News Release USDL:95.235
Wednesday, June 21, 1995
Contact: Susan Hall Fleming, (202) 219-8151
Applications: Helen Beall, (708) 297-4810

In keeping with its new emphasis on partnership and cooperation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is inviting nonprofit groups to apply for targeted training grants.

Grantees will conduct training and develop educational materials on fall protection in residential construction; small business safety and health programs; injury prevention for hospital, nursing or medical facility workers; or logging safety for small employers. Applications are due Aug. 4, 1995.

"The training these grants offer will strengthen OSHA's partnership with employers and employees in promoting safe and healthful work environments. Additional training resources will make a positive difference in reducing workplace injuries and illnesses associated with hazards common to the target industries," said Assistant Secretary of Labor Joseph A. Dear, who administers OSHA.

Under the targeted training grant program, OSHA encourages nonprofit groups to develop training focusing on workers and employers in small businesses (250 or fewer employees), new OSHA standards or areas of special emphasis or recognized high risk activities or tasks. The goal is to enable as many workers/employers as possible to recognize and abate workplace hazards and comply with OSHA standards.

With $1.7 million to allocate through this program, OSHA expects the average award to be $100,000. Approximately $200,000 has been set aside for logging and $500,000 each for fall protection, safety and health programs for small businesses and injury prevention in medical facilities. OSHA may consider geographical distribution and coverage of populations at risk in determining its grant selections. Grants will be awarded for a twelve-month period and may be renewed for an additional year, depending on the availability of funds, the continuing need for the training and satisfactory performance by the grantee.

Targeted training grant recipients must contribute at least 20 percent in matching funds. This match may be in-kind, rather than in cash. All applicants must certify that they have a drug- free workplace and comply with restrictions on lobbying.

Only nonprofit organizations which are not agencies of state or local governments are eligible to apply. However, institutions of higher education supported by state or local governments are eligible to apply. Applicants other than institutions of higher education must submit evidence of nonprofit status, preferably from the Internal Revenue Service. A consortium must have a written agreement spelling out roles and responsibilities for members and designate one member as the lead agency to receive the grant and be responsible for grant administration.

In selecting grantees, OSHA will give preference to consortiums that include community-based organizations or other organizations that can reach out to workers who are minorities or migrants, have limited English, or have entry level and/or minimum wage jobs. Also the agency will favor proposals that offer train-the-trainer approaches, especially programs that train workers to train other workers. All grant programs will be encouraged to include managers and/or supervisors and small businesses in their training.

OSHA reviews all educational materials for technical accuracy during development and before final publication. This includes instructional curriculums and purchased training materials. Grant recipients are expected to share educational materials they develop with others in the relevant industry. In addition, grantees must provide copies of completed educational materials to OSHA before the end of the grant period. OSHA circulates audiovisual materials produced under the grant program through its Resource Center's lending program.

Applicants should obtain detailed grant instructions from the OSHA Office of Training and Education, Division of Training and Educational Programs 1555 Times Dr., Des Plaines, Ill. 60018. Completed applications must be received by the above office no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Aug. 4, 1995.

Notice of the targeted grant program was scheduled to appear in the June 21 Federal Register.

Target Areas

Fall Protection in Residential Construction

• Teach workers and employers about OSHA's fall protection requirements and how to apply them to residential construction.

Safety and Health Programs for Small Businesses

• Help workers/employers in small businesses (250 or fewer workers) understand OSHA requirements and implement safety and health programs in line with OSHA's safety and health management guidelines issued in 1989.

Prevention of Injuries in Hospitals, Nursing or Other Medical Facilities

• Train workers to prevent injuries, particularly injuries involving lifting.

Logging

• Train small logging employers to understand and meet the requirements of OSHA's logging standard.

Supportable Activities

• Conducting training.

• Conducting other educational activities designed to reach and inform employees and employers.

• Developing educational materials for use in the training and/or educational activities.

Nonsupportable Activities

• Activities inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

• Activities for workplaces not covered by OSHA.

• Activities to benefit state, county or municipal workers, except in state plan states.

• Publishing materials that have not been reviewed by OSHA.

• Training activities not directly dealing with workplace hazards (such as workers' compensation, first aid, etc.).

• Activities involving arbitration or claims against federal state or local governments.

• Activities that duplicate services offered by OSHA or state OSHAs or OSHA-funded consultation programs.

• Activities directly or indirectly intended to generate membership in the grantee's organization.

Evaluation Criteria

Program Design

• Plan for training and education addressing one of the target areas.

• Number of employees/employers to be reached.

• Number of workers to be trained as trainers of fellow workers.

• Appropriateness of activities for target population.

• Plan to recruit trainees for the program.

• Plan for evaluating the program's effectiveness.

• Feasibility and soundness of work plan.

Program Experience

• Occupational safety and health experience of the applicant.

• Evidence of previous experience in training and education.

• Technical/professional expertise of present/proposed staff.

• Experience in reaching the target population and conducting safety and health training for that group.

Administrative Capability

• Managerial expertise of the applicant over the past five years.

• Experience of the applicant in administering federal and/or state grants.

• Completeness of the application, including forms, budget detail, narrative and work plan and attachments.

Budget

• Reasonableness in relation to planned activities.

• Matching share minimum of 20 percent is met.

• Compliance with applicable federal cost principles.

Preferential Considerations

• Submission by a consortium that includes community-based organizations that can reach out to workers who are minorities or migrants or who have limited English or who have entry level and/or minimum wage jobs.

• Conducting train-the-trainer programs, especially for workers to train other workers.

Deadline

Applications may be obtained from the OSHA Office of Training and Education, Division of Training and Educational Programs, 1555 Times Dr., Des Plaines, Ill. 60018. They are due at 4:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time on August 4, 1995.