OSHA has awarded more than $10.3 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to labor unions, community colleges and other nonprofit organizations for safety and health training and educational programs. Included in the grants is $5 million for Disaster Response and Recovery Training Grants to provide critical health and safety training for workers who are engaged in disaster response, clean-up and rebuilding activities in the hurricane-impacted Gulf States region.

The grants will help train workers to avoid hazards related to confined spaces, electrical work, construction, hand and power tools, heavy equipment operation, slips, trips and falls, mold, water contamination, respiratory, chemical and biological hazards, and animal and insect bites.

OSHA awarded additional grants in three categories:

OSHA Training Materials Development Grants support the development, evaluation and validation of training materials for construction, work-related transportation hazards and other safety and health areas of interest.

Targeted Topic Training Grants support training for construction and general industry hazards.

Institutional Competency Building Grants help nonprofit organizations expand their safety and health training, education and outreach to assist workers on an ongoing basis.