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SD 3938

Department of Industrial Accidents: FY25 The Workplace Safety Training Grant Program Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts funds employer-led workplace safety training with up to $25,000 per grant ($800,000 total) to reduce injuries, backed by a modernized grant system.

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Bill Summary · SD 3938

Summary of SD 3938 (Session 194th) – Massachusetts: FY25 Workplace Safety Training Grant Program Report (Department of Industrial Accidents)

Purpose and intent

  • Establish and outline the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) Workplace Safety Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
  • Provide funding to Massachusetts employers to prevent workplace injuries through safety training, education, and injury-prevention initiatives aligned with Workers’ Compensation Law (G.L. c. 152).
  • Highlight program history, governance, delivery, and performance to inform future budget and program enhancements.

Key provisions and program details

  • Background and authority:
    • The DIA Office of Safety administers the Workplace Safety Grant Program, created as part of the Workers’ Compensation Act of 1985.
    • Program history dates to 1986 with ongoing annual RFRs since FY1988; funding supports training for eligible employees and employer organizations.
  • Budget and funding:
    • FY25 annual grant budget set at $800,000.
    • Eligible applicants may receive up to $25,000 per grant, per fiscal year.
  • Eligibility and evaluation:
    • Grants are open to Massachusetts employers (including small, minority-, and women-owned businesses) and organizations engaged in training related to safety.
    • Applications are evaluated by an Evaluation Committee appointed by the Director of the DIA based on:
    • Stated training goals
    • Number of employees to be trained
    • Cost-effectiveness
    • Clarity and feasibility of the training timeline
    • Applicants must address an existing history of workplace injury or propose training to prevent future injuries.
  • Program administration and modernization:
    • Implementation of the Grants Management System (GMS) in FY24 to manage the process online (application to reimbursement).
    • Post-GMS upgrades planned for FY26 to enhance class submission/invoicing, reporting, post-offer withdrawals, and potential integration with DIA Finance for contract processing.
  • Program reach and performance (FY25 highlights):
    • FY25 received 148 applications (June 2–June 28, 2024) requesting $2.2 million in funding, far exceeding the $800,000 budget.
    • Awards: $800,000 distributed to 139 recipients.
    • Training impact: 6,657 employees trained across seven regional workforce areas; average cost per participant: $120.
    • Administrative adjustments: Nine applicants not recommended for non-compliance; eleven recipients withdrew, leaving 128 active grantees.
  • Notable program components and outcomes:
    • Consortium grants: Nine consortium grants with MassHire and MassBiz trained 1,350 employees at an average of $85 per participant; total grant amount for these consortiums: $115,177.
    • Municipalities: 41 municipalities funded (including housing authorities, schools, utilities) trained 1,691 municipal employees at an average cost of $150 each; total $256,852.
    • Notable beneficiaries highlighted (sample list includes City Fresh Foods, Worcester Housing Authority, City of Brockton Public Schools, Brookline Housing Authority, City of Revere, Methuen Housing Authority, MWRA, MeVa, and others), illustrating a mix of private sector, public institutions, and non-profits receiving targeted safety training in topics such as First Aid/CPR/AED, OSHA 10, Hazard Communication, Lockout/Tagout, Slips/Trips/Falls, De-escalation, and specialized program content (e.g., forklift, MEWP, confined spaces, etc.).
    • Training topics covered in FY25 broadly include: First Aid/CPR/AED, OSHA 10, Hazard Communication, Lock Out/Tag Out, Slips/Trips/Falls, Fall Protection, Ergonomics, Fire Safety, Electrical Safety, Respirator Fit Testing, De-escalation, Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP), Forklift, and various job-specific safety trainings.
  • Grant Management System (GMS) notes:
    • GMS significantly improved processing time and data accuracy since its FY24 launch (over 30% faster overall; targeted improvements in FY26 projected at ~40% reductions in processing time for specified areas).
    • Plans for future integration with the Finance system to streamline contract processing and vendor payments are noted as a long-term objective.

Who is affected

  • Employers and employer organizations across Massachusetts seeking safety training funds.
  • Small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses targeted for access to funding via enhanced needs analysis.
  • Public and quasi-public entities (municipalities, housing authorities, schools, utilities) and nonprofit organizations that provide or procure workplace safety training.
  • Regional workforce entities (MassHire, MassBiz) participating in consortium-based training.
  • DIA and EOLWD (Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development) staff administering the program and maintaining the GMS.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Funding cycle and demand:
    • FY25 applications opened in June 2024; 148 applications submitted over a 26-day window, with total requested funding of $2.2 million versus an $800,000 budget.
    • Final awards and active grants determined by mid-year adjustments, with 128 active grantees after withdrawals and non-compliance determinations.
  • Reporting and follow-through:
    • Recipients are required to implement training according to approved timelines and report on outcomes.
    • The GMS provides ongoing management from application through reimbursement and post-training reporting.
  • Future improvements:
    • FY26 upgrades to GMS (class submission, invoicing, reporting, post-offer withdrawals) and potential link to DIA Finance to streamline contracts and payments.

Plain-language takeaway

Massachusetts’ FY25 Workplace Safety Grant Program aims to fund employer-led safety training to reduce workplace injuries. The program, run by the DIA Office of Safety, provides up to $25,000 per grant from an $800,000 budget and prioritizes training that either addresses past injuries or prevents future ones. In FY25, the program successfully funded 128 active grants across a wide range of private, public, and nonprofit employers, training thousands of workers in essential safety topics. The DIA is modernizing its grant system to cut processing times and improve data accuracy, with further enhancements planned for FY26 and potential finance-system integration.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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