Hazardous Materials Safety Training for DOE Environmental Cleanup Workers
Official title: Nat. PETE HAZMAT Training Initiative at DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex
Funded at National Partnership/environmntl/tech/ed · NIH-11408600 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A 5-year program to provide consistent, cost-effective safety training for workers at DOE cleanup sites so they can protect themselves and their communities from hazardous materials.
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 | September 8, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $716,480 |
| NIH project number | 5UH4ES037498-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408600 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient volunteers; designed for DOE contractors and subcontractors undergoing safety training.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not involved in DOE hazardous waste operations may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a consortium of community colleges delivering 29 CFR 1910.120 safety training to workers at DOE environmental restoration and waste management sites. Over five years, the program will train about 17,500 workers through 250,000 contact hours across 350 courses, with about 3,500 workers completing each year. The training aims to improve knowledge and skills for hazardous waste operations, decontamination, transportation of hazardous materials, and emergency response. It focuses on accessibility and consistency across multiple sites including Oak Ridge, Portsmouth, Savannah River, Pantex, and Los Alamos.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, workers will have better protection from hazardous exposures and communities may experience fewer health risks related to hazardous waste activities.
How similar studies have gone: This program builds on established 29 CFR 1910.120 safety training approaches used by participating colleges.
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Community disaster-site training partnerships for educators and first responders
A national program trains community college instructors and partners to deliver disaster-site response education for first responders and community groups.
-
Community college training network for environmental health and safety
A nationwide program helps community colleges train thousands of workers in hazardous materials handling, emergency response, and safe waste management.
-
Environmental safety training for hundreds of thousands of workers through community college partners
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.
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.