Worker Training Program

NIEHS Training
to address occupational disparities and environmental justice
and the benefits derived from this approach
Sharon Beard
Industrial Hygienist; NIEHS Worker Training program

Deborah Weinstock
Director, National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health
Training
National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Worker Training Program

Environmental Career Worker Training Program

Train unemployed or underemployed individuals by
delivering holistic and comprehensive training to
disadvantaged and underserved communities;
Program addresses the risk of occupational health
disparities;
Provides job readiness training such as remediation
education and life skills;
Prepare and place them for employment in the fields of
environmental restoration, construction, and hazardous
materials/waste industries; and
Evaluate the effectiveness of the training program and
its impact.
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National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

ECWTP Awardees
Center for Construction Research
and Training

Rutgers School of Public HealthNJ/NY Consortium

New Orleans, LA; St. Paul, MN;

and East Palo Alto, CA.

Newark, NJ and New York City,

NY

OAI

Dillard University

Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Kansas

City KS/MO.

New Orleans, LA; Pensacola, FL;

Houston, TX; and Detroit, MI.

University of California, Los

Angeles

United Steelworkers
New York City, NJ

Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA;

and Portland, OR

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

ECWTP: Success and Best Practices Report

Trained over 10,000 people in more than 30
communities across 20 states with nearly 70%
employment.
Increase sustainable employment
opportunities, address health disparities, &
advance environmental justice.
Transformed the lives of trainees, families,
and communities.
Provides significant contributions to
environmental justice by providing training and
increasing job opportunities.
The ECWTP - a model intervention in classic
public health.
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National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

Success Stories from Training..

Charlie is a graduate of the 2011-12 ECWTP. When he
entered the program, Charlie was unemployed and living
in a homeless shelter. He joined the union receiving
credit for pre-apprenticeship training and is now working
as a second-year apprentice earning over $14/hr.
Charlie no longer lives in the homeless shelter but
volunteers his time to help those who still do.
(New Orleans Success Story, CPWR 2013 Progress
Report)

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

Success Stories from Training..

Tom, a single father of four took his experience gained
through the training program and made life changing
improvements. With all of the guidance provided by the
program, Tom is in the process of buying a home,
purchased a new vehicle and in the process of getting
full custody of his children. His prior work experience
was minimal and he has made a complete 360 degree
turn around. Tom stated he was grateful for being in the
program and that it was a life changing experience.
(St. Paul Success Story, CPWR 2013 Progress Report)

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

NIEHS Environmental Career Worker Training Program Update

Fifteen-Year Summary of Training
For Budget Period 09/01/1996-07/31/2014 Final
Year

Students
Trained

Placed in
Jobs

Percentage of Students
Placed in Jobs

1996-2006

3,499

2,346

67%

2007

385

241

63%

2008

317

222

70%

2009

379

285

75%

2010

531

372

70%

2011

396

291

73%

2012

366

274

75%

2013

367

279

76%

2014

248

269

76%

Total

6,588

4,579

70%

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

Evaluation of the Economic Impact of the NIEHS Worker

Trainings Environmental Career Worker Training
Program
This analysis was completed in collaboration with:
Bryant Engelhardt, Robert Baumann, Kathy Kiel of The College of the Holy Cross;
Deborah Weinstock, Larry Reed, Justin Crane, MDB, Inc.

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Worker Training Program

Purposes of WTP Benefits Study

To respond to NIEHS Strategic Goal 10
Evaluate the economic impact of policies, practices, and behaviors that
reduce exposure to environmental toxicants, through prevention of
disease and disabilities, and invest in research programs to test how
prevention improves public health and minimizes economic burden.

To evaluate, quantify, and document the wide range of

benefits of WTP ECWTP
To develop methodology for WTP Benefits
Share the results with stakeholders
OAI trainees receive general classroom instruction.

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

Benefits defined
Seven monetary benefits between 1995 and 2013

$1.79 Billion

Total Value Added

Effect on earnings

$1,593 million

Safety and related cost savings

Hiring cost savings
Crime cost savings
Effects on taxes and transfers
Environment-related benefits
Matching funds and community
involvement (2013 only)

$153 million
$16.8 million
$22.1 million
$717 million
Indeterminate

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$2.3 million

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

Overview of Findings
Benefits
Higher earnings
Fewer workplace injuries
Lower hiring costs
Reduced crime related
costs
Improved government
fiscal budget
Environmental benefits
In-kind donations
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National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

Monetized Benefits
$1.6B in higher earnings
for its graduates,
$153 less workplace
injury costs,
$16.8M less hiring costs,
$22.1M less crime related
costs
$2.3M in 2013 in
contributions from firms
and non-profits
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National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Worker Training Program

Study Details
Data used in analysis
Basic demographics
Employment history
Post training survey
Employment status, job
type, wages

Short survey of 2013

trainees
Grantee webinars
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National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

For more information on the Worker Training

Program & National Clearinghouse for Worker
Safety and Health Training
Please visit:
http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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