Agencies partner on infectious disease response training for health care, hazardous waste workers

Research Triangle Park, NC – Outbreaks of viruses such as Ebola and Zika have prompted the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, OSHA, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response – to launch an infectious disease safety training program for first responders and hazardous waste workers.

The Ebola Biosafety and Infectious Disease Response Training Program aims to assist approximately 35,000 workers in health care, waste management, transportation, mortuaries and other industries that carry the potential for infectious disease exposure. Eight organizations will receive grants for providing geographically distributed training for a range of occupations.

“Ensuring training and competency of workers in a variety of settings is a critical safety net in preparing for emerging infectious disease threats,” CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Director Beth Bell said in a press release.

The NIEHS Worker Training Program, which has provided training for more than 160,000 employees annually for more than 25 years, will oversee the operation.