Today, Congressman Pete Visclosky announced that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has awarded a Susan Hardwood Training Grant to the Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana, Inc. (CAF). The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program supports hands-on training for vulnerable workers, including those in industries with high injury rates or those who are young or have limited English proficiency or low literacy rates, as well as for small businesses.
Dewey Pearman, Executive Director of CAF said, “This grant will help ensure that skilled craft construction workers in Northwest Indiana continue to work under the safest possible conditions. The training provided under the grant reflects the commitment area contractors, their employees and project owners have to job site safety. We very much appreciate the support of Congressman Visclosky’s office in helping secure this grant.”
CAF is a seven county Northwest Indiana trade association representing over 500 contractors working in the commercial, industrial, public works and institutional construction markets in the region. Last year, CAF received a similar grant that allowed for them to provide safety training to workers in petroleum and chemical industries. This year’s grant will expand their training classes for contractors and craft workers, and allow CAF to train upwards of 700 people.
Visclosky said, “Supporting our workers does not only mean ensuring our economy is strong or that there are enough jobs, but also that workers have the adequate safety training for their chosen industries. Time and again we are reminded of the hazards of inadequate training and onsite safety. Providing the support necessary to see to it that our country’s workers have the best available tools for all scenarios will save lives and prevent disaster.”
The grant award totals $109,219.