CWA, Steelworkers Awarded Grant for Worker-to-Worker Health and Safety Training

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences awarded a five-year grant to CWA's Occupational Safety and Health Department and the United Steelworkers' Tony Mazzocchi Center for health, safety, and environment education. Together, CWA and the Steelworkers will develop worker-to-worker training on a variety of safety and health issues on the job. CWA's share of the grant, which runs through July 2015, is $2.5 million.

Under the grant, dozens of health and safety activists and local union leaders in CWA and USW will receive job-specific education and training, which they will pass on to their co-workers.

The grant will help increase the effectiveness of workplace health and safety committees, reduce workers' exposure to hazardous substances, improve ergonomic arrangements, and prevent accidents and injuries. The training initially will be available to workers in telecommunications, manufacturing, laboratory research and support, and healthcare.