[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21028-21030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9754]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration


Training Grant Program `` Internet-Based OSHA Expert Compliance 
Assistance System

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and request for grant 
applications.

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SUMMARY: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 
awards funds to nonprofit organizations to conduct safety and health 
training and education. This notice announces grant availability for 
training employers in an internet-based OSHA expert compliance 
assistance system. The notice describes the scope of the grant program 
and provides information about how to get detailed grant application 
instructions. Applications should not be submitted without the 
applicant first obtaining the detailed grant application instructions 
mentioned later in the notice.
    Section 21(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 
U.S.C. 670) authorizes this program.

DATES: Applications must be received by June 9, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit grant applications to the Office of Science and 
Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support, OSHA, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roy F. Gurnham, Director, Office 
of Science and Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support, 
OSHA, (202) 693-2024, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Is the Purpose of the Grant Program?

    OSHA's strategic plan contains goals to improve workplace safety 
and health for all workers, change the workplace culture to increase 
employer and worker awareness of, commitment to, and involvement in 
safety and health, and to secure public confidence through excellence 
in the development and delivery of OSHA's programs and services. OSHA's 
intent is to reduce the number of worker injuries, illnesses and 
fatalities by focusing nationwide attention and Agency resources on the 
most prevalent types of workplace injuries and illnesses, the most 
hazardous industries and the most hazardous workplaces. This grant is 
one of the mechanisms OSHA is using to achieve its strategic goals.
    This grant provides funds to train employers to recognize, avoid, 
and prevent safety and health hazards in their workplaces.
    The program emphasizes three areas.
     Educating employers in small businesses. A small business 
has 250 or fewer workers.
     Training employers in new OSHA standards.
     Training employers in high risk activities or hazards 
identified by OSHA.
    Grantees are expected to develop Internet expert software, training 
and/or educational programs that address compliance assistance and 
Material Safety Data Sheet assistance as described below, and conduct 
the training. Grantees will also be expected to follow-up with people 
who have been trained by their program to find out what, if any, 
changes were made to reduce hazards in their workplaces as a result of 
the training.

What Are the Training Topics for This Grant?

    The purpose of this notice is to announce that funds are available 
for a grant to train employers in an Internet-based OSHA expert 
compliance assistance system. Each grant application must address the 
following:
     Use of an Internet-based diagnostic (``expert'') software 
system that, using a down loadable, on-line interview process, will 
give the user a compliance profile for each facility covered by the 
interview as well as a comprehensive ``to-do'' list to help the user 
manage compliance. The information must be customized for each facility 
and must be kept current over the Internet;
     The system must be capable of automatically downloading, 
indexing, viewing, and printing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) 
files. Once tagged, MSDSs would be monitored and user files would be 
automatically updated via the Internet;
     Use of training materials for the purpose of training 
employers how to use the system.

Who Is Eligible To Apply for a Grant?

    Any non-profit educational foundation is eligible to apply. 
Applicants will be required to submit evidence of nonprofit status, 
preferably from the IRS.

What Can Grant Funds Be Spent On?

    Grant funds can be spent on the following:
     Conducting training.
     Conducting other activities that reach and inform workers 
and employers about occupational safety

[[Page 21029]]

and health hazards and hazard abatement.
     Developing educational materials for use in the training.

Are There Restrictions on How Grant Funds Can Be Spent?

    OSHA will not provide funding for the following activities.
    1. Any activity that is inconsistent with the goals and objectives 
of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
    2. Training involving workplaces that are not covered by the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act. Examples include state and local 
government workers in non-State Plan States and workers covered by 
section 4(b)(1) of the Act.
    3. Production, publication, reproduction or use of training and 
educational materials, including newsletters and instructional 
programs, that have not been reviewed by OSHA for technical accuracy.
    4. Activities that address issues other than recognition, 
avoidance, and prevention of unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. 
Examples include workers' compensation, first aid, and publication of 
materials prejudicial to labor or management.
    5. Activities that provide assistance to workers in arbitration 
cases or other actions against employers, or that provide assistance to 
employers and/or workers in the prosecution of claims against Federal, 
State or local governments.
    6. Activities that directly duplicate services offered by OSHA, a 
State under an OSHA-approved State Plan, or consultation programs 
provided by State designated agencies under section 21(d) of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act.
    7. Activities intended to generate membership in the grantee's 
organization. This includes activities to acquaint nonmembers with the 
benefits of membership, inclusion of membership appeals in materials 
produced with grant funds, and membership drives.

