OSHA.com offers OSHA training courses that are accepted statewide by Virginia. The OSHA 10 Hour Training and OSHA 30 Hour Training courses below can be taken for all workers in Virginia that need OSHA training cards. In addition, if you relocate to another state, the same card will be honored there.

Click on the Enroll Now! link for the course you want to take, register and pay online, and you begin your course when you’re ready. You can take the course at your own pace, login and logout as needed. The course is 100% online and is available 24×7.

Once you complete the OSHA Online 10 hour or 30 hour course, you may print out your certificate of completion immediately and you will receive your DOL Wallet Card by US Mail within six to ten weeks.

Virginia OSHA Training Information

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) administers a State Plan Program consistent with the provisions of Section 18(e) of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (“the Act”). Section 40.1-1 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, provides that the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry is responsible in the Commonwealth for administering and enforcing occupational safety and health activities as required by the Act. The Commissioner of Labor and Industry is appointed by the Governor and is authorized by §40.1-2.1 of the Code of Virginia to enter into such agreements with Federal OSHA as are necessary to assist in the enforcement of the Act. In addition, §40.1-51 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, provides that the State Health Commissioner shall be responsible, upon request, for advising and providing technical aid to the Commissioner on matters pertaining to occupational health.

The Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board (“the Board”) is responsible for the promulgation of all occupational safety and health standards for enforcement by the Department of Labor and Industry. The Board has adopted and will continue to adopt procedures, operations and criteria consistent with the Act, including those which have been established by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and does so for the benefit of the Commonwealth. The Board is a regulatory board appointed by the Governor and has the authority in the Commonwealth under §40.1-22 of the Code of Virginia, to adopt, amend or repeal standards, as necessary, pertaining to safety and health issues, including conditions for which no federal standards have been established.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, headquartered in Richmond, consists of separate program groups with representatives stationed in different regional and field offices located in Abingdon, Lynchburg, Manassas, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Verona, and Winchester. Each group has been delegated certain powers by the Commissioner to carry out the specific statutory mandates of the Department.

The Virginia State Plan was initially approved on September 28, 1976. The Department of Labor and Industry was awarded a Certificate of Final State Plan Approval for the VOSH Program by federal OSHA on November 30, 1988.

Jurisdiction

The Virginia State Plan applies to all public and private sector places of employment in the state, with the exception of federal employees, the United States Postal Service, private sector maritime, federal military facilities, and other federal enclaves where the state has ceded jurisdiction to the federal government. See 29 CFR 1952.375.

Regulations and Standards

The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program, as all other State Plans, must set job safety and health standards that are “at least as effective as” comparable federal standards. Most State Plans adopt standards identical to federal OSHA. States also have the option to promulgate additional standards covering other hazards or conditions not addressed by federal standards.

The vast majority of the VOSH standards are identical to federal OSHA standards. All standards adopted by the Board from 29 CFR Parts 1910, 1926, and 1928 shall apply by their own terms to all employers who have employees working at places of employment within the jurisdiction of the State Plan of the Commonwealth. Standards from Part 1910 apply to employers engaged in general industry; in addition, certain standards from Part 1910 determined by federal OSHA and the Board to be applicable to the construction industry also apply to the construction industry in Virginia. Standards adopted from 29 CFR Part 1926 apply to the construction industry, and standards adopted from 29 CFR Part 1928 apply to agricultural operations within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. In addition, standards from 29 CFR Part 1915, Shipyard Employment; 29 CFR Part 1917, Marine Terminals; and 29 CFR Part 1918, Longshoring, have been adopted for state plan use in the public sector only.

Any new or unique standard adopted by Virginia for which no federal OSHA counterpart exists shall apply as specified by the terms of that standard. The VOSH Administrative Regulations, 16 VAC 25-60, et seq., set forth rules defining the applicability of occupational safety and health standards in Virginia. There are several standards that are unique to Virginia. In these instances, federal OSHA either does not have a comparable standard addressing the specific hazard or condition or, if it does, the federal standard differs substantially.

The VOSH Program also assures compliance with the Virginia Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act that was enacted by the General Assembly in 1989 and codified at §§59.1-406 to 414 of the Code of Virginia. This statute is designed to “promote the safety and protection of persons engaged in work or activity in the vicinity of overhead high voltage lines.” This statutory standard is directly enforced in the same manner as VOSH regulatory standards.

Also related to the VOSH program are:

The Department’s Asbestos Notification and Permit Program was established by the General Assembly in 1992 and codified at §§40.1-51.20 to 51.22 of the Code of Virginia, as part of a larger multi-agency state program, requiring licensing and certification of asbestos contractors and workers by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Identical provisions were added for lead contractors in 1996.

In 1993, the Department entered into an enforcement agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DOLI was authorized by EPA to provide direct enforcement in Virginia of certain parts of 40 CFR Subpart M, dealing with asbestos under the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations of the federal Clean Air Act. Specifically, DOLI is responsible for demolition and renovation activities, spraying, insulating materials, waste disposal for such operations, and active waste disposal sites. The Board is authorized to formulate definitions, rules, regulations, and standards which shall be designed to ensure the proper demolition and renovation of asbestos facilities and effect compliance with the asbestos NESHAP requirements for federal EPA. Such standards must be at least as stringent as the asbestos regulations passed pursuant to §112 of the Clean Air Act.