FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2003:

Environmental Research and Education Foundation Places
Spanish Language Ergonomics Training Materials
On The Web

Alexandria, Va. - On July 16, 2003, the Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) released its Spanish version of a training program entitled "Reducing Ergonomic Risks To The Solid Waste Employee" (Reducción de los riesgos ergonómicos para empleados de la industria de desechos sólidos - Capacitación para capacitadores).  The foundation's ergonomics training programs and accompanying materials to date have been made possible by a Susan Harwood Training Grant to EREF from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Susan Harwood Training Grants provide funds to nonprofit organizations to conduct safety and health training and education in the workplace.

The training course, provided as a Microsoft PowerPoint^® Slide Show or in downloadable Adobe Acrobat^® format, includes color photographs, simple illustrations, and easy to follow instructions.  This program provides a convenient and user-friendly means for teaching safety managers and others how to implement solutions to ergonomic risks faced by solid waste employees.

The training materials are available for use, at no cost, to solid waste employers via EREF's website at www.erefdn.org (under the right-hand link "Seminars and Solid Waste Employee Training Programs").  Solid waste companies may also request a free CD-ROM version of the Spanish language session by writing to the email address provided below.  Please specify which program you would like to receive - either the Microsoft PowerPoint^® Slide Show or Adobe Acrobat^®.

In 2002, EREF received a renewal of its 2000-2001 Susan Harwood grants to cover translation of the handouts from its previous ergonomics training sessions into Spanish; develop checklists of ergonomics issues, in English and Spanish, for solid waste employers and employees to use as part of their overall safety programs and training; continue supervision of the development of the solid waste industry's Best Management Practices (BMPs) for preventing ergonomic injuries to solid waste employees; and maintain and update and interactive web page concerning ergonomics and the solid waste industry, applicable regulatory guidance, and the ability to ask questions that receive prompt and information responses.  The latter three tasks are still under development.

The foundation contracted with the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) (Washington, D.C.) to develop the course because of their expertise related to ergonomics training and education in the solid waste workplace.  EIA is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to the advancement of safe and environmentally protective management of waste through the private wastes services industry.

The Environmental Research and Education Foundation is an independent public charity; its funding base is derived from donations from corporations and individuals who are committed to EREF's mission to develop environmental solutions for the future.  

For more complete information on EREF, go to its website www.erefdn.org or call 703.299.5139.