OSHA is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, which awards grants to nonprofit organizations in order to help them develop and deliver training and educational programs to workers and employers. A total of $7 million is available for nonprofit groups such as community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, and colleges and universities.
The program supports 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 workers who are underserved, have limited English proficiency, or are temporary workers. The grants will fund training and education for workers and employers to identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards.
Two types of safety and health training grants will be awarded, each with a total of approximately $3.5 million available: Targeted Topic Training and Capacity Building. Targeted Topic Training grants, which must address topics designated by OSHA, support the development of quality training materials and programs for addressing workplace hazards and prevention strategies, while Capacity Building grants focus on developing and expanding the capacity of an organization to provide safety and health training, education, and related assistance to target audiences.
"These grants play an important role in ensuring worker safety and health. By providing training to employees on their rights and employers on their responsibilities, the Susan Harwood grants are making sure that workplace safety is the number one priority on any job site," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.
The solicitation for grant applications is available at http://www.grants.gov/. OSHA encourages applicants to begin the registration process, which usually takes between three and five business days, as soon as possible. Applications for Capacity Building grants must be submitted by Thursday, June 26, 2014, and Targeted Topic grants must be submitted by Monday, June 30, 2014. All applications must be submitted electronically.