TARGETING SPILL PREVENTION AND CONTROL TRAINING TO THE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL

Abstract

ABSTRACT In 1975, a contract was initiated between the Energy Research and Development Administration (now incorporated into the Department of Energy) and Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi (now Corpus Christi State University) to develop a training program for a broad-based cross section of citizens in oil spill control and cleanup. Development of course materials was completed and the first class held in October 1977; this one week course is presented about 20 times a year at Corpus Christi, Texas. This paper addresses the methods determined to be most efficient to train persons involved in various levels of an organization. Factors which in our experience may influence the effectiveness of this training include: location, methods of presentation, and composition of the class. The final portion of the paper relates these findings to our training program and the response of the students to this learning experience. These concepts may prove useful to management in efficiently allocating their resources so as to provide the highest level of expertise possible. In the final analysis, this should result in better pollution prevention or, when required, reduced costs of spill cleanup.