What Is OSHA Training? What You Should Know

Safety in the workplace isn't just a slogan; it's a necessity. Being able to identify and reduce hazards on a job site requires knowledge, awareness, and, often, specialized training. This is where OSHA training comes in, as a helpful feature to create a safe and healthy working environment for everyone. But with different courses, diverse industries, and constantly changing regulations, navigating OSHA training can get confusing. In this blog, we’ll dig into the key aspects of OSHA training, its requirements, and how compliance benefits you.

WHAT ARE OSHA'S TRAINING REQUIREMENTS?

OSHA's official training compliance policy is that employers must train employees in everything they need to know to do their jobs safely. It's as simple and as complicated as that.

Workers only need training in standards that apply to their duties and environment, while supervisors need training in all of the standards for everyone they oversee.

Open-ended training compliance requirements are beneficial as they encourage employers to consider individual employee needs and allow OSHA to assess compliance based on specific circumstances, prioritizing worker safety without compromising loopholes. Despite the deliberate vagueness of what counts as comprehensive training compliance, there are more than 100 mandatory OSHA training courses required for employers and employees to stay compliant.

Finally, OSHA requires training to be available "in a manner" and "in language" that can be understood by the worker. This makes employers responsible for resolving concerns related to literacy, vocabulary, disability, and a lack of English fluency.

IS OSHA TRAINING MANDATORY?

Over 130 million Americans working in industries like manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and construction are protected and have safe workplaces because of OSHA. Yes, OSHA training is mandatory for all workers who are exposed to hazards on the job. In addition to offering useful knowledge on what to do in the event of dangerous situations, training programs assist in your safety and the safety of your coworkers. 

The main exception to OSHA training is business owners who do not employ people.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED TO RETAKE TRAINING?

OSHA standards mandate annual employee training, which is re-evaluated every 12 months or 365 days. However, certain circumstances may necessitate more frequent retraining. Businesses must provide training to employees to protect themselves from workplace hazards, including new hazards resulting from changes in practices, procedures, or tasks. Businesses must provide training as needed. For complete training guidelines, workers are recommended to consult with local regulatory authorities.

HOW DOES OSHA'S REQUIRED TRAINING VARY BY INDUSTRY?

OSHA's jurisdiction and standards vary by industry, so compliance training does as well.

Some industries are regulated entirely by another agency. This includes:

• Mariners, regulated by the US Coast Guard (USGS)
• Mining, regulated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
• Aviation, regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• Nuclear Facilities, regulated by the Department of Energy (DOE)

These industries still have to educate workers on their rights and protections under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), but specific safety measures and relevant training are created and enforced under their home agency.

Of the industries that fall under OSHA's jurisdiction, several have their own specific standards with training requirements. This includes:

• Construction (29 CFR 1926 and some of §1910)
• Shipyards (§1915, §1919, and some of §1910)
• Marine Terminals (§1917, §1919, and some of §1910)
• Longshoring (§1918, §1919, and some of §1910)
• Agriculture (§1928 and §1910)

All other industries fall under the "general" standards of §1910. That's a big umbrella, but not all "general" industries require the same level of training. More extensive training is needed for high-risk workers, including warehouse, manufacturing, and industrial employees.

Low-risk industries like office work may only call for topics like workers' rights, emergency action plans, and fire prevention.

SHOULD EMPLOYERS PROVIDE HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING ON ANY OTHER TOPICS?

"Everything they need to know" is a heck of an umbrella, so yes, you may need to add topics OSHA doesn't mandate. There are a few sources of authority that might require extra training:

• Some OSHA standards adopt other standards by reference (like those of the NFPA). Those adopted standards may contain additional training requirements not listed in OSHA's "mandatory training" publication.
• Some states have their own Occupational Safety and Health agencies under OSHA supervision. State agencies may have non-federal or stringent standards, and while state OSH standards may have explicit training requirements, it's crucial to train workers on state-specific rules. Check your own state, county, and municipal regulations for local requirements.

• The OSH Act contains a General Duty Clause that holds employers accountable for protecting workers from any recognizable hazard. This covers any safety or health threat that isn't specified by existing OSHA standards.

HOW FREQUENTLY IS OSHA COMPLIANCE TRAINING REQUIRED?

Standards that require training usually have a minimum frequency attached. The most common recommendation is "at least yearly."

However, there are some circumstances where compliance training is required sooner. Workers should receive follow-up or refresher training if:

• New workplace hazards arise
• Standards, policies, or procedures change in a way that impacts safety training
• Individual performance implies that training was inadequate or misunderstood

Any safety training on non-prescribed topics should be repeated as often as necessary to ensure workers can recognize and address the relevant health and safety threats.

HOW IS TRAINING COMPLIANCE DETERMINED BY OSHA?

Employers are required to maintain OSHA compliance training records for all employees. During inspections, OSHA compliance officers review paperwork and assess workers' understanding of safety rules and hazards. They identify safety violations that indicate inadequate training. Workers cannot just complete training. In order to be OSHA compliant, training must be effective.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OSHA 10 AND OSHA 30?

Whether it's a 30-hour or 10-hour program, it's always important that you understand the requirements and differences between the two. Workers can get standardized safety training through OSHA 10 and OSHA 30. These courses are designed to meet the unique demands of each business, including general industry and construction. OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 are the two training levels available for each sector.

OSHA 10 and 30 courses cater to their specific industries' demands, so their content varies but not as much as you might think. OSHA 30 covers broader topics and requires stricter regulations, such as increasing PPE training time from 30 minutes to two hours. As. OSHA 30 is designed for employers and supervisors as it requires more instruction than OSHA 10. OSHA 10 general industry training or construction is recommended for all general employees.

DOES OSHA 10/30 TRAINING SATISFY OSHA TRAINING REQUIREMENTS?

OSHA goes out of its way to disclaim that its Outreach Training, which comes in both 10-hour and 30-hour versions, does NOT fulfill its mandatory training requirements.

In a practical sense, this is not quite true.

OSHA Outreach courses offer a solid foundation on common OSHA compliance training topics. However, employers should choose a curriculum that suits their workers and make informed decisions on which employees need further safety training in specific areas. Not all courses fulfill all obligations.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT OSHA OUTREACH COURSE?

First, you need to choose the right industry. There are separate Outreach programs for General Industry, Construction, Shipyards, Marine Terminals, and Longshoring.

Agriculture doesn't have its own Outreach Training. Instead, OSHA provides a list of recommended resources, and a few training providers have devised Agriculture-focused versions of the General Industry Outreach curriculum.

Within each "industry," Outreach Training is divided by level into 10-hour and 30-hour programs. Upon completion of either course, you’ll be given an official DOL card as proof to your employer that you completed the program. The 10-hour version is designed for entry-level workers, covering workers' rights, protections, and industry-wide safety topics for workers without supervisory responsibilities.

The 30-hour Outreach course caters to supervisors and managers, including forepeople, engineers, site leads, project managers, and safety specialists, with some additional hours focusing on additional safety topics.

To ensure the welfare of entire teams, supervisors need a broader and deeper understanding of safety issues, including hazards that only impact specialized labor.

STAY COMPLIANT WITH OSHA.COM

Whether you’re someone who’s entering the workforce or an employer looking to fulfill training requirements for your team, our comprehensive online OSHA training programs are here to help. Take the next step towards safety compliance and workplace well-being by enrolling in our courses today!