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News Release
Monday, September 28, 1998
Contact: Jeff Ezell (202) 219-8151

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today awarded $3.984 million in grants to 37 organizations so that they can develop training programs that improve workplace safety and health. The awards, known as the Susan Harwood Training Grants, are made to safety and health organizations, employer associations, educational institutions and other nonprofit organizations.

"These grants are important because they provide much-needed funding to develop employee safety and health training programs," said Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman.

OSHA requires Harwood grantees to develop training programs, recruit workers and employers for the training, conduct the training, and perform follow-up research to determine the training's effect on reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.

"The Harwood grants," said Charles N. Jeffress, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, "illustrate OSHA's commitment to protect workers. This year's grantees will focus on such important areas as ergonomics, construction, silica in general industry, food processing, scaffolding, and workplace violence."

Harwood, who died in 1996, was an OSHA employee for 17 years and the former director of the Office of Risk Assessment in the agency's Health Standards Directorate. Among the standards that Harwood worked on during her career were tuberculosis, bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos and lead in construction.

OSHA expects to issue in early 1999 another Request for Proposal for a new group of training grants.

[Editors: Attached is a list of new and renewal grantees, along with the amount of the grant and a brief description of their program. Contact the person listed for more specific information about their organization's grant.]