The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has awarded approximately $10.2 million to 67 organisations to support workplace safety education and training.
Funding has been provided through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, which supports training designed to help workers and employers recognise serious workplace hazards and introduce appropriate safety and health measures.
Supporting higher risk workplaces
The programme provides instructor led training for workers and employers, with particular emphasis on small businesses and industries experiencing higher rates of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
Funding will support education covering hazard awareness, prevention and control.
Recipients will also develop classroom ready educational materials intended to help organisations identify and prevent workplace hazards.
The programme aims to reach workers who may experience barriers to accessing occupational safety and health training.
Workplace safety responsibilities
Organisations receiving grants deliver practical training covering the recognition, avoidance and prevention of workplace hazards.
The programme also provides information about workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
OSHA selects priority training topics based on factors including workplace fatality information, national safety emphasis programmes and pending regulations.
Susan Harwood legacy
The grant programme was launched in 1978 under the name New Directions before being renamed in 1997 in recognition of Susan Harwood.
During 17 years with OSHA, Harwood contributed to workplace safety standards covering hazards including bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos and lead in construction.
She was also the primary author of OSHA’s cotton dust standard, which addressed byssinosis among textile workers.
The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program remains dependent on Congressional approval and the appropriation of funding to the Department of Labor.
