[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32773-32779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13661]



[[Page 32773]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration


Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, FY 2003 Budget

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

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

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SUMMARY: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 
awards funds to nonprofit organizations to provide safety and health 
training and education in the workplace. This notice announces grant 
availability for three different categories of Susan Harwood Training 
Grants. The Targeted Topic category grants will support training in 
occupational safety and health on topics selected by OSHA. The OSHA 
Training Materials Development category grants will support the 
development, evaluation, and validation of occupational safety and 
health training materials on topics selected by OSHA. The Ergonomics 
Guidelines Training category grants will support the development and 
conduct of training programs that are based on the new industry-
specific ergonomics guidelines being developed by OSHA for various 
industries. General descriptions of the three categories of grants are 
provided below.

1. Targeted Topic Grants

    These grants will support training in occupational safety and 
health on eight different topics selected by OSHA.
    Targeted Topic category grants will be awarded for 12 months. There 
is approximately $2.8 million available for this grant category. The 
average Federal award will be $150,000.

2. OSHA Training Materials Development Grants

    Grants are available to nonprofit organizations to develop, 
evaluate, and validate training materials on eight different 
occupational safety and health topics that are to be tailored to a 
specific industry selected by OSHA, and target audience. Training 
materials are to be developed in formats that are suitable for hard-
copy publication and distribution as well as for Internet publication 
and distribution.
    OSHA Training Materials Development grants will be awarded for 12 
months. There is approximately $4 million available for this grant 
category and an average Federal award will be $200,000.

3. Ergonomics Guidelines Training Grants

    Grants are available to nonprofit organizations to develop and 
conduct training programs for workers and employers based on the four 
new industry-specific ergonomic guidelines being developed by OSHA. 
Information on the ergonomics guidelines is available on the OSHA Home 
page at http://www.osha.gov by searching the site index by selecting 
``E'' and clicking on ergonomics, or from the Home page by looking 
under Safety/Health Topics and clicking on ergonomics.
    Ergonomics Guidelines Training grants will be awarded for 12 
months. There is approximately $1 million available for this grant 
category and an average Federal award will be $100,000.
    This notice describes the scope of the grant program and provides 
information about how to get detailed grant application instructions. 
All applicants must obtain the detailed grant application instructions 
mentioned later in the notice before submitting an application.
    Separate grant applications must be submitted by organizations 
interested in applying for a grant under more than one grant category 
and by organizations interested in applying for more than one topic 
under each category.
    Authorities: The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the 
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and 
Related Agencies Appropriation Act, Pub. L. 108-7, authorize this 
program.
    Due Date: Grant applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. central 
time, Thursday, July 3, 2003.
    Address for Mailing Applications: Submit one signed original and 
two copies of each grant application to the attention of Grants 
Officer, U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Office of Training and 
Education, Division of Training and Educational Programs, 2020 S. 
Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005.
    Submissions are due July 3, 2003, by 4:30 p.m. central time at the 
specified address. Each applicant assumes the risk for ensuring a 
timely submission of its application. If, because of mail or other 
problems, the Department does not receive an application or receives it 
after the closing deadline, even if the application was timely mailed, 
the Department will not consider the application. To be considered for 
funding, hand-delivered applications must be received not later than 
4:30 p.m. central time on the July 3, 2003, at the specified address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ernest Thompson, Chief, Division of 
Training and Educational Programs, or Cynthia Bencheck, Program 
Analyst, OSHA Office of Training and Education, 2020 S. Arlington 
Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005, telephone (847) 297-
4810. This is not a toll-free number. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Is the Purpose of the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program?

    Susan Harwood Training Grants provide funds to train workers and 
employers to recognize, avoid, and prevent safety and health hazards in 
their workplaces. The program emphasizes three areas.
    [sbull] Educating workers and employers in small businesses. A 
small business has 250 or fewer workers.
    [sbull] Training workers and employers about new OSHA standards.
    [sbull] Training workers and employers about high risk activities 
or hazards identified by OSHA through its Strategic Plan, or as part of 
an OSHA special emphasis program.
    Grantees are expected to provide occupational safety and health 
training programs, develop safety and health training and/or 
educational programs, recruit workers and employers for the training, 
and conduct and evaluate the training. Grantees are also expected to 
follow up with people trained by their program to determine what, if 
any, changes were made to reduce hazards in their workplaces as a 
result of the training.

