Have an idea to improve workplace health and safety?

Do you have a great idea for improving workplace safety and health, like a new type of training or an innovative design for safer equipment? If so, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) wants to hear from you and may help fund your project.

A new round of safety and health grants is now available through L&I’s Safety and Health Investment Projects (SHIP) program. Applications will be accepted until April 22, 2016.

In the past two years, the program has provided $2.5 million for 19 safety and health grants.

SHIP grants are designed to encourage innovative solutions to occupational health and safety challenges, as well as to promote cooperation between labor and management.

Prior safety and health grants have funded the development of best practices for specific occupations or industries, videos and training programs, and many other improvements to make workplaces safer, including $73,561 for a 2011 joint project between WSU and WSNA to educate nurses about safe lifting – work which resulted in the creation of an online continuing education module, a palm card and a poster, and a video titled "Protecting Nurses as a Valuable Resource" (view on YouTube).

A full list of successful grant projects is available at http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/GrantsPartnerships/SHIP/grants.asp?S=SH.

The grants are capped at $200,000 per project, and work must be completed in 18 months.

Along with the SHIP grants, there are also funds available for return-to-work projects. The goal of the return-to-work grants is to encourage new processes to help injured workers get back to work. The return-to-work grant period is open until further notice.

For complete information on how to get started or to apply, visit http://www.lni.wa.gov/SafetyGrants or call 360-902-5588.