The grants support classroom quality training programs that can be published and used by other organizations, training for OSHA's industry-specific ergonomic guidelines, and training for targeted safety and health hazards, including workplace violence and small-business safety and health management systems.
"This $11.2 million in grants will leverage the reach of training and education efforts to increase the health and safety of workers. These grants will also provide increased compliance assistance in a wide range of professions and disciplines-all of which will contribute to our mission to safeguard America's workers," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.
This year, OSHA awarded grants in three categories. Targeted Topic Training Grants support training for construction and general industry hazards, transportation fatality hazards, workplace violence, emergency preparedness and response, lead and silica exposure and safety and health management systems for small businesses. OSHA Training Materials Development Grants support the development, evaluation and validation of training materials for the eight areas in the targeted topic training grants. Finally, Ergonomics Guidelines Training Grants support training based on the new industry-specific ergonomics guidelines targeted by OSHA: the nursing home industry, retail grocery stores, poultry processing and shipyards.
"Outreach and education are important tools for us to use in reducing injuries and illnesses," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "These grants will help train employees in targeted occupational safety and health topics, and develop practical, user-friendly materials and curricula that will be made available to others so a larger audience can benefit in the future."
Of the 67 grants, 50 are to new grantees selected through a national competition announced last May. The remaining 17 grants are one-year extensions of existing grants.
The training grants are named in honor of the late Susan Harwood, a former director of the Office of Risk Assessment in OSHA's Health Standards Directorate, who died in 1996. During her 17-year tenure with the agency, Harwood helped develop OSHA standards to protect workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos and lead in construction.
The list of recipients can be found at www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=10437.