Posted on: December 28, 2023

How To Replace a Lost OSHA Card

Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes valuable items like your driver’s license or car keys can get damaged or go missing. OSHA cards are no different. They’re required by employers because they’re proof you’ve finished a 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA Outreach training course.

If you’ve lost or destroyed your card, replacing it is actually quite simple.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll answer frequently asked questions about the process of getting a replacement card and give you all the information you need to navigate this situation with ease.

What Is an OSHA Card?

An OSHA card is a small plastic card that is given to you once you’ve successfully completed an OSHA 10-hour Construction or 30-hour Construction or General Industry safety training program. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) doesn’t mandate OSHA cards for all workers, certain states and employers may require them.

At OSHA.com, we provide printable certificates, including wallet-sized cards, available for any of our courses covering various topics, not limited to just 10 and 30-hour safety training.

What Are the Different Types of OSHA Cards?

OSHA cards or DOL cards are divided up by level and industry.

These cards are issued in four different “industries”:

Construction
Maritime (subdivided into Longshoring, Shipyard, and Marine Terminal)
Disaster Worker
General Industry, which includes any industry without its own specific card

Each industry has two levels of training – a 10-hour course and a 30-hour course in all cases except Disaster Worker.

OSHA 10, as the shorter course is typically called, is targeted at non-supervisory workers, while OSHA 30 is intended for anyone with supervisory responsibilities. The 30-hour course includes everything from the 10-hour course, adds topics on safety from a systematic and managerial perspective, and includes more specialized safety topics.

How Do You Get an OSHA Card?

Getting your OSHA card is pretty easy. To obtain yours, just follow these steps:

Go to OSHA.com
Enroll in one of our many qualifying online programs
Successfully complete the course
Pass the final examination with a 70% or above
Wait for your card to arrive in the mail

Your official DOL OSHA card will be shipped to you within 2 weeks of finishing your course.

Are OSHA Cards Required?

OSHA itself has no requirement for possessing a DOL card or even taking an OSHA Outreach course. The federal government considers them optional.

However, some employers, states, or local jurisdictions do have OSHA card requirements.

OSHA Outreach training is used as a national benchmark for the basics of occupational safety and health training. It provides an industry-specific primer on the most necessary safety topics. OSHA sets the parameters for the curriculum, composed of mandatory, elective, and optional topics, as well as training and authorizing the third-party training providers to deliver the training.

As a result, when a city, state, or employer wants to set a minimum standard for initial workplace training, they often use an OSHA card to do so.

When Are OSHA Construction Cards Required?

Since construction is such a high-risk industry, those cards are the most commonly required.

State or local laws mandate OSHA Construction cards under certain circumstances.

In many places, they're required to bid on or retain a public works contract over a certain size or value. This is the case in:

Connecticut
Miami-Dade County in Florida
Massachusetts
Missouri
New Hampshire
New York State (except the five boroughs of New York City)
Rhode Island
West Virginia

A few jurisdictions require DOL cards for construction workers more broadly. This includes:

Nevada requires all construction and demolition workers to earn an OSHA 10 or 30 Construction card.
Philadelphia, PA, requires DOL cards for all construction or demolition workers, state-registered Home Improvement Contractors, and employees or licensed contractors.
New York City requires at least 40 hours of Site Safety Training for all construction or demolition workers on anything larger than a three-family residence. This sometimes includes an OSHA 30 Construction card in addition to city-specific curricula.

Each jurisdiction has its own expiration/renewal period.

This shouldn’t be considered a comprehensive list since new requirements are being added all the time.

Additionally, your employer may require a DOL card even if your jurisdiction does not.

When Are OSHA General Industry Cards Required?

Employers in high-risk industries like manufacturing, industry, and warehousing will often require new workers to complete the OSHA 10 General Industry curriculum early in their employment.

Legal requirements for a General Industry card are rare. In fact, so far, they’re only mandatory for two industries in one jurisdiction.

Nevada requires all entertainment industry workers to earn an OSHA 10 or 30 card within 15 days of beginning employment. For cannabis workers, an OSHA 30 General Industry card will be required within the first year.

Can You Get a Replacement DOL Card?

If you’re required to carry your DOL or OSHA card with you to work, there’s a good chance it will get lost, stolen, or damaged eventually. When that happens, you may need to get a replacement.

If your OSHA card was originally issued within the last five years, you are eligible for a ONE-TIME replacement.

OSHA Card Replacement Qualifications

Not everyone can get an OSHA card replacement. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

You must have completed the course within the last five years.
The original card you received must have been activated and verified by calling the activation number provided with the card.
This is your first time requesting a replacement card.

That last criterion is crucial. OSHA regulations state that you are only allowed one replacement card due to loss or damage. If you need more than one replacement card, you will need to complete another OSHA Outreach Training program all over again.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace a Lost or Damaged OSHA Card?

The cost of replacing a lost OSHA card can depend on a variety of factors, including which training provider you took the course with and how quickly you need your card delivered to you. The cost to replace an OSHA card with 360training, OSHA.com’s training provider, is $89. Expedited shipping will require additional fees.

How Long Does It Take To Receive a Replacement OSHA Card?

The arrival time of your replacement DOL card will vary depending on the training provider.

If you completed OSHA 10 or 30 with us, we offer options to expedite shipping as soon as next-day.

Our shipping times and costs are as follows:

5- to 7-day shipping through USPS Regular Mail is free when you purchase your replacement card.
For $20 per card, you can choose USPS Priority Mail and receive your card in 2-3 days, excluding Sundays.
For $60 per card, you can choose UPS Overnight. The card will arrive the day after the order is submitted to UPS.

Get Your Card Replaced Today

Losing your OSHA card can be a huge inconvenience, but the process of replacing it is hassle-free with 360training. Your card is a valuable certification that demonstrates your commitment to workplace safety and OSHA compliance, so don’t let a lost card deter you from reaping its benefits.

If you completed OSHA Outreach Training with us, you can order a replacement OSHA card by:

Logging into your student account at OSHA.com/login.
Verifying or updating your mailing address.
Adding one (1) replacement card to your cart.
Checking out and paying any associated fees.

If your training is older than five years or if you’ve already received a replacement card in the past, the only way to get another plastic wallet card is to retake the appropriate OSHA Outreach course.

Interested in enrolling in an OSHA Outreach training program? OSHA.com offers a variety of Construction and General Industry courses to get you your official OSHA DOL card. Visit OSHA.com to register for one of our courses today!