21(D) on-site consultation program

Mississippi State University received a $472,000 Block Grant from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under CFDA 17.504 (Consultation Agreements), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The award funds the University's On-Site Consultation Program, which delivers no-cost, confidential occupational safety and health consultation services to small and medium-sized employers throughout Mississippi. Under this program, University-based safety consultants conduct on-site assessments to identify workplace hazards, provide compliance guidance aligned with OSHA standards, and assist employers in establishing or improving workplace safety and health programs.

The consultation services operate independently from OSHA enforcement mechanisms and do not result in citations or penalties, positioning them as a collaborative resource for employers seeking to improve occupational safety performance. As a designated administrator of Mississippi's consultation program, the University is required to provide a minimum 10 percent match to the federal funding. The program serves private employers statewide with priority focus on smaller operations engaged in more hazardous work, reflecting OSHA's targeted approach to protecting vulnerable segments of the small business community.