The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of $12.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support training and education programmes that help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards.
Administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the grants are intended to improve job quality by providing instructor-led safety training for workers and employers in small businesses, with a particular focus on industries with high rates of injury, illness and fatalities.
Supporting hazard awareness
The funding will support training and education on hazard recognition, avoidance and control, helping protect workers from occupational risks while informing employees of their rights and employers of their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Applicants can apply under two funding categories. The Targeted Topic Training programme supports educational initiatives focused on OSHA-designated workplace safety and health hazards, while the Training and Educational Materials Development programme funds the creation of classroom-ready training and educational resources that help identify and prevent workplace hazards.
Wide range of organisations eligible
The grants are available to non-profit organisations, including community-based, faith-based and grassroots organisations, employer associations, labour unions, joint labour and management associations, Indian tribes, public and state colleges and universities, organisations operating OSHA On-Site Consultation programmes, and OSHA Training Institute Education Centers.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT on 31 July 2026. Applicants are required to register with both Grants.gov and the System of Award Management before applying.
Honouring Dr Susan Harwood
The grant programme honours the legacy of Dr Susan Harwood, who spent 17 years with OSHA and played a leading role in developing workplace safety standards for benzene, formaldehyde, bloodborne pathogens and lead in the construction industry.
Dr Harwood was also the primary author of OSHA’s cotton dust standard, which virtually eliminated byssinosis, a lung disease that causes asthma-like symptoms, among textile workers.
