Judith A. Daltuva, MSW, MA¹, Melina Williams, MPH¹, Thomas G. Robins, MD, MPH¹, and Luis A. Vazquez, MPH². (1) Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 109 Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, 734 936 0756, jdal@umich.edu, (2) UAW Health & Safety Department, 8000 East Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214

This study evaluates the impact of an intensive 24-hour Industrial Emergency Response (IER) class conducted by worker-trainers from the United Automobile Workers (UAW) at two manufacturing facilities, with funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). To help assess both immediate and long-term training outcomes, trainees were asked to fill out questionnaires at three points in time: prior to training, immediately after training, and 18–24 months post training. Trainees also participated in in-depth follow-up interviews 24 months after training conducted by worker-trainers or university personnel. Most trainees considerably increased knowledge and awareness of health and safety hazards in the workplace and learned how to obtain health and safety information. Most trainees also reported increased involvement in health and safety and improvements in the way incidents were handled at the worksite after attending training. The conduct of such worker-based training programs often are time and resource-intensive to conduct. These results support the high value of such efforts in protecting worker health and safety.

Learning Objectives: