Nonprofits Awarded Federal Safety Training Grants

Three Connecticut organizations are among 102 nonprofits awarded $12.7 million in federal grants to promote workplace safety, health training, and education.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the grants in September as part of the Susan Harwood Training Grants Program.

The program, administered by OSHA, funds education and training initiatives designed to create safer workplaces. 

The 2024 grants will provide training and education to at-risk and marginalized workers.

Connecticut Grants

OSHA awarded Connecticosh Health Technical Committee, Inc. in Newington and Liuna Training & Education Fund in Pomfret Center nearly $160,000 each and Connecticut Worker Center, Inc. in Bridgeport $99,000.

The organizations will use the funds for training and education on hazard awareness, avoidance, and controls.

They will also use the grants to inform workers of their rights and employers of their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

OSHA awards the grants to nonprofit organizations, including community and faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor-management associations, Native American tribes, and colleges and universities.

“These grants are our most effective tool for connecting organizations with needed resources.”

OSHA’s Doug Parker

“These grants are our most effective tool for connecting organizations with needed resources to train and educate hard-to-reach workers in high-hazard industries,” said OSHA assistant secretary Doug Parker.

“Training is a key part of ensuring vulnerable workers understand what protections should be in place in their workplace and to know their rights.”

OSHA named the grant program after the late Dr. Susan Harwood, former director of the agency’s Office of Risk Assessment.

Officials said Harwood was instrumental in developing federal standards that protect people from a number of workplace hazards.