A grant of up to $10,000 is available for IMWCA members,
with a total of $90,000 available. Safety Study Grant money may not be used to
pay for general safety training or equipment purchased before the application
is submitted.
The Safety Study Grant supports projects that can greatly
reduce or eliminate injuries in the workplace. Emphasis will be placed on
funding projects that are highly reproducible within the IMWCA membership. Some
examples of projects include:
● Develop and implement a
pilot project for train-the-trainer program for stretching during work hours
● Develop and implement a
pilot project for a department to test use Grips footwear (law enforcement and
public health)
● Develop and implement an
emergency medical technician train-the-trainer program for lifting
● Develop internal
Post-traumatic stress disorder prevention training for public safety
departments
● Develop and implement tools
or procedures to greatly reduce or eliminate back, shoulder and knee injuries
in the workplace
IMWCA will not approve grants for general safety training
contracts, weapons or standard safety equipment, such as general personal
protective equipment, machine guards or equipment currently required by
Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. Examples of ineligible
expenses:
• Vehicles, including cars
and trucks
• Weaponry, including tasers
• Any protective equipment,
supplies, training, or materials required through existing regulation such as
standard machine guarding or personal protective equipment.
Please submit only the application form completed as
clearly and completely as possible. The application must include:
1. An outline of the project
that includes the problem to be addressed and the applicant’s approach to the
solution. Measurable success factors are encouraged. IMWCA can assist in
providing data for comparison.
2. Number of employees that
will participate in the project.
3. A timeline for the project
implementation and review of results.
4. Other entities involved,
if applicable.
5. Amount of grant funding
sought and how the funds will be spent. This also includes whether the request
seeks reimbursement or cost-sharing.
Applicants must:
• Allow IMWCA to share the
results of the safety study grant with others so they can benefit from your
success and key findings. This information may be shared with, but is not
limited to, other members of the pool, agents, IMWCA staff, the general public
and the media.
• If awarded, agree to comply
with all reporting requirements below
• Members receiving a grant
will also need to submit a resolution from the governing body that supports the
project before Safety Study Grant funds can be committed to a project.
• Applicants must use the grant
funding to implement a safety study that seeks to end or reduce incidences of
workplace accidents that have resulted in workers’ compensation claims over the
prior two years.
Reporting requirements:
• Six-month implementation
report: Submit a report detailing the steps taken to implement the safety study
during the six-month period of time following the grant being awarded. This
will include details on how the grant funds were spent.
• One-year outcomes report:
Submit a report detailing the impact of the safety study one year after the
grant was awarded. This report will require an expenditure summary and
receipts.
Approval Process:
• The individual submitting the
full grant application will be notified via email when the application is
received and the next steps in the process will be provided.
• The application will be
reviewed for completeness. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
• Complete applications will
be evaluated by a panel of members. This committee will
determine which applicants will be awarded IMWCA Safety Study Grants. The Committee
will inform all applicants of their selection or non-selection.
Determination:
Applications for the Safety Study Grant will be evaluated
as they are received. The process will evaluate the impact or potential impact
on the member’s safety efforts, including how many people it can affect and its
longevity. The process will also consider cost-effectiveness, use of
intergovernmental collaboration and innovation.
- How significant the risk is to
your employees’ health and safety. Additional consideration will be given
to those organizations seeking to address the top three workplace injury
causes either by most incurred or cost.
- How well the safety study grant
addresses the root cause of the safety hazard.
- How well the safety study grant
will address the safety hazard over time.
- How easily the safety study
grant can be implemented. Safety study addresses changes to the employees’
environment with limited training will be rated more highly than safety
initiatives that require ongoing training.
- How easily can the results of
the safety study grant can be replicated.
- More innovative safety study
grant will be given additional consideration (e.g., integrating technology
to address a hazard).
- How the organization can
sustain implementation of the project.
Entry Deadline:
Applications are due in the IMWCA office by April 29, 2021. However,
applications are evaluated as they are submitted, with money and awards
presented throughout the year. In other words, submit your application early
for the best chance at being recognized.
Questions?
Contact Dean Schade at (515) 657-2899 or
deanschade@iowaleague.org.