US Department of Labors OSHA seeks applications for $8 million in new Susan Harwood Safety and Health Capacity Building Training Grants

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications for $8 million in Susan Harwood Safety and Health Capacity Building Training Grants. The grants are available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations to provide safety and health training educational programs for workers and employers.

"These grants will provide workers and employers with the tools they need to build the capacity to ensure safe workplaces," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These grants will enable workers to gain the knowledge and tools they need to save lives and protect their health."

This grant program seeks to fund longer term programs that build safety and health competency within organizations. Capacity building safety and health training grants will focus on training workers to recognize hazards and appropriate control measures, and to understand their rights under OSHA regulations and standards.

Two types of grant awards may be made for capacity building grants: 1) pilot grants and 2) developmental grants. Pilot grants are intended to assist organizations that need time to assess needs and formulate a plan before moving forward with a full scale safety and health education program. Developmental grants are for organizations that already have established the capability to provide occupational safety and health training, education and related assistance to their constituents and are seeking to expand and develop their capacity.

The complete solicitation for grant applications is available at http://s.dol.gov/3K. Applicants can complete the mandatory online registration at any time; however, registration must take place before beginning the application process. Applicants are encouraged to complete registration as soon as possible, as the process takes multiple days to complete.

Capacity grant applications must be submitted and received electronically no later than 4:30 p.m. EDT on July 2, 2010. No extensions of the deadline will be granted.

OSHA also will announce, in the near future, a second Susan Harwood Training Grant Program solicitation for one-year Targeted Topic Training Grants that will focus on short-term training programs and the development of training materials.

Further information on the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program is available on OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov/dte/sharwood/. Questions from the public regarding this announcement should be directed to Cynthia Bencheck at bencheck.cindy@dol.gov or Jim Barnes at barnes.jim@dol.gov and telephone 847-759-7700.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.