NIEHS Worker Training Program’s HAZMAT Training at DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex (UH4 Clinical Trial 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/DOE Worker Training Program's HAZMAT Training at US Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Weapons Complex (UH4 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The major objective of the NIEHS WTP (Worker Training Program is to prevent work related harm by training workers in how best to protect themselves and their communities from exposure to hazardous materials. The WTP program is committed to preventing chronic disease/conditions, promoting mental health resilience, and improving the overall well-being of the U.S. workforce through health and safety education and training. The WTP is mandated by Congress through the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986. Initiative Details The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), Section 126(g); in U.S. law at 42 USC 9660a: authorizes an assistance program (GRANT 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, NIH, US HHS. The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal years 1992 and 1993 (42 USC 7274(d)) authorized the Secretary of Energy in section 3131(a)(1)(A)-(B) to make awards (in law at 50 USC 2731(a)(1-3): "to provide training and education to persons who are or may be engaged in hazardous substance response or emergency at DOE nuclear weapons facilities; and to develop response curricula for such training and education." The Secretary was further authorized in Section 3131(a)(2)(A)-(B) to make the training awards to non-profit organizations demonstrating capabilities in: "implementing and conducting effective training and education programs relating to the general health and safety of workers; and identifying, and involving in training, groups of workers whose duties include hazardous substance response or emergency response." Funding for the program comes from the Energy and Water Development Appropriations under the DOE Environmental Cleanup section and is transferred to administer the grants in Sect. 3131(a)(2)(B). This NOFO will utilize the UH4 activity code to...

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.