The city of Dawsonville has received another tool for helping its employees stay safe on the job.

The Georgia Municipal Association announced last week that Dawsonville received a Safety Grant check for more than $2,800.

The funds will be used by the city to purchase safety equipment, such as bloodborne pathogen kits, Lock Out Tag Out Locks for electrical equipment and MSDS compliance data sheets.

"The safety of our employees is always first on our list," said Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan. "We want to be sure we are up to date on safety measures and training. Our employees are critical to our city, so we don't want anyone hurt."

Grogan said that the equipment being purchased would be routine safety precautions that most major businesses have.

"Bloodborne pathogen kits are means of handling blood on areas in a work place," he said. "You have materials to handle such accidents."

The lock tags allows for safety measures when working with electricity, such as a power junction or breaker.

"It is used to prevent anyone from flipping a switch and restoring power, electrocuting the person working on the power," Grogan said. "You lock them out."

The MSDS compliance data sheets would provide first aid information in the event of an emergency.

"This program allows each city to stretch their budget dollars and provide a safer work environment for their employees," said Steve Durden, deputy director of marketing for GMA.

The GMA Safety and Liability Management Grant program was introduced in 2000 to provide a financial incentive to assist members in improving their employee safety and general public liability loss control efforts through training and the purchase of equipment or services.

"GMA is proud of the participants in the Safety Grant Program," Durden said. "It indicates a real willingness on their part to provide a safer work environment for the employees."