Safety should always be a priority in the workplace. Unfortunately, budget constraints can limit the capacity to develop programs and provide comprehensive training.
To alleviate the financial burden, the Hazard Abatement Board (HAB), in partnership with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), has made $5.9 million available for the Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education (OSH T&E) Program, which funds workplace training and safety programs for private and public businesses and non-profit organizations in New York State (NYS).
The HAB released the Request for Proposals at the end of November, and the deadline to submit proposals is at 4:00 pm on Monday January 5, 2026, although the HAB strongly recommends submitting them 48 hours before the deadline. If a proposal is awarded funding, it must be used between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027.
OSH T&E will fund general workplace training, such as new hire or refresher emergency procedures and hazard communication awareness training, and OSHA compliant lab safety training, such as Chemical Hygiene and Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogens training. OSH T&E grants can also support the development of web-based training modules. In addition, they will finance workplace hazard-specific training for chemical and/or biological hazards, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training, and safety training related to building operations, such as for confined space entry.
Training that is not directly related to workplace safety and health hazards, such as CPR and first aid training, or fire extinguisher training, is not covered by the OSH T&E Program.
OSH T&E will also fund the development of workplace safety programs. For example, if your company works with methylene chloride in a manner that is subject to the EPA’s Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP), but has not implemented the exposure monitoring, written plan, and training requirements, the OSH T&E funding window falls within the EPA’s revised compliance dates, and funds awarded can be used for this purpose. More information on the WCPP compliance deadlines can be found in our November 21, 2025 EPA Extends Compliance Dates for Laboratories Using Methylene Chloride blog.
In addition, OSH T&E will provide funding for the development and enhancement of workplace safety committees. In November 2021, New York State’s Workplace Safety Committee Law took effect, requiring employers to establish joint labor-management workplace safety committees if at least two non-management employees request it. More information about safety committees can be found in our August 29, 2025 Does Your Company Hold Safety Committee Meetings? blog.
Applicants must be headquartered in NYS or have a site in NYS at the time of proposal submission. Applicants must register with the Statewide Financial System (SFS) and complete all required sections of the OSH T&E submission, which includes attachments that are found in the SFS. The submission must provide comprehensive information about the:
- Program design, which includes the number of trainees; the safety or health hazard(s) that will be addressed; the rationale for the training need; and the proposed training strategy.
- Work plan that describes the objectives, tasks, and performance measures.
- Program cost per trainee and the overall training budget.
There is no minimum award amount, and all awards are subject to funding availability. The applicant must demonstrate that the funds requested are directly related to the program. If a proposal is funded, the grantee must first pay for expenses incurred and then the NYSDOL/HAB reimburses payment based on vouchers that are submitted to them.
Proposals are evaluated based on their technical merit and program cost. They are reviewed during the first half of the year and grant recipients are anticipated to be announced in June 2026. The funded training or program cannot start before August 1, 2026, and must be completed by July 31, 2027.
For additional information on the OSH T&E Program, or for assistance completing your application and identifying your 2026-2027 training needs, please contact us!
This blog was written by Rae Moore, Safety Partners’ Senior Quality, Research, and Training Specialist.
