Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants (T03)

The Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants offered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aim to address the pressing need for a well-trained workforce in occupational safety and health (OSH). Established under mandates from the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, this program plays a crucial role in supporting high-quality academic and non-academic training initiatives that develop professionals capable of improving workplace health and safety across various sectors. NIOSH acknowledges the evolving nature of work, driven by technology, globalization, demographic shifts, and emerging occupational risks. The Training Project Grants (TPGs) respond by building a workforce capable of addressing these dynamic challenges through state-of-the-art education and outreach. Academic TPGs support undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training in core OSH disciplines such as Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health Nursing, Occupational Safety, and Occupational Medicine Residency programs, as well as allied fields like occupational health psychology and ergonomics. Non-academic TPGs are awarded to programs offering specialized training for target populations. Both models must demonstrate a regional or national training need, possess robust advisory councils, and implement formal evaluation plans. Academic training programs must allocate at least 70% of their budget to direct trainee costs, with the remainder supporting training-related expenses such as staff salaries and materials. Applicants are restricted to submitting either up to two academic program proposals or one non-academic proposal, but not both. Eligibility is broad, encompassing higher education institutions, nonprofits, governmental agencies, public housing authorities, and other regional or community organizations. The application process requires adherence to NIH/CDC submission protocols through platforms like ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace. Academic training applicants must submit additional documentation including NIOSH data tables and biosketches of faculty. Applications are accepted on a recurring basis, with annual deadlines spanning from 2025 to 2028. Each application must be received by 5:00 PM local time of the submitting organization, with no grace period for corrections after submission. Reviews occur several months after submission, followed by funding decisions in the subsequent advisory council meetings. Award start dates typically begin July 1 of each funding year, with project periods extending up to three years for new programs and five years for renewals. Funding amounts vary by program type: undergraduate academic programs may receive up to $50,000 annually, graduate programs up to $150,000, and occupational medicine residency programs up to $250,000. Non-academic program budgets must be fully justified but cannot include equipment purchases. Indirect costs are capped at 8% of modified total direct costs. While cost sharing is not required, all applicants must comply with registration protocols and policy requirements outlined in federal regulations and the HHS Grants Policy Statement. Technical assistance is available from program contacts, including Dr. Elizabeth Maples and Dr. Michael Goldcamp at NIOSH.

Ensure the 70/30 cost split is maintained in academic program budgets; carefully document regional/national training needs; strong advisory council and evaluation plan increase competitiveness.