2007 Workshop Summary

Superfund Basic Research Program

Twenty Annual Workshops have been conducted and hosted by the grantees since the initiation of the program. The last workshop, held in Charleston, S.C. on February 6, 2007 provided a forum for exchange of information and issues related to hazardous substance training. At this meeting 32 faculty and Continuing Education Program Directors from both the Hazardous Substance Training (HST) and Hazardous Substance Academic Training (HSAT) Programs met jointly to discuss their programs as well as emerging issues in the field.

Overviews and updates were presented by several Agencies and organizations, including the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The NIEHS representative from the Worker Training Program presented an update of the program and discussed the Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training Program. Considerable discussion also centered on the NIEHS/OSHA response to Hurricane Katrina and the training concerns surrounding Katrina and the curriculum developed for the workers.

The Program Director for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) outlined their work and progress in meeting emergency responder training needs nationally. Revisions were made to the First Responder Operations (FRO) course, the Infectious Disease course, and the Illicit Drug Laboratory course.

An EPA provided a brief update of the EPA Superfund training program.

Two highlights were provided at this workshop. The Industrial Hygiene Program Director at Tulane University discussed the overwhelming Katrina issues and cleanup with a graphic set of slides. The Director of the New York/New Jersey HST continuing education program provided a review of a 3-day Toxic Tour of industries and sites conducted throughout the Northeast with graduate students. This learning experience proved so valuable that it will be held annually.

Both HST and HSAT grantees held business meetings prior to the general agency updates. The HSAT program grantees focused on curricula and public health accreditation requirements. Each program provided updates and information on required courses. Major topics included continuing education and cooperation with Superfund projects. NIOSH also requested that success stories continue to be forwarded for use by NIEHS.

The HST grantees reviewed the reporting of courses and measures of effectiveness. Tools developed by grantees are to be shared among the group in order to standardize the collection of data. Grantees also recognize the value of assessing impact of programs and are alerted to report such information. Several grantees are also NIEHS and/or OSHA designated Training Centers. In addition to core courses conducted by NIOSH grantees, public sector students may be placed in NIEHS sponsored courses and receive support. The issue of reporting NIEHS/OSHA courses to NIOSH was also discussed. Finally, grantees are developing impact measures to be submitted to NIOSH to help evaluate the success of programs. Detailed minutes of the Workshop were prepared and distributed to all attendees, including academic faculty and Program Directors of both HST and HSAT programs.