Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training for New England and New York workers
Official title: Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (U45), Cooperative Agreement
Funded at University of Massachusetts Lowell · NIH-11378748 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A coordinated training program will teach workers exposed to hazardous materials how to stay safe, respond to disasters, and prevent injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Lowell NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lowell, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 1992 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,530,583 |
| NIH project number | 5U45ES006172-35 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378748 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adult workers exposed to hazardous materials or involved in disaster response who can participate in hands-on training and education.
✕Less likely to help
Workers not engaged in hazardous material handling or disaster response, or those unable to participate in training sessions, may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a five-year, region-wide training program for workers in New England and New York who handle hazardous materials or respond to emergencies. It uses hands-on, small-group education and empowers workers with evidence-based safety practices. The project partners a university, worker organizations, and a large public-sector union to reach underserved communities and improve health protections. About 5,425 workers per year are expected to complete training, totaling more than 25,000 trainees over the project period. Training emphasizes health and safety, disaster response, and opioid-use risk awareness in the workplace.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce injuries and illnesses among hazardous materials workers and improve community health through better workplace safety practices.
How similar studies have gone: Past trainings have reached tens of thousands of workers and shown high engagement with adult education methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turcotte, David — University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Study coordinator: Turcotte, David
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.