What Other Grant Requirements Are There?

    1. OSHA review of expert software systems and educational 
materials. OSHA will review all expert software systems and educational 
materials produced by the grantee for technical accuracy. OSHA will 
also review training curriculums and training materials for accuracy 
before they are used.
    When grant recipients produce training materials, they will provide 
copies of completed materials to OSHA before the end of the grant 
period. All materials produced by grantees may be placed on the 
Internet by OSHA.
    2. OMB and regulatory requirements. Grantees will be required to 
comply with the following documents.
     29 CFR part 95, which covers grant requirements for 
nonprofit organizations, including universities and hospitals. These 
are the Department of Labor regulations.
     OMB Circular A-122, which describes allowable and 
unallowable costs for nonprofit organizations.
     OMB Circular A-133, which provides information about audit 
requirements.
    3. Certifications. All applicants will be required to certify to a 
drug-free workplace in accordance with 29 CFR part 98, to comply with 
the New Restrictions on Lobbying published at 29 CFR part 93, to make a 
certification regarding the debarment rules at 29 CFR part 98, and to 
complete a special lobbying certification.

How Are Applications Reviewed and Rated?

    OSHA staff will review grant applications and present the results 
to the Assistant Secretary who will make the selection of the 
organization to be awarded the grant.
    OSHA will give preference to applications which:
     Address multiple safety and health subjects.
     Train managers and/or supervisors.
     Serve multiple employers. OSHA is interested in reaching 
more than one employer with each grant awarded.
    The following factors will be considered in evaluating grant 
applications.

1. Program Design

    a. The proposed training and education program addresses the topics 
set out above.
    b. The proposal plans to train employers and clearly estimates the 
numbers to be trained.
    c. The planned activities are appropriate for the employers to be 
trained.
    d. There is a plan for OSHA to review the software and educational 
materials.
    e. There is a plan to evaluate the program's effectiveness and this 
includes plans to follow-up with trainees to see if the training 
resulted in workplace change.
    f. The planned work can be accomplished in one year.

2. Program Experience

    a. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
with occupational safety and health.
    b. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
training adults in work-related subjects.
    c. The staff to be assigned to the project have experience in (1) 
occupational safety and health, (2) the specific topic chosen, and (3) 
training adults.
    d. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
in recruiting and training the population it proposes to serve under 
the grant.

3. Administrative Capability

    a. The applicant organization demonstrates the capacity to maintain 
fiscal management.
    b. The application is complete, including forms, budget detail, 
narrative and work plan, and required attachments.

4. Budget

    a. The budgeted costs are reasonable.
    b. The budget complies with Federal cost principles (which can be 
found in applicable OMB Circulars) and with OSHA budget requirements 
contained in the grant application instructions.
    In addition to the factors listed above, the Assistant Secretary 
will take other items into consideration, such as the geographical 
distribution of the grant programs and the coverage of populations at 
risk.

How Much Money Is Available for Grants?

    There is approximately $100,000 available for this program.

How Long Are Grants Awarded for?

    Grants are awarded for a one year period

How Do I Get a Grant Application Package?

    Grant application instructions may be obtained from the OSHA 
Directorate of Technical Support, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20210.

When and Where Are Applications To Be Sent?

    The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, June 9, 
2000.
    Applications are to be mailed to the Office of Science and 
Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support, OSHA, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. Applications may be sent 
by fax to (202) 693-1644.

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How Will I Be Told if My Application Was Selected?

    Organizations selected as grant recipients will be notified by a 
representative of the Assistant Secretary. An applicant whose proposal 
is not selected will be notified in writing.
    Notice that an organization has been selected as a grant recipient 
does not constitute approval of the grant application as submitted. 
Before the actual grant award, OSHA will enter into negotiations 
concerning such items as program components, funding levels, and 
administrative systems. If the negotiations do not result in an 
acceptable submittal, the Assistant Secretary reserves the right to 
terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the proposal.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 6th day of April 2000.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 00-9754 Filed 4-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P