Created Hazardous Waste Worker Safety and Health Clearinghouse to Disseminate Information to Multiple Audiences
MDB was tasked to offer options and solutions for creating a centralized Clearinghouse to provide access to the growing volume of educational information, lessons learned, classroom statistical information, and a curricula catalog for hazardous waste worker activities.
MDB’s response was to propose a four-point solution built upon the integrated use of Internet technology and increased face-to-face events to speed information flow in both volume and timeliness. These four points consisted of the creation of an on-line, database driven Clearinghouse, producing multiple technical workshops, facilitate sharing technical information of new training programs, and develop, analyze and compile program research products to support new and existing training initiatives. Each of these four-point solutions combined the disciplines of real-world research, writing, and account management while utilizing the latest technology information solutions and on-line application.
Our company’s IT and occupational safety and health practices focused on designing a strategic development plan to bring to fruition a dynamic and evolving online Clearinghouse that provides relevant information on hazardous waste worker issues.
This Clearinghouse was developed through a series of time-tested disciplines that outlined the technical and end-user needs. The process consisted of conducting a series of end-user and technical requirement sessions focusing on the IT platform and website features needed to produce a successful Clearinghouse. This phase of the project required rigid and correct documented and reviewed existing databases, application, and hosting requirements to determine what needed to be upgraded or redesigned and reprogrammed. The end result was a requirement documents for two new applications, an updated Clearinghouse website for public access, and a Library to house all non-curricula related documents. MDB has also developed micro-sites, posted to the main Clearinghouse website, for all related meeting, conferences, and trainers exchange. These new features have further improved information sharing and have set a platform that can be expanded and developed to suit new end-user needs and take advantage of emerging programming technologies and applications.
Today, the National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training
has evolved into the national resource for hazardous waste worker curricula, technical reports,
and weekly news on hazardous materials, waste operations and emergency response. The Clearinghouse’s services include disseminating technical information related to
safety and health training development, organizing and documenting NIEHS WETP meetings and workshops, and analyzing research products to enhance and support on-going and
new initiatives.
