Pathogen Safety Data Guide and Training Module Offers Clear Solutions
The ask: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program (WTP) requested help developing training tools and resources for infectious disease response.
The solution: In response, MDB developed a pathogen safety data (PSD) guide and training module aimed to raise awareness of existing PSD resources and how they are being used to develop infectious disease occupational exposure control plans in a variety of industries. MDB’s Ebola training gap analysis informed the development of the PSD guide and training module. Two key findings from the gap analysis showed that federal guidance was inconsistent and incomplete, and resources on infectious diseases are sometimes conflicting or lack the detail required to be immediately helpful.
The PSD guide aims to address these issues by reviewing existing PSD resources, outlining their strengths and limitations, and explaining how to access them. The PSD training module was developed to train workers who may be exposed to infectious diseases on how to use existing PSD resources.
MDB worked with NIEHS staff and awardees to pilot test the PSD module through a series of infectious diseases training sessions for workers in various sectors and we used feedback received during these sessions to refine the course materials. The complete PSD training module includes a PowerPoint presentation, a participant worksheet, the PSD guide, a glossary, four case studies, and an instructor guide.
Notable outcomes: Workers who are at higher risk to be exposed to infectious diseases in their workplace are now better prepared to respond to possible infectious disease pathogens, thanks to this innovative training.
