The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced last week that $10.5 million in funding will be available this year through its Susan Harwood Training Grants program, designed to help nonprofits including universities and unions educate workers regarding occupational safety.

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OSHA will give $10.5 million in grants through the Susan Harwood program this year, possibly the program's final year.

The Harwood program, established in 1978 and given its current name in 1997, concentrates on funding programs that serve "underserved, low-literacy and high-hazard industry workers." The future of the grants is in question, as earlier this year it was revealed that the DOL planned to defund the program in fiscal year 2019 in order to hire new Compliance Assistance Specialists, who would among other duties provide training that would take the place of those funded by the Harwood program.

This year's $10.5 million package equals the funding provided through the program last year. In 2017, the 80 recipients included: 

• The American Road and Transportation Builders Association's Transportation Development Association;
• The State Building and Construction Trades Council of California;
• The Associated General Contractors of America; and
• The Sustainable Workplace Alliance.

Topics for which grants were awarded included oil and gas production, fall prevention in construction, excavation hazards, chemical hazards and construction road zones.

The deadline to apply for a Harwood Grant is Sept. 2.