Susan Harwood Grants Available for Small Businesses
As of last week, the US Department of Labor announced they’re looking for applications for their Susan Harwood Grants. These grants will give money to workers onsite to assist in identifying and hazards in the workplace. Programs that receive this grant money will also assist employees in understanding their safety rights within the workplace.
Support is Possible
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For aerial and scissor lift operators, receiving the support from safety training programs that this grant funds is fantastic. So many employers create a cape of fear over their employees. Many aerial lift operators feel as if they’ll lose their jobs if they report a safety problem to OSHA, even after being ignored by a foreman or company offices. Because the economy is so bad, employers like to make their workers feel as if getting a new job will be difficult, so all employees should be “loyal” at all times.
Aerial Lift Operators Don’t Have to “Stay Quiet”
Loyal doesn’t have to mean you give up your sense of caution. The Susan Harwood grants ensure that small businesses and corporations in remote areas can give their employees the safety programs they deserve. Companies who have a hard time affording more in-depth safety training programs for employees can give aerial and scissor lift operators another level of training.
Fall protection and proper safety equipment don’t do a lot of good for employees without the accompanying training. Grant programs that help small businesses give employees the proper training are an asset to the aerial lift certification community. Training saves lives – and fortunately we’re not the only ones who think it’s time that smaller companies get the help they need to make sure all employees get properly trained.
The injuries that can occur on aerial and scissor lifts are no joke. Aerial and scissor lift training ensures that employees are protected across the board – and there’s just no substitute for safety.