Approximately 35,000 workers whose jobs put them at risk for exposure to infectious diseases like Ebola will be able to participate in a new safety training program supported by the federal government.
The $9 million collaborative program is being launched by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the CDC and other federal organizations.
"A few years ago, very few of us had heard of diseases like Ebola or Zika," said Linda Birnbaum, PhD, NIEHS director. "We need to ensure that we have a workforce ready to contain these and the next infectious disease threats. This new training program will help workers, who do so much to protect others, stay safe when working with patients or people in high risk situations."
The existing NIEHS Worker Training Program will oversee the Ebola Biosafety and Infectious Disease Response Training, which will provide education and resources to first responders, healthcare workers, waste management personnel, mortuaries and other workers who could come in contact with infectious diseases.
"When we think of occupations that may be exposed to infectious disease, airport workers or custodial employees may not initially come to mind," said Joseph "Chip" Hughes, PhD, WTP director. "Yet all of these occupations have an important role in minimizing disease transmission, and they need to know how to protect themselves so they don't get infected or spread diseases to their families or communities."
Funds will also be distributed to eight organizations that have the ability to conduct regional training programs for a range of occupations. The eight organizations are:
• Duke University in Durham, N.C.
• Emory University in Atlanta.
• Indiana University in Bloomington.
• International Chemical Workers Union Council in Cincinnati.
• Laborers' International Union of North America Education and Training Fund in Pomfret Center, Conn.
• Rutgers School of Public Health in Piscataway, N.J.
• Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization in Pittsburgh.
• University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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