What Are the Three Grant Categories Being Announced This Year?

    1. Targeted Topic grants.
    2. OSHA Training Materials Development grants.
    3. Ergonomics Guidelines Training grants.

What Are the Training Topics for the Targeted Topic Grants?

    Eight training topics were chosen for this grant announcement. OSHA 
may award grants for some or all of the listed Targeted Topics. 
Applicants wishing to apply for more than one grant topic must submit a 
separate grant application for each topic. Each grant application must 
address one of the following training topics.
    1. Construction hazards. Programs that train workers and employers 
in the recognition and prevention of safety and health hazards in one 
of the following areas.
    [sbull] Fall hazards in residential and commercial construction, 
especially

[[Page 32774]]

wireless communication and high-definition television (HDTV) tower 
construction.
    [sbull] Highway construction work zone and traffic control hazards.
    [sbull] Noise hazards in the construction industry.
    2. General Industry hazards. Programs that train workers and 
employers in the recognition and prevention of safety and health 
hazards in one of the following industries.
    [sbull] Landscaping/horticultural services.
    [sbull] Oil and gas field operations.
    [sbull] Food processing industry involved in preserving fruits and 
vegetables.
    [sbull] Industries involved in the manufacture of concrete, gypsum 
and plaster products.
    [sbull] Blast furnace and basic steel products.
    [sbull] Ship and boat building and repair.
    [sbull] Public warehousing and storage.
    3. Transportation fatalities.
    [sbull] Programs that train workers and employers about the 
principles of safe driving and the prevention of transportation 
fatalities. Applicants should propose training programs applicable to 
one or more industries covered by the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act.
    4. Workplace Violence.
    [sbull] Programs that train workers and employers about what can be 
done to prevent workplace violence.
    5. Emergency Preparedness and Response.
    [sbull] Programs that train and assist employers in establishing 
workplace emergency response plans and that train workers and employers 
on preparing to respond to emergency situations at their workplaces. 
Applicants may propose training programs that address emergency 
preparedness for any industry covered by the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act. Training programs should include information on developing 
and maintaining comprehensive emergency action plans and focus on 
occupational safety and health requirements such as egress, evacuation 
policies and procedures, and fire safety protection plans. Other 
relevant workplace emergency preparedness topics that can be included 
or proposed under this topic include biological hazards and chemical 
hazards.
    6. Lead Exposure.
    [sbull] Programs that train construction or general industry 
workers and employers about the recognition of lead hazards within 
their industry and the prevention of exposure.
    7. Silica Exposure.
    [sbull] Programs that train construction or general industry 
workers and employers about the recognition of silica hazards within 
their industry and the prevention of exposure.
    8. Small Business Topic (safety and health management systems).
    [sbull] Programs that develop curricula and conduct training 
programs that promote the value of safety and health to small 
businesses and assist employers to establish safety and health 
management systems. The program should be based on business case 
studies tailored to specific industries that demonstrate the value of 
safety and health management systems.

What Are the Training Topics for the OSHA Training Materials 
Development Grants?

