What is a Safety Grant?
The State of Maine’s central Workers’ Compensation Fund offers annual Safety Grants, up to $5,000 per department, to support workplace safety and loss prevention initiatives. These grants are designed to help create a safer, healthier environment by reducing the risk, severity, and cost of workplace injuries, illnesses, and other hazards.
Have an innovative or creative idea to improve safety in your department, big or small? Share it with your supervisor! With their support, your idea could be submitted for a Safety Grant and make a real impact in your workplace.
Departments awarded a grant must confirm that the funds will be used exclusively for safety and loss prevention activities.
Eligibility for Safety Grants
- Safety Grants are available only to State of Maine departments that contribute to the central Workers’ Compensation Fund.
- Eligible departments can apply for up to $5,000 per year to support safety and loss prevention initiatives.
- These grants help agencies develop and implement new safety programs aimed at reducing workplace risks.
- Departments must confirm that grant funds will be used exclusively for safety and loss prevention activities.
- The ultimate goal is to create a safer, healthier work environment while reducing the number, severity, and cost of work-related injuries, illnesses, or incidents.
Requesting a Safety Grant
- Departments must have support from both labor and management teams, and or Safety and Risk Management Committee as well as approval from their commissioner to apply for a Safety Grant.
- Once approved, submit your grant request via email to: info.owc@maine.gov
How Grant Funds Can Be Used
Safety Grant funds can support a wide range of training, education, and safety initiatives, including (but not limited to):
- Training for department employees that promotes and enhances their overall well-being.
- Educational programs and needs assessments to identify and address safety concerns.
- Training on key safety topics, such as:
- Hazard assessment
- Accident investigation
- Job safety analysis
- Ergonomics
- Injury management
- Department-specific safety and loss prevention issues
- Training materials and tools, including videos, printed resources, educational equipment, and other supports for workplace safety training.
- General safety improvements within the department.
- Implementing safer processes or replacing hazardous procedures with safer alternatives.
Required Documentation for Safety Grant Awards
To ensure Safety Grant funds are used effectively, departments must provide the following:
- A completed Justification of Funds form explaining how the grant will support safety and/or loss prevention efforts and quotes supporting proposed purchases.
- If awarded, submission of a Safety Grant Outcomes form after one year, detailing how the funds were used and the impact on the department.
- A summary of receipts to verify that funds were spent according to the approved proposal.
- Any unused funds must be returned to the central Workers’ Compensation Fund.
To apply, please complete the Safety Grant Application & Supporting Documents (PDF).