September 24, 2023
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded through its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approximately $12.7 million in grants to 100 nonprofit organizations across the nation to support education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards, employ injury prevention, and understand workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under federal law.
Funding through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, the grants are being awarded in three categories, namely targeted topic training, training and educational materials development and capacity building grants.
“The award of Susan Harwood Training Grants reminds us of Dr. Harwood’s important contributions to making our nation’s workplaces safer and healthier for countless U.S. workers,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “Dr. Harwood’s dedication to educating workers and employers continues to inspire those of us at the Department of Labor and those whose organizations will use these grants to help save lives.”
The program’s name and purpose reflect the legacy of the former director of OSHA’s Office of Risk Assessment. In 17 years with OSHA, the late Dr. Harwood was instrumental in developing federal standards that today protect people from workplace hazards, including asbestos, benzene, bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, formaldehyde and lead.
OSHA awards grants to non-profit organizations, including community and faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor-management associations, Native American tribes and local and state-sponsored colleges and universities. Target trainees include small-business employers and underserved vulnerable workers in high-hazard industries.
Many of the recipients of fiscal year 2023 Susan Harwood Training Grants will provide training and education in their regions and across the nation.
