Who are we
The School for Workers, UW-Extension has contracted with the Bureau of Occupational Health, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services to produce training materials for business and labor related to bio-terrorism and emergency preparedness. The one-year, $75,000 contract is part of a
$20 million grant from the federal government to the State of Wisconsin for a wide range of bio-terrorism preparedness initiatives. To facilitate the project, SFW receives guidance and input from the Bio-terrorism Occupational Business/Labor Coalition created by DHFS, which consists of representatives from the business and labor communities in Wisconsin.
Members of the Bio-terrorism Occupational Business/Labor Coalition include:
- Dr. Marvin Birnbaum, U.W.-Madison Medical School
- Jose Bucio, Wisconsin AFL-CIO
- Barbara Coyle, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
- Brian Roessler, Wisconsin Council on Safety
- Neill DeClercq, Professor, U.W.-Extension School for Workers
- Fred Gegare, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 75
- Arlene Himmelreich, Wisconsin State Association of Occupational Health Nurses
- Paul Lovinus, Teamsters Local 344
- John Lund, Professor and Director, U.W.-Extension School for Workers
- Steven Marshall, Department of Health and Family Services
- John Metcalf, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
- Terry Moen, Bureau Chief, Department of Health and Family Services
- Dennis Paget, United Parcel Service
- Forrest Ceel, IBEW Local 2150
- William Smith, National Federation of Independent Business
The working title for this activity is Workplace Emergency Response Project (WERP), which signifies that the training will assist employers and workers to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies including bio-terrorism. A short "awareness" video, web site and classroom training materials will be produced under the contract. The video will illustrate the importance of emergency preparedness through interviews with business owners discussing the lessons they learned from survival and recovery form disasters. Experts in disaster planning and response will also be featured discussing what businesses and employees need to know and do to be prepared.