# Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training

> **NIH NIH U45** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $200,000

## Abstract

The Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training (MWC) proposes to
serve the needs of workers and communities potentially exposed to hazardous materials
in nine states—IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, ND, OH, TN, WI. This experienced, dedicated group
has successfully developed and implemented programs for workers at hazardous waste
sites, treatment storage and disposal facilities, and for emergency responders as well as
for the underserved in the areas of awareness, and preparedness.
The MWC has consistently responded to emerging needs. Following 9/11, the MWC
developed programs for intentional releases of chemical, biological and radiological
materials, and the subsequent crime scene investigation and need to recognize stress
among responders. Programs for hospital first receivers and personal protective
equipment are in place for health care workers who may be at risk of Ebola exposure.
We have assisted residents in building capacity to recognize, report and reduce
exposures to environmental hazards from industrial and mobile sources and other
intended and unintended releases in the community; these programs are being
augmented with exercises that utilize technology to access electronic resources to find
information for personal and public health decision-making. MWC provided 4579
programs to 71,567 participants during 517,836 hours of training, 2010-2014.
New industry such as fracking and the potential for weather extremes due to climate
change requires preparedness; MWC has initiated demonstration projects to further
define urban and rural needs and along rail lines carrying Bakkan oil. We propose to
develop additional tools for site and TSDF workers, emergency responders and
residents to increase knowledge and skills to identify and remediate hazards, and to
build preparedness and resiliency during intentional and unintentional events. We will
explore innovative models for refresher training, challenging the single-session
approach. These innovative, evidence-based training initiatives will inform training
delivery and may enhance existing model programs for workers and community
residents; this will be achieved by adding to or modifying existing programs. The MWC
will train 92,819 participants in 6,273 programs for 689,799 contact hours, 2015-2020.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10193934
- **Project number:** 3U45ES006184-29S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Peter C. Raynor
- **Activity code:** U45 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $200,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1992-09-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10193934

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10193934, Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training (3U45ES006184-29S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10193934. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*