Workplace safety training is receiving a new round of federal funding, with the U.S. Department of Labor awarding approximately $10.2 million to 67 organizations for programs designed to help workers and employers identify and control serious jobsite hazards.
The funding was announced October 1 through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. The grants will support instructor-led education, training materials and other resources aimed at improving workplace safety and health practices.
The funded programs will emphasize hazard awareness, prevention and control, with a particular focus on small businesses and industries experiencing elevated rates of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
Grant recipients will develop classroom-ready training and educational materials that can be used to help workers and employers recognize workplace hazards and implement safety and health programs.
For construction and other high-risk industries, the program provides funding for training initiatives addressing workplace conditions that can contribute to serious injuries and illnesses. The initiative is designed to reach both employees and employers through education focused on practical hazard prevention.
The grants are part of OSHA's continuing Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, named for Dr. Susan Harwood, who spent 17 years with OSHA developing workplace safety guidance and standards.
Harwood contributed to safety guidelines involving benzene, formaldehyde, bloodborne pathogens and lead, including work related to construction. She also served as the primary author of OSHA's cotton dust standard, which addressed byssinosis among textile workers.
The 2026 awards expand the program's role in supporting organizations that provide safety education and training to workers and employers nationwide.
The $10.2 million investment provides additional resources for organizations delivering workplace safety education, particularly in sectors where employers face significant injury and illness risks.
For construction companies and other high-hazard employers, expanded access to training materials and instructor-led programs can support efforts to identify hazards before incidents occur and strengthen workplace safety practices.
Source: U.S. Department Of labor.
