State Awards $800K in Workplace Safety Grants
Small businesses and manufacturers across Massachusetts can use the grants to fund safety training for nearly 7,000 workers.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Jobs — General
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Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced $800,000 in workplace safety grants for 187 organizations across the state, supporting nearly 7,000 workers. The grants are administered by the Department of Industrial Accidents and cover safety training and education for employers including small businesses and manufacturers.
Why it matters
The grants lower the cost of workplace safety training for smaller employers, including minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses and firms in manufacturing and construction. They come under the SafetyWorks Initiative launched last year, which has funded roughly $25 million in grants since 1988.
The $800,000 round covers 187 organizations and nearly 7,000 workers, against roughly $25 million awarded since 1988 that reached about 340,000 workers and 1,880 employers. Named awards include $16,000 to Berkshire County Arc, $2,675 to Berkshire County Head Start Child Development Program, and $3,500 to East Coast Refinishing, with the maximum SafetyWorks training grant at $25,000.
The players
Department of Industrial Accidents
The Massachusetts state agency that administers workplace injury compensation and workplace safety programs, including the SafetyWorks grants.
Governor Maura Healey
The Governor of Massachusetts who announced the $800,000 workplace safety grant round.
The details
Grants are administered by the Department of Industrial Accidents to fund workplace safety training and education. Eligible recipients include cities and towns, small businesses, minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses, and employers in manufacturing and construction. Public- and private-sector employers can request a confidential consultation through mass.gov/SafetyWorks to identify their needs before applying.
Timeline
Since 1988: Department of Industrial Accidents has awarded grants totaling about $25 million.
Last year: Healey-Driscoll Administration launched the SafetyWorks Initiative.
November 5, 2026: Governor Healey announced the $800,000 grant round.
Market Landscape
The grants extend the SafetyWorks Initiative, which the Healey-Driscoll Administration launched last year on top of a Department of Industrial Accidents grant program operating since 1988. The program has funded about $25 million in awards over that period, placing this round within a long-running state effort to subsidize employer safety training.
Massachusetts employers in manufacturing, construction, and small business should check whether they qualify for SafetyWorks grants and request a confidential consultation through mass.gov/SafetyWorks. Operations and HR teams should factor the subsidized training into planning for safety compliance costs.
The takeaway
For Massachusetts employers, the SafetyWorks program offers a practical way to offset training costs, and a confidential consultation is the entry point for determining eligibility. Operators in manufacturing and construction should evaluate their training needs against the grant categories before the next budget cycle.
Further reading
For more on hiring and workforce conditions, see the Jobs — General section.
More information
Employers can request a confidential consultation and learn about training grants at SafetyWorks consultations and training grants.
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