Government Contracts and EM 385

Government construction projects have strict safety standards to adhere to. To expand your contracting career to work on these types of job sites, you and your team must complete EM 385-1-1 training. Otherwise, you could be missing out on valuable work experience. In this article, we will talk about what EM 385-1-1 training entails, its benefits, and how it could help you obtain government or military construction contracts.

How Does EM 385 Impact Government Contracts? 

Most contractors, despite their qualifications and years of experience, are not able to bid on or manage government construction contracts. This is because most contractors are untrained in how to manage the documentation process and regulatory requirements for a government contract.

A government construction contract requires contractors to meet specific federal and state criteria. In order to be qualified to handle the contract, a contractor must also pass specific safety, quality, and environmental compliance courses. That is where EM 385-1-1 comes in. EM 385-1-1 regulates the construction safety and health standards for government or military contracts.

What is EM 385-1-1?

EM-385 is the code for the US Corps of Engineers' safety and health requirements, which are developed and regularly updated and are intended to regulate Department of Defense projects.

EM 385 closely resembles the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is not surprising given that both rules are intended to enhance worker health and safety. However, on government or military construction projects, the regulations of the Corps of Engineers take precedence over OSHA requirements. Anyone working on government or military projects must understand and adhere to these safety rules.

How EM 385-1-1 Can Benefit You

If you want to strengthen your safety credentials by working on government or military construction projects, start training as soon as possible. EM 385 training prepares you to successfully bid on government construction projects. Your offer will be rejected if it does not include a site-specific safety plan that meets all EM 385-1-1 requirements.

The consequences for non-compliance are steep. Non-compliance can lead to contract cancellation, with contracting officers having the power to stop activities and a $2,000 per day penalty. To cooperate with the federal government/military, follow the EM-385 rules.

Get Started on EM 385-1-1 Training Today

Compliance with an online EM 385-1-1 course is required for all individuals working on government or military contracts, whether you’re a contractor or a supervisor. OSHA.com has four training hour options available. An eight-hour, sixteen-hour, twenty-four-hour, and forty-hour course. Each of the four contains safety information that adheres to the EM 385-1-1 requirements in more depth than the previous

The 16-hour and 24-hour courses are required for contractors and personnel on building projects while the 40-hour training is required for managers and supervisors and offers specific instructions for applying health and safety regulations. Our 8-hour option is a refresher course that should be completed annually. 

Our training courses teach workers and supervisors everything you need to know about the EM 385-1-1 safety manual. It addresses key topics such as developing safety procedures, managing buildings and vehicles, and protecting employees in heights and confined areas. The course is comprehensive and user-friendly, available in our online training catalog. Head to our website to register today!