Challenges to worker protection in Hurricane Sandy and other disasters

Disasters like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf oil spill, and Hurricane Sandy demonstrate the importance of comprehensive safety and health training for workers responding to disasters. Recovery workers, frequently work in hazardous environments that can impair their health. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Education and Training Program (NIEHS WETP) and its grantees have been at the forefront to protect response and recovery workers. The WETP network has worked closely with all levels of government and communities to provide safety and health training to workers (and volunteers) involved in recovery efforts. Despite the numerous hazards recovery workers face and the availability of training, enormous challenges exist in its delivery. There is no clear structure for training to happen, time allocated for training is inadequate, and only a small fraction of those who perform the work get trained. Volunteers lack OSHA protection. Presenters will discuss challenges faced by the WETP network in trying to protect recovery workers from safety and environmental hazards, and possible policy changes to improve worker and community protection in future disasters.