Several unresolved issues were identified at the conference’s Plenary Session that could form the basis of future work by individual conference participants, agencies, and academic institutions. These include:

1. Development of Competencies for Worker Training. The purpose of the conference was to start to identify common and specific training requirements, that is, knowledge and skills that workers should possess if they are to be adequately prepared to meet the challenge of a potential exposure to CBRNE threats in the workplace. Although the conference participants did identify several such requirements, these requirements only partially define the specific competencies that would form the basis of a training program. Additional work is needed to generate and validate the specific competencies, with input from many different parties representing the spectrum of stakeholders involved in worker training (employee groups, employers, government agencies, academic institutions, experts in specific content areas, and others).
   
   
2. Coordination of Federal Policy on Worker Training. There was a consensus among conference participants that there should be a coordinated Federal policy on worker training. OSHA, DOT, EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies all affect policies on worker training. Other agencies at the state and local levels, as well as private and quasi-public agencies and advisory panels, take cues from the Federal government when devising their own training recommendations or requirements. Thus, it is critical that Federal agencies develop a mechanism to coordinate recommendations and requirements for worker training for new threats.
   
   
3. Adoption of Federal Guidelines or Standards on Worker Training for New Threats. Conference participants were divided on whether there should be guidelines or requirements for worker training, but there was a consensus that the Federal government should not remain silent on the topic and should, at the least, provide guidelines for worker training. Many participants pointed out that there is evidence to suggest that those worker training requirements that are already in place are not universally adhered to. In this respect, the proposed new training represents an opportunity to enlarge the sphere of workers who receive basic health and safety training as part of the training for new threats. At the same time, some employers may be reluctant to provide additional training (because of concerns about costs or liability) without specific guidance or direction from the Federal government.
   
   
4. Development and/or Inventory of Training Modules. Many industries and employee groups have already developed and refined their emergency plans and are already executing these training modules/programs. Several participants inquired about an inventory of training programs or modules that could be used “off-the-shelf.” For example, modules in incident command could be fashioned so that they can be broadly applicable to many different sectors with only minor modifications. In other areas, however, additional research or development may be needed to determine what should be the specific content of training and how it can best be delivered. Partnerships between the private and public sector, in cooperation with academic institutions, will help to facilitate the rapid development and distribution of these new training modules.

APPENDIX 1. Conference Program and Speakers

October 26, 2002
Welcome
Clifford S. Mitchell, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Introduction to Keynote Speaker

Alfred Sommer, Dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Keynote Address

John Howard, Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Theme 1: Review of Lessons Learned

Panel 1: Lessons from the World Trade Center and Pentagon

Joseph "Chip" Hughes, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - Moderator
Jeff Borkowski, Fire Department of New York
Don Carson, International Union of Operating Engineers
John Moran, Consultant, Clearinghouse on Worker Training
Gil Gillen, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Major Tony Intrepido, U.S. Army, Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine

Panel 2: Lessons from Anthrax in the Mail

Clifford Mitchell - Moderator
Corey Thompson, American Postal Workers Union
Samuel M. Pulcrano, U.S. Postal Service

Panel 3: Emergency Response Plans: Lessons Learned and Applied

Rosemary Sokas, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Moderator
Bonnie Butler, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Carol Merry Stephenson, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Luncheon Keynote Address

John Henshaw, Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor

Theme 2: Worker Safety Training Needs by Sector: New Developments

Transportation

Brenda Cantrell, George Meany Center for Labor Studies - Moderator
Bill Rogers, Motor Freight Carriers Association
Anthony Murray, U.S. Department of Transportation
Richard Inclima, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees

Manufacturing

Bernie Kuchinski, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Moderator
Michael Fagel, Consultant
John Morawtz, ICWUC Center for Worker Health and Safety Training
Joseph Howicz, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Health Care

William Borwegen, Service Employees International Union - Moderator
Robyn Gershon, Columbia University
Kristine Gebbie, Columbia University

Emergency Response

Paul Hoffman, International Association of Fire Fighters - Moderator
Scott Solomon, International Association of Fire Fighters
Adam Thiel, Virginia State Training Coordinator
Tom Moffett, Harrisonburg, Virginia Fire and Rescue Department

Skilled Support Personnel

Bruce Lippy, Michael Baker and Associates - Moderator
Ray Master, Bovis LendLease
Louis Ricca, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Concluding Remarks

Bruce Lippy, Michael Baker and Associates - Moderator
Clifford Mitchell

October 27, 2002

Overview of Day 2

Clifford S. Mitchell
John B. Moran

Breakout Groups

Plenary Session