Lead Impact-Vocational Teacher Training in the State of Maine
Vocational Teacher Training
This contract was originally awarded in 2002 from the Maine DEP to develop an instructor’s guide that compliments the lead abatement awareness web-based training program entitled LEAD IMPACT, developed by the Narragansett Indian Tribe for US EPA, Region I. The intent was that after this instructor’s guide was developed, PETE would network with the vocational instructors of Maine’s high school and community college construction trade programs to solicit their participation in adopting this training program within their trade program.
PETE entered into an agreement with ATEEC to develop the instructors manual and host the online course for this “pilot” project. After reviewing the web-based training program it was determined that it needed to be upgraded to a more universal web based platform in order to conform to typical online access used by schools today, along with updating the content to meet both EPA and the U.S. Housing & Urban Development Agencies Lead Safe Work Practices regulations. PETE was awarded supplemental funding from the Narragansett Indian Tribe and ME DEP to upgrade the online course platform, update the content to meet both EPA & HUD lead safe work practices guidelines, update the instructors manual and host the online course for one year for the Maine vocational high school and community college construction trade program students and faculty to participate.
Upon successful completion of this awareness training program, students will receive a certificate of completion by the Maine DEP. Maine DEP and EPA are hopeful that this on-line course will meet the need to train new construction trade workers along with existing workers in the state of Maine along with proving that this type of format will allow greater training success for rural workers in states like Maine. Lead is prevalent in homes constructed pre 1978 in paint used throughout homes, and has been found to be dangerous if disturbed during repair work for home occupants and workers, especially young children. EPA intends to expand this initiative to other New England states after successful completion of this project.