    These grants are intended to assist nonprofit organizations in 
developing, evaluating and validating ``classroom quality'' training 
programs on topics selected by OSHA that can be used immediately by an 
instructor or student. The training materials are to be developed in a 
format that is suitable for hard-copy publication and distribution as 
well as Internet publication and distribution.
    Grantees developing training materials under this grant category 
will be requested to post the approved final product training materials 
on their Web site for two years at no cost to users. OSHA may list the 
grantees' URL addresses to access these materials or directly link to 
the materials on the grantees' Web sites from OSHA's Web site. In 
addition, these grantees will also be requested to track and report 
quarterly to OSHA on the distribution and use of these training 
materials during the two years the materials are posted on their Web 
site. Grantees will collect and report on training materials product 
usage by tracking the number of times the grantee's training materials 
Web site was visited, and the number of times the training materials 
were downloaded.
    Proposals should address one of the following eight subject areas 
of emphasis and should be tailored to the specific topic, industry and 
a selected target audience. OSHA may award grants for some or all of 
the listed training materials development subject areas.
    1. Construction hazards. Programs suitable for self-study as well 
as for training others in the recognition and prevention of one of the 
following workplace hazards.
    [sbull] Fall hazards in residential and commercial construction, 
especially wireless communication and high-definition television (HDTV) 
tower construction.
    [sbull] Highway construction work zone safety and traffic control 
hazards.
    [sbull] Noise hazards in the construction industry.
    2. General industry hazards. Programs suitable for self-study as 
well as for training others in the recognition and prevention of safety 
and health hazards in one of the following industries.
    [sbull] Landscaping/horticultural services.
    [sbull] Oil and gas field operations.
    [sbull] Food processing industry involved in preserving fruits and 
vegetables.
    [sbull] Industries involved in the manufacture of concrete, gypsum 
and plaster products.
    [sbull] Blast furnace and basic steel products.
    [sbull] Ship and boat building and repair.
    [sbull] Public warehousing and storage.
    3. Transportation fatalities. Programs suitable for self-study as 
well as for training others in the principles of safe driving and the 
prevention of transportation fatalities.
    4. Workplace Violence. Programs suitable for self-study as well as 
for training others about what can be done to prevent workplace 
violence.
    5. Emergency Preparedness and Response. Programs suitable for 
employers to use for self-study on establishing workplace emergency 
response plans as well as for training others on preparing to respond 
to emergency situations at their workplaces. Applicants may propose 
training programs that address emergency preparedness for any industry 
covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
    Training programs should include information on developing and 
maintaining comprehensive emergency action plans and focus on 
occupational safety and health requirements such as egress, evacuation 
policies and procedures, and fire safety protection plans. Other 
relevant workplace emergency preparedness topics that can be included 
or proposed under this topic include biological hazards and chemical 
hazards.
    6. Lead Exposure. Programs suitable for self-study as well as for 
training others in the recognition of lead hazards within their 
industry and the prevention of exposure. Program may address 
construction or general industry hazards and exposures.
    7. Silica Exposure. Programs suitable for self-study as well as for 
training others in the recognition of silica hazards within their 
industry and the prevention of exposure. Program may address 
construction or general industry hazards and exposures.
    8. Small Business Topic (safety and health management systems). 
Programs

[[Page 32775]]

suitable for self-study as well as for training others that promote the 
value of safety and health to small businesses and assist employers to 
establish safety and health management systems. The program should be 
based on business case studies tailored to specific industries that 
demonstrate the value of safety and health management systems.

What Are the Topics for the Ergonomics Guidelines Training Grants?

    Applicants will be expected to develop and conduct training 
programs for workers and employers based on the new industry-specific 
ergonomics guidelines being developed by OSHA for various industries. 
OSHA may award grants for some or all of the listed ergonomics 
guidelines industries.
    Ergonomics Guidelines have been or are being developed for the 
following industries.
    [sbull] Nursing Home Industry
    [sbull] Retail Grocery Stores
    [sbull] Poultry Processing Industry
    [sbull] Shipyard Industry

Who Is Eligible To Apply for a Grant?

    Any nonprofit organizations, including community-based and faith-
based organizations, that are not an agency of a State or local 
government are eligible to apply. State or local government supported 
institutions of higher education are eligible to apply in accordance 
with 29 CFR part 95.
    A 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, as described in 26 U.S.C. 
501(c)(4), that engages in lobbying activities will not be eligible for 
the receipt of Federal funds constituting an award, grant or loan. See 
2 U.S.C. 1611.
    Applicants other than State or local government supported 
institutions of higher education will be required to submit evidence of 
nonprofit status, preferably from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

What Can Grant Funds Be Spent On?

    Grant funds can be spent on the following:
    [sbull] Conducting training.
    [sbull] Conducting other activities that reach and inform workers 
and employers about occupational safety and health hazards and hazard 
abatement.
    [sbull] Developing educational materials for use in the training.
    [sbull] For OSHA Training Materials Development category grants, 
software necessary to track number of visits to the grantee's training 
materials Web site and the number of times the training materials were 
downloaded.

Are There Restrictions on How Grant Funds Can Be Spent?

    Grant funds may not be used 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 or employers in 
arbitration cases or other actions against employers, or that provide 
assistance to employers and 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.

What Other Grant Requirements Are There?

