Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for NIEHS Worker Training Program’s Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (U45 – Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for the NIEHS Worker Training Program’s Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training Program (U45 Clinical Trials Not Allowed). The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), Section126(g), authorizes an assistance program for training and education of workers engaged in activities related to hazardous waste generation, removal, containment or emergency response and hazardous materials transportation and emergency response. The United States Congress assigned responsibility for administering this program to the NIEHS, an Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the US Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS). This funding opportunity will utilize the U45 activity code to provide support for the development of health and safety training of workers exposed to hazardous materials. This consists of classroom, online, and practical health and safety training for workers and their supervisors, who are engaged in activities related to hazardous materials, hazardous waste generation, treatment, storage, disposal, removal, containment, transportation, or emergency response. This NOFO lists three distinct program areas: Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (HWWTP), the Environmental Career Worker Training Program (ECWTP), and the Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training Program (HDPTP). The core program is the HWWTP and is required in order to add the other two optional programs. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of occupational health and safety education and training are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO. In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise in industrial hygiene and environmental exposures will be encouraged and these investigators should also begin considering applying for this application.

The following factors considered for applications for full program cooperative agreements include: (1) Methods and techniques to be used for identifying, describing, and accessing target worker populations and anticipated impact of the proposed program; (2) evidence of the organization's performance and effectiveness in planning, implementing and operating appropriate worker health and safety training and education programs; (3) adequacy of the detailed program plan for curricula development, training of instructors, distribution of course materials, and direct student training; (4) technical and professional expertise of the proposed program director, present or proposed staff, and consultants; (5) methods proposed for evaluating appropriateness, quality, and effectiveness of training; (6) availability of appropriate facilities and equipment to support the described educational and training activities including hands-on instruction and demonstration; (7) evidence of the organization's past performance and effectiveness in planning, implementing, and operating training and education programs for workers; (8) the likelihood that the program will continue beyond the grant period; (9) reasonableness of the proposed program activities; and (10) multi-region impact.