OSHA Makes $3.5 Million in Training Grants Available
"These grants provide such a valuable service to American workers because they're providing essential training to the vulnerable workers in small businesses and high-risk industries that need it most," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.
OSHA now is accepting 2015 applications for training grants under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, with a total of $3.5 million available for nonprofit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, tribal organizations, and colleges and universities.
The program honors the late Susan Harwood, a former director in OSHA's Office of Risk Assessment whose 17-year tenure with the agency led to the development of worker protection standards for exposure to bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos, and lead. The grants fund the creation of in-person, hands-on training and educational programs and the development of materials for workers and employers in small businesses; industries with high injury, illness, and fatality rates; and vulnerable workers who are underserved, have limited English proficiency, or are temporary worker, according to the agency's announcement.
"These grants provide such a valuable service to American workers because they're providing essential training to the vulnerable workers in small businesses and high-risk industries that need it most," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "Susan Harwood program grants fund great programs with a truly noble goal, which is to make sure that every worker gets home safe and healthy at the end of the day."
Targeted topic training grants support quality training programs and educational materials that focus on identifying and preventing workplace hazards; applicants for these must address the occupational safety and health hazards designated by OSHA in the grant announcement. Capacity-building pilot grants are intended to help organizations assess their needs and formulate a capacity-building plan before launching a full-scale safety and health education program, while capacity-building developmental grants focus on improving and expanding an organization's capacity to provide safety and health training, education, and related assistance to target audiences.
The funding opportunity announcements are posted at http://www.grants.gov/, which is the website where new applicants must register and returning applicants must confirm the accuracy of their registration information before completing the application. "The registration process generally takes three to five business days, but may take as long as four weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner. Organizations new to the System for Award Management need to allot an additional 14 days for registration to obtain a commercial and government entity code," according to the announcement.