Just-in-time training programs as a public health intervention to minimize illness and injury among lay persons and volunteers following a disaster

Background: Neighbors and volunteers are often the first to offer help and assistance following a disaster where the needs for assistance outnumber the number and availability of professional responders.  Many times, although well-intended, these volunteers lack the knowledge, skills or experience to work in hazardous conditions, or a potentially contaminated environment. The New York City Department of Health sponsored 70 just-in-time trainings in neighborhoods severely impacted by storm damage, that were designed to educate this lay workforce on safe work practices and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves from potential hazards.

Methods: To determine the effectiveness of the training program, a field survey of 400 homeowners and volunteers who performed mold remediation activities and participated in NYC Department of Health sponsored training, was administered to determine possible exposures and health effects.  In addition, 400 homeowners and volunteers who performed remediation activities but received no worker safety training were also surveyed and compared.

Results:  As this research is ongoing, we anticipate the identification of certain patterns of illness, consistent with exposure to indoor air irritants, such as mold.  We expect the rates of self-reported illness to be less among volunteers in general, as well as the group that received worker safety training and protective equipment from the NYC Department of Health.

Conclusions:  Effective just-in-time worker safety training programs for non-traditional responders to disasters, including “do-it-yourself” homeowners, and volunteers, may be an effective public health intervention to reduce the rates of occupational illness and injury in this population.