In high schools all over Montana, students are learning construction, welding, and other trades—skills they’ll use as they join our work force and contribute to the vitality of our state. But to do that safely, they need work gloves, welding helmets, face shields, hardhats and more.

That is where Montana State Fund’s Growing a Safer Montana safety equipment grants come into play. Montana has some of the highest rates of workplace injuries in the nation, that is why MSF is partnering with Montana’s high schools to positively highlight the importance of safety in the workplace for the next generation of Montana’s workers. By suppling safety gear and safety information to students and teachers, we give them the tools they need to champion safety both in their classrooms and in their future professional endeavors.

This past September, our safety management consultants traveled to 16 high schools to hand out safety gear to over 1,800 students. In addition, we provided teachers with safety materials they can use to reinforce safety awareness in their classrooms. Classroom teachers could request up to $750 in merchandise.

According to Whitehall shop teacher Casey Harris, these grants are not only a safety benefit, but a financial benefit as well.

“This is a big deal. To put this in perspective, both of our shop classes (welding and carpentry) have a budget of $1,000 for PPE (personal protection equipment), so this nearly doubles our budget this year.”

Since the program began in 2017, 2,631 high school students have received help from this program.

• Anaconda High School Welding Class – Teacher: Ryan Pesanti
• Anaconda Jr, Sr High Wood, Carpentry, Small Engines Automotive Classes – Teacher: Brian Riley
• Belgrade High School Woodworking Class – Teacher: Randy Radke
• Belgrade High School Welding Class – Teacher:  Eric Kinnaman
• Jefferson High School (Boulder) Welding and Construction Trades Class – Teacher David Heimann
• Bozeman High School Welding Class – Teacher: Rick Hedlund
• Bozeman High School Woodworking Class – Teacher: Dan Brown
• Butte High School Industrial Arts – Teacher: Denise Bordeleau
• Beaverhead County High School (Dillon) – Agricultural Education Class – Teacher: Caleb Igo
• Helena Capital Woodworking Class– Teacher: Bob Pearce
• Helena Capital Welding Class – Teacher: Tom Kain
• Helena High Welding Class– Teacher: Cindy Galbavy
• Park High School Industrial Tech and Welding Class -Teacher: Jamie Islay
• Park High School Metal Fabrication Class – Teacher: Shane Stender
• Manhattan High School Welding Class – Teacher: Neil Harvey
• Missoula Big Sky High School Industrial Technology Classes – Teacher: Scot Traeder
• Missoula Sentinel High School Industrial Technology Classes – Teacher: Dave Burtch
• St. Regis High School Industrial Technology Classes – Superintendent: Joe Steele
• Superior High School Industrial Technology Classes – Teacher: Jeff Schultz
• Three Forks High School Industrial Arts 1 Class – Principal: Justin Helvik
• Whitehall High School Industrial Arts Class– Teacher: Casey Harris

For more information, contact Mark Rosenleaf at (406) 495-5334 or Dan Johnson at (406) 595-2108.