# Agile development of innovative, interactive hazard recognition and mitigation tools/learning e-platforms for workers involved in disaster rescue and recovery.

> **NIH NIH R44** · RADIANT CREATIVE GROUP, LLC · 2022 · $200,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Workers involved in post-flood reconstruction face an increased risk of occupational exposure to respiratory
and other safety hazards as well as threats to their personal security (i.e., exploitation, wage theft, and wage
discrimination). Post-flood reconstruction is often handled by day laborers who are predominantly non-English
speaking and who have limited access to safety training and personal protective equipment. As flooding events
increase in frequency and intensity, there is a critical need to develop tools to help these workers mitigate
threats to their safety and wellbeing. To address this need, the interdisciplinary team of this Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) program have been developing and refining Pocket Ark (PA), a comprehensive e-
learning platform for workers in post-flood reconstruction. Their goal in Phase II is to develop the next
generation of PA’s e-learning platform to disseminate critical information about hazards to workers prior to
deployment to a post-flood worksite. Project aims include updating the PA platform and conducting a high-
fidelity simulated disaster response scenario to train 64 workers and evaluate the program’s efficacy. As an
outcome, Phase II is expected to yield a production-ready e-learning platform that: 1) delivers quality,
audience-appropriate training to workers; 2) disseminates real-time information about potential on-site hazards;
3) improves logistics between workers and coordinating organizations; and 4) provides tools to reduce wage
theft and other security risks. The anticipated outcome of PA is significant in that it addresses multiple
dimensions of worker safety unique to this worker population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10459997
- **Project number:** 2R44ES030580-02
- **Recipient organization:** RADIANT CREATIVE GROUP, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffery McLaughlin
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $200,000
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-09-20 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10459997

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10459997, Agile development of innovative, interactive hazard recognition and mitigation tools/learning e-platforms for workers involved in disaster rescue and recovery. (2R44ES030580-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10459997. Licensed CC0.

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