    1. OSHA review of educational materials. OSHA will review all 
educational materials produced by the grantee for technical accuracy 
during development and before final publication. OSHA will also review 
training curricula and purchased training materials for accuracy before 
they are used. Grantees developing training materials must follow all 
copyright laws and document that their materials are free from 
copyright infringements.
    When grant recipients produce training materials, they must provide 
copies of completed materials to OSHA before the end of the grant 
period. OSHA has a lending program that circulates grant-produced 
audiovisual materials. Audiovisual materials produced by the grantee as 
a part of its grant program will be included in this lending program. 
In addition, all materials produced by grantees must be provided to 
OSHA in hard copy as well as in a digital format (CD Rom) for possible 
publication on the Internet by OSHA. Three copies of the materials must 
be provided to OSHA. Acceptable formats for training materials include 
Microsoft Word 2000 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2000.
    As listed in 29 CFR 95.36, the Department of Labor reserves a 
royalty-free, nonexclusive and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, 
or otherwise use the work for Federal purposes, and to authorize others 
to do so.
    Grantees developing training materials under the OSHA Training 
Materials Development grant category will be requested to post the 
approved final product training materials on their Web site for two 
years at no cost to users. OSHA may list the grantees' URL addresses to 
access these materials or directly link to the materials on the 
grantees' Web sites from OSHA's Web site. In addition, these grantees 
will also be requested to track and report quarterly to OSHA on the 
distribution and use of these training materials during the two years 
the materials are posted on their Web site. Grantees will collect and 
report on training materials product usage by tracking the number of 
times the grantee's training materials Web site was visited, and the 
number of times the training materials were downloaded.
    2. OMB and regulatory requirements. Grantees are required to comply 
with the following documents.
    [sbull] 29 CFR part 95, which covers grant requirements for 
nonprofit organizations, including universities and hospitals. These 
are the Department of Labor regulations implementing OMB Circular A-
110.
    [sbull] OMB Circular A-21, which describes allowable and 
unallowable costs for educational institutions.
    [sbull] OMB Circular A-122, which describes allowable and 
unallowable costs for other nonprofit organizations.
    [sbull] OMB Circular A-133, 29 CFR parts 96 and 99, which provides 
information about audit requirements.
    [sbull] 29 CFR parts 31 and 36 as applicable.
    3. Certifications. All applicants are 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.
    4. Students. Grant-funded training programs must serve multiple 
employers and their employees.

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    5. Other. In keeping with the policies outlined in Executive Orders 
13256, 12928, 13230, and 13021 as amended, the grantee is strongly 
encouraged to provide subgranting opportunities to Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal 
Colleges and Universities.
    6. Acknowledgment of Federal Funds. When issuing statements, press 
releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, all grantees receiving Federal funds shall clearly 
state: (1) The percentage of the total costs of the program or project 
that will be financed with Federal money; (2) the dollar amount of 
Federal funds for the project or program; and (3) percentage and dollar 
amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be 
financed by non-governmental sources.

What Information Must My Application Contain?

    Separate grant applications must be submitted by organizations 
interested in applying under more than one grant category and by 
organizations applying for more than one topic under a grant category.
    To be considered for a Harwood grant, an application must include 
all of the information listed in this notice. In addition, all 
applicants should obtain and review the grant application package 
before preparing and submitting their grant application. A complete 
application will contain the following forms and narrative.
    1. Application for Federal Assistance form (SF 424).
    2. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants.
    3. Program Summary. The program summary is a short one-to-two page 
abstract that summarizes the proposed project and provides information 
about the applicant organization.
    4. Budget Information forms (SF 424A).
    5. Detailed Budget Backup.
    6. Program Narrative, not to exceed 30 pages in length, which 
includes: Problem Statement/Need for Funds; Managerial Experience; 
Program Experience; Workplan.
    7. Assurances form (SF 424B).
    8. Certifications form (OSHA 189).
    9. Supplemental Certification Regarding Lobbying Activities form.
    10. Organizational Chart.
    11. Evidence of Non-Profit Status, if applicable.
    12. Accounting System Certification, if applicable.

What Are OSHA's Preference Areas for Grant Applications for All Three 
Grant Categories?

