Key takeaways:

• Who needs to give OSHA trainings? Certain employers are exempt but most private sector companies need to understand their OSHA requirements. Construction, agriculture and maritime industries have specific guidelines.
• Types of OSHA trainings: OSHA provides free outreach trainings and certifications that cover many topics related to workplace health and safety.
• How to start an OSHA training program:
  • Read available materials
  • Implement an illness and injury prevention program
  • Emphasize worker participation
  • Use OSHA’s additional resources

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created guidelines since the 1970S for American employers to ensure employees are safe in the workplace. OSHA also gives trainings for employers and employees to help them meet their requirements.

OSHA, a component of the Department of Labor, was first created in 1970 by Congress, “to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers” by creating a set of standards and offering training and other resources. OSHA sets up and enforces these standards.

This guide will cover who is required to provide OSHA trainings, the different types they offer and how to implement a training system for your workers. Let’s get started.

Employers that hire workers to do hazardous jobs must provide OSHA training. The construction industry is one where workers will need OSHA training since jobs involve many dangerous work settings where employees could get seriously injured. Construction jobs that would apply include roof, electrical, machinery, landscaping, concrete and other types of work.

The other three categories of companies that would need OSHA training are agriculture, maritime and general industry. These activities will generally fall under OSHA requirements:

• Farming livestock or crops
• Longshoring
• Working on shipyards
• Working in marine terminals
• Working in general industry jobs outside of agriculture, construction or maritime

Most private sector companies fall under OSHA. Companies that are exempt from OSHA include the following:

• Farms where only immediate family members are employed
• Domestic service companies
• Companies not involved in interstate commerce
• Government agencies (state and federal)
• Self-employed workers
• Churches
• Companies like nuclear power and mining organizations that comply with other federal regulations

Unless you operate an exempt organization, you need to provide OSHA training to workers. Let’s get into the types of OSHA safety trainings now.

The four categories under OSHA each have their own set of standards as outlined in OSHA’s Training Requirements in OSHA Standards. The standards outline guidance for the following concerns, conditions and settings:

• Exit routes and emergency planning
• Powered platforms, manlifts and vehicle-mounted work platforms
• Occupational health and environmental control
• Hazardous materials
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Medical services and first aid
• Fire protection
• Fall protection
• Materials handling and storage
• Machinery and machine guarding
• Welding, cutting and brazing
• Electrical safety-related work practices
• Commercial diving operations
• Toxic and hazardous substances like asbestos
• Confined and enclosed spaces
• Surface preparation and preservation
• Scaffolds
• Ladders
• Stairways
• Cargo handling gear and equipment
• Ventilation and atmospheric conditions
• Occupational noise exposure
• Ionizing and nonionizing radiation
• Hazard communication
• Power-operated tools
• Blasting and the use of explosives
• Roll-over protective structures

Employers need to ensure that training is provided in these areas, as applicable to their organization. In addition, OSHA provides many different certifications for workers. Some employers require employees to obtain these certifications to do their jobs.

OSHA gives standard trainings for each industry via its OSHA Outreach Training Courses. If an employer indicates that they want a worker to be OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certified, it means they want construction workers to have completed a 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA Outreach Construction Training Course.

OSHA also offers these training courses:

• HAZWOPER training
• Environmental safety
• General safety
• Supervisor and competent person training
• Forklift and heavy equipment training
• DOT hazmat and transportation safety training
• Surface miner training
• Construction Safety en Español
• New York City SST

OSHA’s certificate programs provide deeper insight into a range of topics. Workers can earn titles such as specialist, certified safety and health official, master certification status and more.

It isn’t easy to know where to start with OSHA training requirements. Follow these steps to get your process off the ground:

Read available materials

OSHA provides a pool of resources so you can get to know requirements according to the law, as well as the types of trainings to provide to employees. Training Requirements in OSHA Standards is a great resource to read through, as it answers many questions about training in applicable industries. OSHA also provides fact sheets, a newsletter, guidance documents and materials for employers to post in their workplaces.

Implement an injury and illness prevention program

OSHA recommends that employers create a complete injury and illness prevention program that puts processes in place that reduce the number of serious issues that take happen in the workplace. The majority of states in the U.S. have either voluntary guidelines or stated requirements for companies to prevent injuries and illnesses with this type of program.

The program should include information about hazard identification, prevention and control; worker participation; leadership; training; and program review and improvement.

Emphasize worker participation

OSHA also recommends putting a strong emphasis on worker participation in the development of your training program. The agency states in its training guide that when employers make the decision to prioritize worker safety, and when that effort includes worker participation, “workplace injury and illness prevention programs are improved because workers can identify missing safety procedures, make recommendations for changes and help ensure a safe workplace.”

Use OSHA’s additional resources

In addition to the outreach training programs and certifications that OSHA offers, the agency also provides an on-site consultation program which offers free trainings to small and medium-sized U.S. businesses regrading safety and occupational health. Company leaders can discover what workplace hazards exist and improve their programs and processes.

If you need help with meeting requirements or understanding safety risks, OSHA has local offices that can answer questions and provide additional education, guidance and assistance to smaller employers.

Navigating all of your requirements under OSHA can be overwhelming and confusing. When you need assistance in complying with laws or putting best practices in place to protect workers, StaffLink can point you in the right direction. We are a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) with solutions for HR management, payroll, benefits administration, workers’ compensation compliance, risk management and more.

Request a proposal or contact us at (954) 423-8262 for more information.