OSHA Training Grants to Target At-Risk Workers, Employers

On Friday, OSHA announced the availability of $11.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to fund training and education for workers and employers on workplace safety and health hazards. According to the agency, the grants are intended to support at-risk or hard-to-reach workers and employers, including those who are disadvantaged, underserved, and low income. Nonprofit organizations that are eligible to apply for these grants include qualifying community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, and public or state colleges and universities.

Grants are available in three areas. Targeted topic training grants are intended to support educational programs that address the identification and prevention of workplace hazards. Training and educational materials development grants support the creation of classroom-ready materials that focus on identifying and preventing occupational hazards. The third area, capacity building, focuses on helping organizations develop new capacity for providing occupational health and safety training, education, and related assistance to workers and employers.

The grant program is named after the late Susan Harwood, who spent 17 years at OSHA helping to develop standards for hazards such as bloodborne pathogens, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos, and lead in construction. According to OSHA, she was also the primary author of the agency’s cotton dust standard, which “virtually eliminated” the lung disease byssinosis among textile workers.

Grant applications are due by Aug. 1, 2022. See OSHA’s press release for further details.