    OSHA will give preference to applications that:


    [sbull] Train managers or supervisors in addition to workers.[sbull]
 Contribute non-Federal resources towards the grant. While applicants 
are not required to do so, preference will be given to organizations 
that contribute non-Federal resources.
    [sbull] Propose to reach and serve one or more categories of 
workers within the target audience. The target audience includes small 
business and minority business employers and employees, non-English 
speaking, immigrant, minority workers, and youth as well as workers 
employed in high hazard industries and industries with high fatality 
rates.

How Are Applications for the Targeted Topic Grants Reviewed and Rated?

    OSHA staff will review grant applications and present the results 
to the Assistant Secretary who will make the selection of organizations 
to be awarded grants. OSHA may award grants for some or all of the 
listed training topic areas. The following factors will be considered 
in evaluating grant applications.

1. Program Design

    a. The proposed training and education program addresses one of the 
eight selected training topics. Please refer back to the What are the 
training topics for the Targeted Topic grants? section for details on 
the selected training topics.
    1. Construction hazards.
    [sbull] Programs that train workers and employers in the 
recognition and prevention of fall hazards in residential and 
commercial construction, especially wireless communication and HDTV 
tower construction.
    [sbull] Programs that train workers and employers in the 
recognition and prevention of highway construction work zone and 
traffic control hazards.
    [sbull] Programs that train workers and employers in the 
recognition and prevention of noise hazards in the construction 
industry.
    2. General industry hazards. Programs that address the recognition 
and prevention of safety and health hazards in the following 
industries.
    [sbull] Landscaping/horticultural services.
    [sbull] Oil and gas field operations.
    [sbull] Food processing industry involved in preserving fruits and 
vegetables.
    [sbull] Industries involved in the manufacture of concrete, gypsum 
and plaster products.
    [sbull] Blast furnace and basic steel products.
    [sbull] Ship and boat building and repair.
    [sbull] Public warehousing and storage.
    3. Transportation Fatalities.
    [sbull] Programs that train workers and employers about the 
principles of safe driving and the prevention of transportation 
fatalities.
    4. Workplace Violence.
    [sbull] Programs that train workers and employers about what can be 
done to prevent workplace violence.
    5. Emergency Preparedness and Response.
    [sbull] Programs that train and assist employers in establishing 
workplace emergency response plans and that train workers and employers 
on preparing to respond to emergency situations at their workplaces. 
Applicants may propose training programs that address emergency 
preparedness for any industry covered by the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act. Training programs should include information on developing 
and maintaining comprehensive emergency action plans and should focus 
on occupational safety and health requirements such as egress, 
evacuation policies and procedures, and fire safety protection plans. 
Other relevant workplace emergency preparedness topics that can be 
included or proposed under this topic include biological hazards and 
chemical hazards.
    6. Lead Exposure.
    [sbull] Programs that train construction or general industry 
employers and workers about the recognition of lead hazards within 
their industry and the prevention of exposure.
    7. Silica Exposure.
    [sbull] Programs that train construction or general industry 
employers and workers about the recognition of silica hazards within 
their industry and the prevention of exposure.
    8. Small Business Topic (safety and health management systems).
    [sbull] Programs that develop curricula and conduct training 
programs that promote the value of safety and health to small 
businesses and assist employers to establish safety and health 
management systems. The programs should be based on business case 
studies tailored to specific industries that demonstrate the value of 
safety and health management systems.
    b. The proposal plans to train workers and/or employers and clearly 
estimates the numbers to be trained, and clearly identifies the types 
of workers and employers to be trained. The training will reach workers 
and employers from multiple employers.
    Training materials and programs are to be tailored to the training 
needs of

[[Page 32777]]

one or more of the following audiences: small businesses, minority 
businesses, non-English speaking, immigrant, minority workers, and 
youth as well as workers in high-hazard industries and industries with 
high fatality rates.
    c. If the proposal contains a train-the-trainer program, the 
following information must be provided:

