Disaster preparedness training for hazardous materials workers and responders
Official title: Assessing and Preparing for Disasters
Funded at Steelworker Charitable/educational Org · NIH-11381946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large training program will provide hundreds of courses and thousands of hours of disaster preparedness training to workers who handle hazardous materials and related responders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Steelworker Charitable/educational Org NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 1992 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,789,567 |
| NIH project number | 5U45ES006175-37 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are at-risk hazardous materials workers, chemical responders, and support personnel involved in emergency response and disaster preparedness.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not involved in or directly related to hazardous materials handling or emergency response may not benefit.
What this research studies
This program focuses on expanding and improving disaster readiness for at-risk workers across the United States and territories. It plans to offer hundreds of courses over five years, totaling tens of thousands of training hours. The initiative includes enhancements to trainer teams, stronger local partnerships, and new components like mental health first aid and updated safety rules. It also aims to map resources and optimize staff deployment to ensure timely response to emergencies. The work is designed so that real workers and responders could benefit from enhanced training and preparedness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve readiness and safety for hazardous materials workers during emergencies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior training partnerships have shown that expanded and updated training improves readiness and safety in disaster response.
Where this research is happening
-
Steelworker Charitable/educational Org
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fitch, Ashlee — Steelworker Charitable/educational Org
- Study coordinator: Fitch, Ashlee
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.