$4.6 Million in OSHA Harwood Grants Available
Nonprofit organizations including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Indian tribes, and colleges and universities are eligible and encouraged by DOL to apply for the grants.
OSHA has $4.6 million available for grants through its Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, which the grantees can use for 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 workers.
Nonprofit organizations including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Indian tribes, and colleges and universities are eligible and encouraged by DOL to apply for the grants. "Ensuring that all workers are safe on the job is a top priority for the Labor Department. The Susan Harwood training grants help equip vulnerable workers and their employers with the information and knowledge they need to identify and prevent injuries," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "The program continues the proud legacy of its namesake who did so much to understand and improve worker protections in her 17 years with the department."
Targeted Topic Training Grants and Capacity Building Training Grants will be awarded. Targeted Topic Training grants support the development of quality training programs and educational materials that focus on identifying and preventing workplace hazards. Two types of Capacity Building grants are available: Capacity Building pilot and Capacity Building developmental grants. "Pilot grants will assist organizations in assessing their needs and formulating a capacity-building plan before moving forward with a full-scale safety and health education program. Developmental grants focus on improving and expanding the capacity of an organization to provide safety and health training, education, and related assistance to target audiences," according to the DOL news release.
Applicants are encouraged to begin the process of registering with www.grants.gov as soon as possible. Applications for both Targeted Topic Training grants (SHTG-FY-16-01) and Capacity Building grants (SHTG-FY-16-02) must be submitted by June 28. All applications must be submitted electronically and are due no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on that date. OSHA has developed a series of brief webinars to assist prospective applicants in understanding the application process. The webinars will be available at http://www.osha.gov/dte/sharwood/index.html.