141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

288557
Challenges to worker protection in Hurricane Sandy and other disasters

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 3:04 PM - 3:21 PM

Deborah L. Weinstock, MS , National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training, Washington, DC
Joseph Hughes Jr., MPH , Director, Worker Education and Training Branch, NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC
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.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Describe some of the challenges in training recovery workers, volunteers, and residents after a disaster. Discuss possible policy options to address the challenges faced in training workers post disaster.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in the recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and Hurricane Katrina. NIEHS and its Clearinghouse have organized training, developed training materials and tried to ensure the protection of those doing cleanup work following disasters.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.