--What ongoing support the grantee will provide to new trainers;
--the number of individuals to be trained as trainers;
--the outline of the course curriculum that will be used by the new 
trainers to teach their students;
--the estimated number of courses to be conducted by the new trainers;
--the estimated number of students to be trained by these new trainers; 
and
--a description of how the new trainers will report back to the grantee 
about their classes and student numbers.
    d. The planned activities and training are tailored to the needs 
and levels of the workers and employers to be trained.
    e. There is a plan to recruit trainees for the program.
    f. If the proposal includes developing educational materials, there 
is a plan for OSHA to review the materials during development.
    g. There is a plan to evaluate the program's effectiveness and 
impact to determine if the safety and health training and services 
provided resulted in workplace change. This includes a description of 
the evaluation plan to follow up with trainees to determine the impact 
the program has had in abating hazards and reducing worker injuries.
    h. There is a description of the target population, the hazards 
that will be addressed, the barriers that have prevented adequate 
training for the target population, why the program cannot be completed 
without Federal funds, and why funding sources currently available 
cannot be used for this purpose.

2. Program Experience

    a. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
with occupational safety and health. Nonprofit organizations, including 
community-based and faith-based organizations, that do not have prior 
experience in providing safety and health training to workers or 
employers may partner with an established safety and health 
organization to acquire safety and health expertise.
    b. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
in training adults in work-related subjects or in providing services to 
its target audience.
    c. The staff to be assigned to the project has experience in 
occupational safety and health, the specific topic chosen, and training 
adults.
    d. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
in recruiting, training, and working with the population it proposes to 
serve under the grant.

3. Administrative Capability

    a. The applicant organization demonstrates experience managing a 
variety of programs.
    b. Any Federal and/or State grants that your organization has 
administered over the past five years are listed.
    c. The application is complete, including forms, budget detail, 
narrative and workplan, 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.
    c. The cost per trainee is less than $500 and the cost per training 
hour is reasonable.
    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 Are Applications for the OSHA Training Materials Development Grants 
Reviewed and Rated?

    OSHA staff will review grant applications and present the results 
to the Assistant Secretary who will make the selection of organizations 
to be awarded grants. OSHA may award grants for some or all of the 
listed training materials development topic areas.
    Grantees will be expected to develop, evaluate and validate 
training materials that are tailored to a specific topic, industry and 
target audience that could be used to supplement materials that are 
currently available from OSHA and other government agencies. More than 
one target audience may be selected. The training materials must 
include:
    [sbull] Detailed description of the most dangerous tasks/job 
duties.
    [sbull] Identification of the hazards associated with these tasks.
    [sbull] Methods of abating these hazards.
    [sbull] Training materials should be tailored directly to the 
target audience participant. Grantees will be expected to submit 
``classroom quality'' products. Classroom quality materials should 
follow the commonly accepted Instruction Design (ISD) process that OSHA 
has adopted as a quality measure for all of its education and training 
products. The five ISD steps are: analysis, design, development, 
implementation, and evaluation.
    [sbull] Grantees are to develop the training materials in a format 
that is suitable for hard-copy publication and distribution as well as 
Internet publication and distribution.
    [sbull] Grantees will be requested to post the approved final 
product training materials on their Web site for two years at no cost 
to users. OSHA may list the grantees' URL addresses to access these 
materials or directly link to the materials on the grantees' Web sites 
from OSHA's Web site.
    [sbull] Grantees will be requested to track and report quarterly to 
OSHA on the usage of the training materials developed under this grant. 
Standard usage statistics would include the number of times the 
training materials Web site was visited, and the number of times the 
training materials were downloaded from the Internet during the two-
year period.
    The following factors will be considered in evaluating grant 
applications.

1. Program Design

    a. The proposed training and educational materials address one of 
the eight selected training materials topics. Please refer back to the 
What are the training materials development topics for the OSHA 
Training Materials Development grants? section for details on the 
selected training materials topics.
    1. Construction hazards. Programs suitable for self-study as well 
as for training others in the recognition and prevention of one of the 
following workplace hazards.
    [sbull] Fall hazards in residential and commercial construction, 
especially wireless communication and high-definition television (HDTV) 
tower construction.
    [sbull] Highway construction work zone safety and traffic control 
hazards.
    [sbull] Noise hazards in the construction industry.
    2. General industry hazards. Programs suitable for self-study as 
well as for training others in the recognition and prevention of safety 
and health hazards in one of the following industries.
    [sbull] Landscaping/horticultural services.
    [sbull] Oil and gas field operations.
    [sbull] Food processing industry involved in preserving fruits and 
vegetables.
    [sbull] Industries involved in the manufacture of concrete, gypsum 
and plaster products.

