OSHA Invests Heavily in Health & Safety Training

Employee training is one of the pillars of workplace safety.  A trained worker is able to identify potential hazards in the workplace, and avoid these successfully.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investing in health and safety training for American workers.  The agency has announced $8 million in grants for a number of organizations, including employer groups, nonprofit organizations, community groups, joint labor and management organizations, colleges and universities.

The grant comes as part of the Susan Harwood Capacity Building Grants.  These grants are typically used to help workers in industries that have high rates of injuries and fatalities.  They also specifically target workers who have lower educational qualifications, and speak limited English.  These kinds of workers are at a higher risk of injuries and fatalities.  Approximately $6.7 million of these grants will be awarded to at least 30 organizations that already have some kind of health and safety rating program in place, and want to expand these.  An additional $1.3 million will be awarded to organizations that wish to build a stable training program for their workers.

Worker training can mean the difference between life and death in the workplace.  No worker arrives at his new job completely equipped and trained for its challenges and responsibilities.  Unfortunately, worker safety training can often seem to an employer, like a low return investment.  It takes time, effort and money to equip young workers with the tools they need to perform their jobs safely.

However, employers must understand that these investments are worth the effort, because these workers are less likely to be injured or killed in an accident.  Employers can save on Workers’ Compensation payouts, higher insurance premiums, lost days off work and other losses.

The Texas industrial accident lawyers at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers represent workers injured in construction accidents, refinery explosions, toxic exposure and other workplace accidents across Texas.