Congressman Pete Visclosky announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a grant to the Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana (CAF) under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.
The $133,510 grant award will assist the CAF with the creation and implementation of a Crystalline Silica Training Program for construction workers and employers in Northwest Indiana, with a focus on small business employers. The training will include the recognition and correction for exposure to respirable silica produced from certain uses of concrete and other construction material containing silica.
Dr. Jim Arendas, Environmental, Safety, and Health Director at the Construction Advancement Foundation, stated, “The Construction Advancement Foundation is dedicated to reducing injuries and illnesses in the construction industry. We work closely with contractors and the union building trades. The Susan Harwood Grant gives our organization an additional opportunity to partner with contractors, workers, and OSHA to improve construction safety in Northwest Indiana.”
Congressman Pete Visclosky stated, “I commend CAF Executive Director Dewey Pearman and Dr. Jim Arendas for successfully identifying and obtaining this federal resource that will improve the ability of contractors and workers to have a safe work environment. The number one priority for all of our dedicated construction workers is to return home safely at the end of the day, and I thank CAF for their initiative to recognize and promote the safety, quality, and dignity of our incredible workforce.”
For additional information on this OSHA program, click here.