[[Page 32778]]

    [sbull] Blast furnace and basic steel products.
    [sbull] Ship and boat building and repair.
    [sbull] Public warehousing and storage.
    3. Transportation Fatalities. Programs suitable for self-study as 
well as for training others in the principles of safe driving and the 
prevention of transportation fatalities.
    4. Workplace Violence. Programs suitable for self-study as well as 
for training others about what can be done to prevent workplace 
violence.
    5. Emergency Preparedness and Response. Programs suitable for 
employers to use for self-study on establishing workplace emergency 
response plans as well as for training others on preparing to respond 
to emergency situations at their workplaces. Applicants may propose 
training programs that address emergency preparedness for any industry 
covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
    Training programs should include information on developing and 
maintaining comprehensive emergency action plans and focus on 
occupational safety and health requirements such as egress, evacuation 
policies and procedures, and fire safety protection plans. Other 
relevant workplace emergency preparedness topics that can be included 
or proposed under this topic include biological hazards and chemical 
hazards.
    6. Lead Exposure. Programs suitable for self-study as well as for 
training others in the recognition of lead hazards within their 
industry and the prevention of exposure. Program may address 
construction or general industry hazards and exposures.
    7. Silica Exposure. Programs suitable for self-study as well as for 
training others in the recognition of silica hazards within their 
industry and the prevention of exposure. Program may address 
construction or general industry hazards and exposures.
    8. Small Business Topic. Programs suitable for self-study as well 
as for training others that promote the value of safety and health to 
small businesses and assist employers to establish safety and health 
management systems. The program should be based on business case 
studies tailored to specific industries that demonstrate the value of 
safety and health management systems.
    b. Training objectives are provided for each course or set of 
training materials.
    c. The intended audience(s) for this training is identified.
    d. The planned activities and training are tailored to the needs 
and levels of the workers and employers to be trained.
    e. Proposed method(s) to evaluate and verify that training 
objectives will be met are described.
    f. Tasks/job duties that will be discussed during training are 
described.
    g. Occupational safety and health hazards associated with the 
featured tasks/job duties are described. An explanation of how these 
hazards were identified and a description of the method(s) being 
proposed to eliminate or control the hazards to be highlighted during 
the training process are provided.
    h. A brief outline of the proposed course or training program 
content is provided.
    i. A sample lesson/training module or a detailed description of the 
lesson/training module is included.
    j. Description of the items that will be included in the final 
training materials are provided, such as instructor's manual, student 
manual, visual aids, videotapes, digital photos, computer-based 
training materials such as CD's or DVD's.
    k. Proposal includes a plan for OSHA to review the educational 
materials during development.
    l. Proposal explains how the grantee will track and report on the 
usage of the training materials during the two-year time period the 
materials are to be posted on the grantee's Web site.
    Training programs and materials are to be tailored to the training 
needs of one or more of the following audiences: small businesses, 
minority businesses, non-English speaking, immigrant, and minority 
workers, and youth and workers in high-hazard industries or industries 
with high fatality rates.

2. Program Experience

    a. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
with occupational safety and health. Nonprofit organizations, including 
community-based and faith-based organizations, that do not have prior 
experience in safety and health may partner with an established safety 
and health organization to acquire safety and health expertise.
    b. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
in training adults in work-related subjects or in providing services to 
its target audience.
    c. The staff to be assigned to the project has experience in 
occupational safety and health, the specific topic chosen, and training 
adults.
    d. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
in recruiting, training, and working with the population it proposes to 
serve under the grant.

3. Administrative Capability

    a. The applicant organization demonstrates experience managing a 
variety of programs.
    b. Any Federal and/or State grants that your organization has 
administered over the past five years are listed.
    c. The application is complete, including forms, budget detail, 
narrative and workplan, 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.

How Are Applications for the Ergonomics Guidelines Training Grants 
Reviewed and Rated?

    OSHA staff will review grant applications and present the results 
to the Assistant Secretary who will make the selection of organizations 
to be awarded grants. OSHA may award grants for some of all of the 
listed ergonomics guidelines industries.
    The following factors will be considered in evaluating grant 
applications.

