Livestock operations confined space safety training

Colorado State University's Sponsored Programs Division received a $378,844 block grant from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Occupational Safety and Health Susan Harwood Training Grants program (CFDA 17.502), awarded September 30, 2025, with completion targeted for September 30, 2026. The award funds the development and delivery of instructor-led occupational safety and health training focused on livestock operations confined space safety. This training initiative aligns with OSHA's strategic priorities to provide workers and employers with education on recognizing, avoiding, and abating workplace hazards, with particular emphasis on reaching disadvantaged and underserved populations that face barriers to accessing safety training.

The grant supports the creation and implementation of educational programs designed to address safety concerns specific to confined space work environments in livestock operations—a high-hazard industry sector. Colorado State University will develop training materials and deliver instructor-led courses to workers and employers in Colorado, consistent with the Susan Harwood program's core objectives of promoting occupational safety awareness and hazard prevention in industries with elevated fatality rates. As a major research institution with extensive experience managing federal grants and providing technical training, CSU is well-positioned to execute this 12-month training initiative and maintain comprehensive records as required under the program's three-year documentation retention mandate.