Environmental safety training for hundreds of thousands of workers through community college partners
Official title: NPETE'S Community College Consortium for Health & Safety
Funded at National Partnership/environmntl/tech/ed · NIH-11385019 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national program through community and tribal colleges will train tens of thousands of hazardous materials workers each year to keep communities safer during waste cleanup, transportation, and emergency responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Partnership/environmntl/tech/ed NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (South Portland, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,209,558 |
| NIH project number | 5U45ES037431-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385019 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include current or prospective hazardous materials workers, emergency responders, and staff at community or tribal colleges involved in safety training.
✕Less likely to help
Persons not involved in hazardous materials handling or emergency response may not directly benefit from the training.
What this research studies
This grant funds a training network led by CCCHST to provide consistent, cost-effective, high-quality environmental safety instruction. Through a Train-the-Trainer model called GreatEST, instructors across 100+ colleges will deliver NIEHS-approved training to thousands of students and workers annually. The focus is on real-world skills for handling hazardous materials, emergency response, and safe waste management with strong partnerships among colleges, industry, and government. Participants will gain knowledge and credentials that support safer workplaces and community protection. The program aims to train at least 30,000 individuals each year and offer around 3,000 courses annually.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, workers gain essential safety skills and credentials that can reduce exposure risks and improve community health during hazardous material events.
How similar studies have gone: This approach leverages a proven Train-the-Trainer model to scale safety training across many institutions.
Where this research is happening
-
National Partnership/environmntl/tech/ed
South Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bluth, Ellen Joan — National Partnership/environmntl/tech/ed
- Study coordinator: Bluth, Ellen Joan
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.