Safety First Grant

The Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) Risk Management Services Division in the state of Georgia is offering a grant opportunity aimed at reducing employee injury and illness through creative, innovative safety solutions. The funding, supported by Safety National Insurance, encourages state entities to develop pre-injury risk management projects that address specific, quantifiable sources of workplace loss. This program is tailored specifically to agencies within Georgia's state government structure and offers the potential for each eligible entity to receive up to $10,000 in matching grant funds. To be eligible, applicants must be state entities within Georgia. The application must clearly describe the loss source being addressed and present a risk-reducing solution aligned with workers' compensation improvements. Each proposal must include an estimate of potential injury cost-savings and the number of employees who would benefit. Importantly, the solution must fall within the hierarchy of controls framework—emphasizing engineering, administrative, and work practice strategies. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the solution’s innovation, broad applicability, and projected return on investment (ROI), especially when it affects both workers' compensation and liability exposures. The grant application window is open from June 3, 2024, to September 6, 2024. Submissions should be sent to losscontrol@doas.ga.gov. Applications must be formatted to include the entity’s name, contact information, requested grant amount, a detailed description of the loss source, a comprehensive outline of the proposed solution and its implementation timeline, and estimated benefits including cost savings and the expected number of impacted employees. Evaluation of submissions will be handled by the DOAS Risk Management Team, which will review each application for compliance with grant criteria and alignment with state safety policies. All applicants will receive feedback, and the Risk Management Team will also coordinate the submission of qualified nominations to Safety National Insurance and oversee the progress of awarded projects. Winners will be officially notified by December 14, 2024. Applicants seeking additional information or clarification may contact DOAS loss control and safety officers C.G. Lawrence at charles.lawrence@doas.ga.gov or Hiram Lagroon at hiram.lagroon@doas.ga.gov. The DOAS also provides access to previous winners’ submissions from the years 2020 to 2023 as examples and inspiration for potential applicants.