OSHA Announces $10.5M in Training Grants, Young Worker Safety Campaign

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the availability of $10.5 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants for nonprofit organizations including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Indian tribes, and colleges and universities.

The Harwood Training Grant program supports in-person, hands-on training 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. The grants will fund training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards.

Grants are available in three areas: Targeted Topic Training, Training and Educational Materials Development, and Capacity Building.

• Targeted Topic Training grants support educational programs that address identifying and preventing workplace hazards. These grants require applicants to conduct training on OSHA-designated workplace safety and health hazards.
• Training and Educational Materials Development grants support the development of quality classroom-ready training and educational materials that focus on identifying and preventing workplace hazards.
• Capacity Building grants support organizations in developing new capacity for conducting workplace safety and health training programs, and must provide training and education based on identified needs of a specific audience or a set of related topics.

Details on the grants and how to apply are available at Grants.gov. Harwood applications must be submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Applicants must possess a “D-U-N-S” number and have an active System of Award Management (SAM) registration.  A D-U-N-S number may be obtained free-of-charge from Dun & Bradstreet.

Keeping Young Workers Safe

OSHA is also partnering with worker safety organizations on #MySafeSummerJob, a social media campaign to educate young workers about safety rights in the workplace, how to speak up about dangerous work conditions, and how to protect themselves on the job.

Each week, through May 17, 2019, the campaign will focus on a different theme for empowering youth in their workplaces, including “You Have Rights;” “Every Job Has Hazards;” “Speak-Up; Injuries are Preventable” and “You Can Get Help.” Young workers will be asked to engage with the campaign by posting messages or images in response to questions about their work.

Working with OSHA on this campaign are Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CareerSafe, Center for Construction Research and Training, American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Society of Safety Professionals, National Safety Council, and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

For more information about young workers, visit the #MySafeSummerJob website for resources, tools, and a social media toolkit to develop messages for youth, parents, teachers, and employers.

Keep Teens - and Your Business - Safe this Summer