It's no secret that continuous improvement in the workplace requires continuous education and training. Through the Susan Harwood Training Grants program, OSHA has made $11.2 million available to fund training and education for workers. This type of funding helps workplaces identify problems and improve workplace safety. Those who are interested should apply by July 20, 2020.
Nonprofits through the Grants.gov system can score a portion of these funds as well as community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Native American tribes, and colleges and universities.
The goal is for grant recipients to use the funds to create in-person, hands-on training and educational programs for workers and employers in small businesses; industries with high injury, illness, and fatality rates; and underserved vulnerable workers, have limited English proficiency, young workers, or temporary workers. Other grants are available for workplace hazard prevention training and more.
James Frederick, assistant director of USW Health, Safety and Environment Department, said he’s been working with the Harwood grant off and on since 1990. “It’s a very good program,” he told Graphic Products. “We have done some beneficial work (through these grants).” USW has put much of the funds from the grant toward a variety of OSHA-related projects.
Funding from the grant can help provide hazard and labeling training to workers, ergonomics training, and safety issues such as safe grain bin entry. The training in turn helps prevent worker injury.
National Association of Tower Erectors executive director Todd Schlekeway said after receiving a grant in 2015: “We believe this grant is going to provide access to very high-quality training to these small contractor companies and their employees.”
The Department of Labor says that since the grant’s inception in 1978, about 3 million workers have been trained through this program.
Those interested in applying for the Susan Harwood Training Grants program must submit an online application through July 20, 2020.
Education Put to Work
Expand your safety program with visual communication. Labels and signs provide the necessary information at the point of need. Whether you could use an onsite DuraLabel label printer with many custom options available, or choices from a large selection of premade signs or even an onsite safety compliance evaluation, Graphic Products can help with your visual communication needs.
Download our free OSHA Safety Signs Guide to get your visual safety solutions in order and increase workplace safety.