Health and Safety Training for Disaster Response Workers
Official title: HDPTP
Funded at International Brotherhood of Teamsters · NIH-11132298 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program offers practical health and safety training for workers and community members who respond to disasters so they can spot hazards and stay safer on the job.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | International Brotherhood of Teamsters NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2005 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $369,910 |
| NIH project number | 2U45ES014084-21 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132298 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults (21+) who work or volunteer in disaster response or recovery, especially those employed by partner organizations, unions, or community groups in disaster-prone areas.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not involved in emergency response or who cannot attend local training sessions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this program.
What this research studies
If you work or live in disaster-prone areas and take part in response or recovery activities, this program provides classes on common hazards like slips and falls, heat illness, confined spaces, chemical exposures, electrical risks, and wildlife encounters. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters consortium will partner with employers, unions, community groups, and 11 regional training centers to deliver mobile, on-site training. Over the funding period they plan about 310 classes reaching roughly 3,960 workers, emphasizing practical skills to protect yourself, coworkers, and the environment. The program aims to build lasting local capacity and community resilience by creating a sustainable worker health and safety training network.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the training could reduce work-related injuries and exposures among disaster response workers and improve community safety during recovery efforts.
How similar studies have gone: Comparable worker safety and hazardous materials training programs have previously improved worker knowledge and reduced injuries, so this approach is supported by precedent.
Where this research is happening
-
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Austin, Charles — International Brotherhood of Teamsters
- Study coordinator: Austin, Charles
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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HDPTP: Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training for Disaster Response
A large program aims to train thousands of workers and community members in disaster-prone areas to recognize and control job hazards to stay safe.
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Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (HWWTP) for at-risk adults
A program to deliver practical, on-the-job health and safety training to adults working with hazardous waste and related industries.
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Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training for Teamsters Workers
A national training program to teach Teamsters workers and related responders how to stay safe when handling hazardous materials, respond to accidents, and manage disasters.
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.