OSHA Safety Compliance Training Courses

Written by Michael Purser

Every workplace contains hazards. From mines and construction sites to warehouses and offices, all industries and environments can present unique dangers to workers.

An accident or lapse in standards can result in costly damage, productivity loss and even serious injuries. Online safety compliance training protects employees from workplace hazards and injuries. It also shields employers from fines, lawsuits and other regulatory consequences.

OSHA Standards and Training Requirements

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established OSHA as an agency of the Department of Labor. The administration has the power to create and enforce workplace regulatory standards.

Since then, OSHA has created hundreds of standards under dozens of subparts grouped into major industries. Many of those standards include specific training requirements. To satisfy those regulations, employers must provide and maintain records of approved employee education dealing with the hazards, tools and other regulatory requirements related to their industry.

Benefits of Compliance Instruction

Employees must satisfy regulatory standards to set foot on a jobsite. But "because you have to" isn't the only reason to complete mandatory education. There are additional benefits, too.

Learning more about workplace dangers and the tools of the trade can improve employee job knowledge and enhance company productivity. Trained employees are better workers, managers and supervisors.

"Safety regulations are written in blood." That sobering saying is a reminder that every standard is necessary to protect workers from serious injury and even death.

In addition to protecting employees, robust education also protects organizations. Violations can lead to termination, fines, criminal prosecution, productivity loss, property damage or even major emergencies like a fire or collapse.

Our online courses prepare staff to spot workplace hazards, follow established procedures, avoid dangerous behaviors, correctly use personal protective equipment and employ a host of other crucial skills that might save lives.

Major Safety Subjects

No single course could possibly cover every workplace hazard. Instead, courses are divided into specific focus areas that address different compliance solutions.

General Training (OSHA 10 and OSHA 30)

Many workplaces, including factories, construction sites, warehouses and health care facilities, contain numerous health risks. To prepare workers and supervisors for these environments, the U.S. Department of Labor offers OSHA cards.

OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 courses provide comprehensive instruction on the core skills all workers need. Depending on the level of responsibility, workers may require either a 10-hour or 30-hour course to master crucial regulatory subjects.

HAZMAT

Hazardous materials are a broad collection of dangerous materials that may be explosive, corrosive or otherwise harmful. Hazardous materials regulations contain many specific requirements for handling, transporting and cleaning up HAZMAT substances. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) also has requirements for HAZMAT transportation.

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training prepares workers to safely manage HAZMAT situations. Depending on the level of exposure an employee is expected to encounter on the job, they may require a 40-hour or 24-hour initial education with an annual 8-hour refresher. DOT transportation education is also available.

Competent Persons

An OSHA-compliant competent person is an employer-designated individual who has the knowledge and authority to identify, control and correct workplace hazards. Employers may need to designate a competent person for the hazards present on the jobsite.

Competent person training prepares those employees to carry out the duties required by their designation. Each hazard has its own lessons, allowing designated competent persons to become trusted experts in their workplace.

Specific Needs

The three categories above only scratch the surface. Employees might require a course in fall prevention, bloodborne pathogens, confined spaces, heat stress or any number of other subjects.

Online Courses

The easiest way to complete required instruction is through online OSHA compliance training. Online learning minimizes the need to organize and schedule visits to physical classrooms. Digital courses also save time and money for students and organizations by eliminating travel and instructor costs.

Online education programs are available 24/7 from any internet-connected device. Students can log in, train and log out anytime. Online courses are easy to use. They provide high-quality instruction developed by experts and a huge library of content.

OSHA Education Center is a leading training provider, offering a library of more than 150 online compliance programs. Our learning management system offers benefits like audio narration and instant certificate downloads that make learning and documentation easier than ever.

Choosing the Right Topics

With so many topics to choose from, how does a manager choose which courses employees need to comply with OSHA standards?

It all depends on the job. Employers should address the facilities, tools, job responsibilities and hazards present in the workplace.

A construction site or stone quarry might need crystalline silica awareness instruction. Jobsites in colder climates may require a primer on cold stress. Meanwhile, a factory floor might call for lessons in heavy machinery operation like lockout/tagout procedures and machine guarding dangers. Employees at a wide range of jobsites could benefit from education in excavation and trenching safety awareness.

Building and Tracking a Safety Compliance Program

Building an in-house program can be a daunting challenge. As a business grows larger and more complex, keeping track of all the required education becomes a logistical nightmare. Fortunately, we have business tools that make it easy to meet regulatory requirements.

We also offer a simple all-in-one enterprise solution called the Safety Compliance Program. This subscription service is designed to make it easier to organize, assign, complete and track standards education. With three service tiers, our program offers exactly the level of help any team needs to stay on top of OSHA requirements.

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It doesn't matter if you are a single workshop with a handful of employees or a multinational brand with thousands of workers. We can help you stay compliant, minimize injuries and maximize productivity.

For more information about our enterprise solutions, reach out to our safety specialists for a demo!