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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
inXsol Announces NIH (NIEHS) SBIR Phase I Grant for - Web-Based, Multiplayer
Small Group Simulation – HazReady™
Phoenix, AZ, June 1, 2012 - inXsol, a Phoenix-based eLearning and simulation
development company, has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation
Research Program grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences (NIEHS). The NIEHS award will allow inXsol to study the feasibility and
efficacy of online simulations to enhance hazardous waste worker training.
inXsol will design and demonstrate an online, multiplayer, small group
simulation to support instructor led hazardous material worker health and safety
training. This product is called HazReady™. The use of distributed, low-cost
simulation will allow individuals to attain a level of experience in multiple
roles at typical incidents and work sites and to receive the necessary
repetition in possible roles for learning and expertise development. inXsol’s
HazReady™ approach will increase access for the worker population and better
position training organizations to serve their clients with relevant simulation
training supporting HAZWOPER and ongoing refresher training.
For this project, inXsol is leveraging a computer-based simulation tool
previously created by The New England Consortium (TNEC). In addition, TNEC
resources will act in the role of subject matter experts for the project. Dr.
Craig Slatin, UMass Lowell Professor of Health Education and Policy and TNEC’s
Principal Investigator, is optimistic about the impact of this project,
"[D]espite the success and significant deployment of TNEC’s original simulation
tool, only a small fraction of at-risk workers trained in this country have
access to advanced tools like the proposed HazReady™ Simulation. inXsol’s
web-based simulation will increase access to advanced training for the industry
– a much needed option for employers and their workers." In addition to TNEC’s
primary role for this project, UCLA - Labor Occupational Safety and Health
(LOSH) and The Texas-Utah Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training
(TUCHWWT) have identified the value of exploring use of this tool for their
organizations and have agreed to test the HazReady™ simulation as part of the
project.
Henry Ryng, inXsol's President and Principal Investigator for this project, is
excited about the opportunity to advance training tools for the Hazardous Waste
Worker/Emergency Responder Community. "We are grateful the NIEHS embraced our
approach for addressing training challenges described in the SBIR topic." He
continued, "Our partner organizations are crucial to the success of this project
and future commercialization. TNEC’s enthusiasm demonstrates the need in the
marketplace for such tools. The results of this project will create a
significant opportunity for hazardous waste worker/emergency responder training
community to help increase the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, and context
of training.
The research for the Phase I project will take place in Phoenix and will
conclude in the Fall of 2012.
ABOUT INXSOL - inXsol, a Phoenix-based simulation and eLearning
development company, has over 15 years experience creating and implementing
solutions for our customers' mission-critical training needs. inXsol serves the
aerospace, education, industrial, financial services and medical markets. In
addition to HazReady™, inXsol created CommandPlan™ an incident command
simulation. www.inxsol.com
ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND CONSORTIUM (TNEC) - TNEC is the New
England region's model Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
(HAZWOPER) Worker Health and Safety training organization. Since 1987, TNEC has
provided dynamic hands-on, participatory health and safety training. With
simulated works tasks and mock incidents, students gain a better understanding
of work site hazards and how to properly respond in an emergency situation.
Courses are delivered at TNEC’s Training Center at UMass Lowell or at company
sites anywhere in New England. TNEC now collaborates with the Civil Service
Employees Association of New York State (AFSCME Local 1000). www.uml.edu/tnec/
NSF
GRANT SUPPORT AND DISCLAIMER - The project described above is
supported by Grant Number 1 R43 ES021640-01 from the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions
or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do
not necessarily reflect the views of the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences.
- END -
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Contact:
Dan Suhr, PhD
Director of Research and Development
inXsol
602.347.9575
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