|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8151
Susan Harwood Grants Named for Long-Time OSHA
Employee
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
today awarded $816,000 in grants to six nonprofit organizations to conduct
training in occupational safety and health issues in scaffolding and workplace
violence. More than 6,000 workers, managers and employers nationwide will be
trained under the program.
"One of my highest priorities is to ensure safe and
healthful workplaces," said Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman. "These grants
will go a long way toward ensuring that reality while, at the same time,
promoting greater understanding among employers and workers of ways to avoid
serious occupational risks."
The six groups chosen to receive the grants were among the
203 organizations that applied for the national competition announced Apr. 17,
1997, in the Federal Register. This latest competition, open to all nonprofit
organizations (excluding state and local governments), ended June 13.
"These grants will help to reduce injuries, illnesses and
fatalities in two very high-priority areas -- scaffolding and workplace
violence," said Charles N. Jeffress, OSHA's assistant secretary. "It's
imperative that we use every means available to protect our workers. The grant
program enables workers and employers to join together to do that."
The grants are named for Susan Harwood, who was a key
member of the agency's staff for 17 years before her death last year. She
helped develop a number of major OSHA health standards; the grant program
commemorates her service to occupational safety and health.
The recipients and the subjects they will cover, along
with the amount of the grants and the number of workers and/or employers to be
trained, follow:
SCAFFOLDING
International Masonry Institute, Washington, D.C.,
$178,000
The organization will conduct a train-the-trainer course on
scaffold safety. The trainers will then conduct training for apprentice and
journey worker scaffold users. About 2,075 will be trained nationwide.
Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund, Pomfret Center,
CT, $183,000
The grantee will conduct the train-the-trainer course for
scaffold users. They will also train scaffold users in OSHA requirements.
Finally, the organization will develop and distribute training materials,
including a CD-ROM interactive training program. About 1,230 will be trained
nationwide.
National Ironworkers and Employers Apprenticeship Training
and Journeymen Upgrading Fund, Washington, D.C., $96,000
The grantee will
develop a training program, and train trainers who will, in turn, train local
ironworkers. The training will also include hands-on exercises in scaffold use.
Approximately 260 will be trained nationwide.
United Brotherhood of Carpenters Health and Safety Fund of
North America, Washington, D.C., $185,000
The union will conduct
train-the-trainer courses for trainers from the Carpenters Union and other
building trades unions. New trainers will be provided with training materials
and will conduct scaffold user training for other construction trades workers.
Nationwide, about 1,150 will be trained.
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
Regents of the University of California, Berkeley, CA,
$120,000
The University will conduct train-the-trainer courses about
workplace violence prevention for employers and unions. The courses will target
drivers, retail workers, health care and mental health workers, social service
workers and school employees. About 1,600 will be trained in Northern
California.
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union,
Washington, D.C., $54,000
The union will train local union leaders and
staff representing retail workers as trainers. These trainers will then provide
training to members of their locals regarding prevention of workplace violence.
About 230 nationwide will be trained.
Earlier awards announced in September included grants for
ergonomics and assisting small businesses with safety and health programs. A
total of $2,043,000 was awarded to 18 organizations. Additionally, three
logging grants, totaling $308,000, were renewed for another year.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
| 
