The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women. One of the ways they do this is by holding an annual competition for grants; awarding funds to organizations to enable them to provide training and education programs on safety and health topics for workers and their employers.

OSHA is now soliciting applications for nearly $7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants available to nonprofit organizations, including labor unions and community-based and faith-based organizations that are not an agency of a State or local government. For 2009, the program is offering 24 targeted topic areas for grants including emergency preparedness and response (including pandemic flu preparedness), ergonomics and workzone safety. Training grants will be awarded for a 24-month performance period, and applications must be submitted electronically using the http://www.grants.gov/ website no later than 4:30 pm on July 24, 2009.

« More information on the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program and how to apply is available on OSHA's website.

Can nursing home work be hazardous to your health?
SEIU's Education and Support Fund has been awarded renewable Harwood grant funds several times over the past couple of years. With this funding, SEIU produced training materials that have broad application in the workplace. A few years back, SEIU put together a training program to educate workers in healthcare facilities (specifically, nursing homes) about health and safety on the job, and learn how to prevent back injuries. View the plethora of materials created here.

SEIU.org also offers many more resources on workplace health and safety guides - check them out at www.seiu.org/a/members/safety-and-health.php