1. Program Design

    a. The proposed training and educational curricula and training 
program address the recognition and prevention of ergonomic hazards for 
workers and employers based on the new industry-specific ergonomic 
guidelines being developed by OSHA.
    b. Applicants may propose to develop and conduct training programs 
for one or more of the four industries that guidelines will be 
available for.
    c. Applicants may propose to develop and conduct training programs 
that are more comprehensive than the scope of the ergonomics 
guidelines.
    d. The proposal plans to train workers and/or employers and clearly 
estimates the numbers to be trained, and clearly identifies the types 
of workers and employers to be trained. The training will reach workers 
and employers from multiple employers.
    e. If the proposal contains a train-the-trainer program, the 
following information must be provided:

--What ongoing support the grantee will provide to new trainers;
--the number of individuals to be trained as trainers;
--the outline of the course curriculum that will be used by the new 
trainers to teach their students;
--the estimated number of courses to be conducted by the new trainers;

[[Page 32779]]

--the estimated number of students to be trained by these new trainers; 
and
--a description of how the new trainers will report back to the grantee 
about their classes and student numbers.

    f. The planned activities and training are tailored to the needs 
and levels of the workers and employers to be trained.
    g. There is a plan to recruit trainees for the program.
    h. The proposal includes a plan for OSHA to review the materials 
during development.
    i. There is a plan to evaluate the program's effectiveness and 
impact to determine if the safety and health services provided resulted 
in workplace change. This includes a description of the evaluation plan 
to follow up with trainees to determine the impact the program has had 
in abating hazards and reducing worker injuries.
    j. There is a description of the target population, the hazards 
that will be addressed, the barriers that have prevented adequate 
training for the target population, why the program cannot be completed 
without Federal funds, and why funding sources currently available 
cannot be used for this purpose.

2. Program Experience

    a. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
with occupational safety and health. Nonprofit organizations, including 
community-based and faith-based organizations, that do not have prior 
experience in providing safety and health training may partner with an 
established safety and health organization to acquire safety and health 
expertise.
    b. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
in training adults in work-related subjects or in providing services to 
its target audience.
    c. The staff to be assigned to the project has experience in 
occupational safety and health, the specific topic chosen, and training 
adults.
    d. The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience 
in recruiting, training, and working with the population it proposes to 
serve under the grant.

3. Administrative Capability

    a. The applicant organization demonstrates experience managing a 
variety of programs.
    b. Any Federal and/or State grants your organization has 
administered over the past five years are listed.
    c. The application is complete, including forms, budget detail, 
narrative and workplan, 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.
    c. The cost per trainee is less than $500 and the cost per training 
hour is reasonable.
    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?

    Targeted Topic grants. There is approximately $2.8 million 
available for these grants. The Federal award will average $150,000.
    OSHA Training Materials Development grants. There is approximately 
$4 million available for these grants. The Federal award will average 
$200,000.
    New Ergonomics Guidelines Training grants. There is approximately 
$1 million available for these grants. The Federal award will average 
$100,000.

How Long Are Grants Awarded For?

    Grants are awarded for a twelve-month period. The period of 
performance begins September 30, 2003, and ends September 29, 2004. The 
grant applicant's workplan should coincide with these dates.

How Do I Get a Grant Application Package?

    Grant application instructions may be obtained from the OSHA Office 
of Training and Education, Division of Training and Educational 
Programs, 2020 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 
60005. The application instructions are also available at http://www.osha.gov/fso/ote/training/sharwood/sharwood.html.

When and Where Are Applications To Be Sent?

    The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. central time, Thursday, July 
3, 2003.
    Submit one signed original and two copies of each application to 
Grants Officer, U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Office of Training and 
Education, Division of Training and Educational Programs, 2020 S. 
Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005.
    Each applicant assumes the risk for ensuring a timely submission of 
its application. If, because of mail or other problems, the Department 
does not receive an application or receives it after the closing 
deadline, even if the application was timely mailed, the Department 
will not consider the application. To be considered for funding, hand-
delivered applications must be received not later than 4:30 p.m. 
central time on the July 3, 2003, at the specified address.

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, usually from an OSHA 
Regional Office. 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 27th day of May, 2003.
John L. Henshaw,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 03-13661 Filed 5-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P