credentials for green/environmental remediation jobs. Training programs include the 40 hour site worker class, weatherization, mold remediation, OSHA 30 hour construction and CPR/First Aid/AED.