OSHA ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR $5 MILLION
IN SAFETY AND HEALTH TRAINING GRANTS

Proposals are being accepted until June 15 for $5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations for safety and health training under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Susan Harwood Training Grants program.

OSHA is accepting proposals that target safety and health training programs in (1) construction, including residential; (2) bloodborne pathogens; (3) ergonomics; (4) electrical power generation, transmission and distribution; and (5) training programs on safety and health issues for hard-to-reach workers. The five training topics are based on injuries and illnesses in selected industries identified in the OSHA Strategic Plan. Training is expected to target workers employed in jobs with high risk activities or hazards or who are affected by new or revised OSHA standards.

Grants will be awarded for a 12-month period. The average federal award will be $150,000. If first year performance is satisfactory and funds are available, grants will be renewed for an additional 12-month period.

Details about the grants and the application process are available in the April 18, 2001, Federal Register. Grant application instructions may be obtained from the OSHA Office of Training and Education, Division of Training and Educational Programs, 1555 Times Drive, Des Plaines, Ill., 60018, telephone (847) 297-4810. The instructions are also available on the Internet at http://www.osha-slc.gov/Training/sharwood/sharwood.html.

Grant applications are due in the Des Plaines office by 4:30 p.m. central time, Friday, June 15, 2001. Applications may be sent via fax to (847) 297-6636.

The training grants are named in honor of the late Susan Harwood, a former director of the Office of Risk Assessment in OSHA's Health Standards Directorate, who died in 1996. During her 17-year tenure with the agency, Harwood helped develop OSHA standards to protect workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos and lead in construction.

This series of short-term grants supercedes the long-term grants announced by the agency on January 8. Due to budget considerations, the long-term grants could not be funded.

This news release text is on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov. Information on this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-1999.