# Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (U45)

> **NIH NIH U45** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $1,850,826

## Abstract

Program Summary/Abstract
The overall goal of the Western Region Universities Consortium (WRUC) training program is to
protect workers and communities from exposure to hazardous materials and hazardous waste;
to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies/disasters; and to create
pathways to careers in the environmental field and construction industry. WRUC programs are
delivered in EPA Regions IX and X through the UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health
Program (UCLA-LOSH) as the lead institution, UC Berkeley’s Labor Occupational Health
Program (UCB-LOHP), Arizona State University’s Fulton Schools of Engineering,
Environmental & Resource Management Program (ASU), and the University of Washington
School of Nursing (UW). The Consortium has developed model programs since 1987 and will
continue to do so in the coming five years through three NIEHS components: Hazardous Waste
Worker Training Program (HWWTP), Hazard Disaster Preparedness Training Program
(HDPTP) and Environmental Career Worker Training Program (ECWTP). WRUC will train
4,891 workers and community members per year in 367 courses for a total of 49,663 contact
hours. Courses address hazards to workers in hazardous waste cleanup and hazmat treatment,
storage, transport and disposal operations; promote biosafety preparedness among healthcare
workers; strengthen emergency response, disaster prevention, preparedness, response and
recovery activities; and provide job readiness and life skills. WRUC will expand outreach to
underserved populations; respond to new and emerging hazards; build capacity to sustain
training activities, safety and emergency response programs; and support a national network of
HAZWOPER trainers and emergency responders. 1) HWWTP activities will reach 2,887
hazardous materials and waste workers and supervisors throughout the region per year and
strengthen emergency response capacity among remote tribal groups in the Southwest, Pacific
Northwest and Alaska and along the U.S.-Mexico border. 2) HDPTP activities will reach 1,814
workers and residents per year through partnerships with worker centers, labor unions, and
community groups in California, schools and university campuses in Washington and California,
and tribal groups in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. 3) ECWTP activities in Los Angeles,
Portland, and Alaska will train and place 190 workers per year in construction and
environmental jobs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10059148
- **Project number:** 2U45ES006173-29
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Kevin William Riley
- **Activity code:** U45 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,850,826
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1992-09-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10059148

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10059148, Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (U45) (2U45ES006173-29). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10059148. Licensed CC0.

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