# Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training

> **NIH NIH U45** · SUSTAINABLE WORKPLACE ALLIANCE, INC. · 2023 · $174,976

## Abstract

Abstract
Climate change continues to adversely affect vulnerable communities which predominately affects
people of color. This is evident in Puerto Rico as hurricanes, flooding and serve weather continue to
create health hazards that disproportionately affect the island’s citizens, including those involved in
work related to remediation and rebuilding efforts after a disaster.
The Sustainable Workplace Alliance will conduct training for workers and volunteers involved in
response and recovery efforts after a declared disaster. The training would ensure workers are aware of
physical and health hazards and mitigation techniques prior to and during response activities. Those
workers and community volunteers trained would understand potential health hazards encountered
during remediation work after a disaster including mold, lead paint and asbestos exposure.
Under this project, we expect to deliver 56 classes covering 13 topics and 4,699 contact hours. The
delivery of this training will provide essential training to a minimum of 564 workers and vulnerable
community members. The topics we will deliver under this project include the following:
 • Renovation, Repair and Painting (Lead Paint)
 • Muck and Gut
 • Asbestos Awareness
 • Asbestos Worker
 • First Aid & CPR
 • Powered Industrial Truck
 • OSHA 10 Hour Construction
 • OSHA 7.5 Hour Site Disaster Worker
 • OSHA 15 Hour Site Disaster Worker
 • Hurricane Preparedness and Response
 • Fall Protection
 • Respiratory Protection
 • Psychological First Aid
The overarching goal of this project is to reduce injuries and illnesses to workers when performing
remediation, demolition, and rebuilding work as a result of a disaster. This project will include program
assessment with a goal to evaluate:
 • The model plan for treating mold damage in Puerto Rico
 • The challenges faced due to the unique construction methods and materials used in Puerto Rico
 • How effective our outreach was to workers and community members
 • The identification of additional best practices during a disaster and during disaster response
 • Language justice issues that can help foster improvement in disaster prep and recovery
communications

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10831684
- **Project number:** 3U45ES032171-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** SUSTAINABLE WORKPLACE ALLIANCE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** David Casavant
- **Activity code:** U45 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $174,976
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-08-04 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10831684

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10831684, Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (3U45ES032171-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10831684. Licensed CC0.

---

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