Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Unemployed as well as underemployed workers in Kansas City, Missouri will now be capable to benefit from the Kansas City Metropolitan U.S. Environmental Protection Agency American Recovery as well as Reinvestment Act Brownfields Job Training Partnership. This three-year program, funded by ARRA stimulus funds, will provide environmental remediation training for workers in the Kansas City area in order to prepare them for the green workforce.

Several organizations will be using part in this partnership, including the lead applicant OAI, Inc., which is a non-profit that has 33 years of experience in vocational training as well as 12 years of experience in environmental remediation training in the Kansas City area. Other partners include the Metropolitan Community Colleges, Era Environmental & Safety, the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council, Connections to Success, as well as the cities of both Kansas City as well as Independence, Missouri. Other organizations are expected to join in as the project continues to develop.

The Training Program is held 40 hours per week for nine weeks. Students will learn Occupational Safety as well as Health Administration (OSHA) Common Construction Safety, Foundation Skills Training in Hazardous Waste Removal, CPR, Earliest Aid as well as Job Readiness. They can choose from either the Environmental Remediation Track, which includes lead, mold as well as asbestos abatement, or the Energy Conservation as well as Home Weatherization track, which includes home weatherization skills as well as strategies. Graduates of the job training program will receive state certifications as well as licensing in either remediation or weatherization as well as will as well as receive job placement assistance.

The Environmental Remediation Track classes will be held from January to March 2010. The Energy Conservation as well as Home Weatherization Track will be held from July to September 2010. There is space for a total of 100 students to train over the next two years. Applications for the Environmental Remediation session were due by December 5.

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