Is OSHA 10-Hour Training Required for All Construction Workers?

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has set safety standards and provides training to help decrease the number of workplace injuries and deaths since the 1970’s.

One thing that many of these standards have in common is that they explicitly require employers to keep workers trained on hazards they face. OSHA provides a summary of this in Training Requirements in OSHA Standards, but, it is over 250 pages long and it is not an easy task to be fully compliant with all of the training requirements.

This can make training an ambiguous subject, and in the Construction industry- which tends to have a high number of worker deaths annually this can be especially true.

We hope to clarify who “needs OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour training” by answering a few questions regarding the Construction industry and OSHA training.

What Is a Construction Worker?

According to section 1910.12(b) of OSHA’s regulations, specifically 29 CFR 1910, construction work is defined as “work for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating”. Generally all other workers, like those engaged in maintenance and upkeep of the facilities would be “general industry” workers.

But, this definition can be complicated when considering maintenance work on a large scale. Some “maintenance” workers may actually be performing “construction work” depending on the size and scope, according to OSHA. OSHA has released a formal statement of interpretation that could assist maintenance workers in deciding whether they are engaged in construction work.

Classifying Construction Workers

The following types of work or job titles would be covered under the OSHA for Construction for many workers.

Types of Construction Work:

Public & Construction Engineering
Carpentry
Plasterwork
Scaffold, Construction and Concrete
Stonework
Roof Work
Electrical Work
Piping Work
Tile, Brick and Block Work
Steel Construction Work and Reinforcement Work
Paving Work
Dredging Work
Glass Work
Interior Finishing
Machinery Installation
Landscape Gardening
Water Facilities Work
Waste Facilities Work
Types of Construction Workers
Boilermakers
Carpenters
Carpet Layers
Dredgers
Electricians
Fire Sprinkler Installers
Linemen
Elevator Mechanics
Fencers
Glaziers
Heavy Equipment Operators
Insulation Installers
Ironworkers
Laborers
Landscapers
Masons and Stonemasons
Millwrights
Painters & Decorators
Pile Drivers
Plasterers
Plumbers
Pipefitters
Sheet Metal Workers
Tile Workers
Truck Drivers and Teamsters
Water proofers
Welders

Not sure if you’re a construction worker or if you are someone who needs OSHA training?

Reach out to our safety professionals at sales@usfosha.com to help you ensure obtaining the best training for your specific work environment.

Why Is OSHA Training Vital for Construction Workers?

There have been a drastic reduction in workplace deaths since the creation of OSHA on April 28th, 1971. In doing so, through things like mandated training and safety requirements OSHA has also saved thousands of lives.

The Construction Focus Four, which include four common hazards in construction that account for the vast majority of fatal injuries according to OSHA and researchers, are responsible for the majority of injuries and deaths on the jobsite.

Below are the OSHA 10-hour Construction Focus Four:

Fall Hazards: Falls are the number one killer in the construction industry. They may take place from roofs, scaffolding, through holes, or on working surfaces.
Caught In/Between Hazards: Caught-in or -between injuries are those that result when a worker is squeezed, caught, crushed, compressed or pinched between the parts of objects or between multiple objects.
Struck-By Hazards: All hazards where the worker is struck by a moving object or one that falls or rolls. This also encompasses workers being struck by unsecured loads or objects being propelled. Traffic and heavy equipment work share these hazards and are particularly dangerous for those in close proximity.
Electrocution Hazards: Electrical hazards are among the most lethal in the construction workplace. Training specific to electrocution involves de-powering a circuit and then checking it to ensure that it is completely de-charged.

These hazards must be covered in detail in all OSHA-Authorized Outreach training programs for Construction (Safety Counselling) .

What Is OSHA Outreach Training?

“Construction workers” are required to be trained on specific safety issues related to their work environment, such as General safety & health provisions, personal protective equipment, fall protection and others set forth by OSHA standards.

The OSHA Outreach training program was developed to provide training to workers who need OSHA training in order to hopefully foster workplace safety and health by providing OSHA –Authorized trainers’ access to training.

Employers will find that outreach training and other training provided directly on the job site will fulfill many of the training provisions OSHA standards require.

To further ease access to that training, OSHA allows a small number of authorized trainers to offer the courses online. The content of these courses is the same as the material required by OSHA for Outreach training as well as the timing requirement that is required in a face to face class, but the student can complete their course at their convenience.

USFOSHA’s OSHA-Authorized online Construction training courses are also among the very few mobile-friendly OSHA training courses available in the U.S., meaning workers can complete these training courses via tablet or mobile phone. USFOSHA’s Outreach classes also involve animations and interactions that help engage students in the worksite hazards so that the concepts “stick”.

The outreach training provides the D.O.L. or Department of Labor OSHA official card, called the OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 cards. Some workers carry these cards on the worksite, and in some states workers are required to always have the 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA card with them.

It is recommended that all construction workers complete a 10-hour training and receive the OSHA 10 card. OSHA 30 (30-hour training) is suggested for all employees in a supervisory or safety role in construction.

To learn more about the Outreach program requirements and FAQ, consult OSHA’s website.

Is OSHA Outreach Training Required?

While certain states, jurisdictions or contractors may choose to make Outreach training or Department of Labor cards a necessity for Construction workers, it is important to note that Outreach training is not a requirement by OSHA, and like other OSHA training programs, it is entirely optional.

Further, this training does not include all of the training that may be required under OSHA standards. Employers also have the responsibility to offer training specific to the hazards of the job. Others may require a combination of on-site training, Construction & General Industry. The training needs will be specific to the work site and job, and it is entirely the employer’s responsibility that all job hazards are adequately trained to them.

The most knowledgeable authority on training requirements is OSHA itself which has compiled a complete Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines for employers.

While this is true, OSHA Outreach 10-hour and 30-hour trainings are wonderful for establishing basic standards training and do assist employers with what is really a critical requirement for training in a condensed, and controlled, manner.

Although Outreach training is voluntary according to OSHA, many construction firms view it as a requisite component of good safety programs.

Is OSHA Outreach Training Required in My State?

Certain States and Counties have found it useful for some workers to take Outreach courses. More than 20 states have even implemented state-specific OSHA plans with regulations and training mandates even broader than federal OSHA.

OSHA training requirements can also be a condition of the job or the contract price. Certain requirements are specific to only state- funded public works projects, while others are applicable to both public and private construction.

This type of OSHA training is required for work in the following OSHA defined settings:

Connecticut
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Massachusetts
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico (It is not mandatory in New Mexico)
New York
New York City, New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
West Viriginia

The list above is not fixed, as mandatory OSHA training requirements are established by local and state laws. You can contact your state OSHA office for more information on specific training requirements in construction.

For states that do not currently have such a requirement, perhaps it is only a matter of time! State and federal regulators want to make sure that there is OSHA training where OSHA training is necessary. These regulators aspire to have certain levels of safety training for workers prior to even entering a worksite.

Completion of an OSHA- authorized training (and DOB card) is a good, trusted means of demonstrating that attempts have been made to educate workers on key fears at the worksite.

In Albuquerque or New Mexico for additional information or bulk purchases of two or more courses, please contact Safety Counselling via our CONTACT US online form