US OSHA promotes training grants for safer workplaces

On July 22, 2021, the acting assistant secretary for the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) James Frederick, issued an editorial promoting two sources of grant monies available to employers, unions and other organizations to address infectious disease workplace safety and training. 

The first available funding is US$10 million in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, entitled “Workplace Safety and Health Training on Infectious Diseases, including the Coronavirus” grants. The deadline to apply is July 26, 2021. Applicants must develop training programs that emphasize:

• Identification and prevention of workplace-related infectious diseases, including COVID, in industries with high illness rates, those employing frontline workers, or those serving susceptible populations;
• OSHA standards that address infectious diseases; and
• Workplace hazards identified in OSHA special emphasis programs or other priorities associated with infectious diseases.

The second available funding is US$11,787,000 through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. Applicants can petition through three different grant programs: Targeted Topic Training, Training and Education Materials Development and Capacity Building. Each is explained in the editorial. The deadline to apply is August 23, 2021.