title: Managers' perceptions of the value and impact of HAZWOPER worker health and safety training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Worker training is a core component of the OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard, but few studies have considered what motivates managers to provide HAZWOPER training to employees or what they value in that training.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2012, four university-based programs conducted an exploratory survey of managers who sent employees to HAZWOPER courses. Results from 109 respondents were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two percent of respondents cited regulations as the most important reason to provide HAZWOPER training; many indicated they would provide less training if there were no standard in place. Three-quarters (74%) reported training had improved workplace conditions. Fewer than half said they were likely to involve trained employees in aspects of the organization's H&S program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compliance with regulatory requirements is an important factor shaping managers' training delivery decisions. Managers recognize positive impacts of training. These impacts could be enhanced by further leveraging employee H&S knowledge and skills.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Sustainability, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Slatin
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Practice, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Mitchel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Practice, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey.
authors.forename: B Louise
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Weidner
authors.affiliation: The New England Consortium, Lowell, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleishman
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alerding
authors.affiliation: UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010465:Perception; D010559:Personnel Management; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Q000592:standards*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D006256:Hazardous Waste
keywords: HAZWOPER; employee involvement; health and safety; managers; regulations; worker training; workplace programs