What is Covered in an OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course and Who Should Take It?

What is Covered in an OSHA 10-Hour Certification and Who Should Take It?

Contrary to popular belief, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not certify workers, so employees are not “OSHA certified.” Instead, OSHA grants the authority to trainers and training providers to offer 10-hour courses under its voluntary Outreach Training Program.

But ten hours of training sounds like a lot. How many times have you been curious to know, what topics are covered in OSHA’s 10 hour course?

This article will focus on the details about OSHA 10-hour training for general industry and construction, as well as the benefits of the course in its entirety.

What is OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Safety Training?

Under OSHA’s outreach training program, workers at the entry level can take 10-hour courses that act as an introduction to workplace safety and compliance in the construction and general industry.

The OSHA Outreach Program provides workers with information about possible workplace hazards, worker rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint at the OSHA level. Its aim is to improve workplace safety and health, increase worker awareness of workplace hazards, and inform employees of their rights.

The 10-hour training must provide an introduction on workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities but must be on identifying, avoiding, controlling and preventing hazards on the job.

What is the OSHA Outreach Program?

There are four different categories in the OSHA Outreach Training Program. They fall into four categories, namely:

  • General industry
  • Construction Sector
  • Maritime industry
  • Disaster Site Workers

Moreover, the OSHA Outreach Program is completely voluntary and does not meet training requirements for any OSHA standard. While it is not an OSHA requirement, in some states and companies, you may be required to complete the course.

A 10-hour course and a 30-Hour course are provided for each industry in the program. Each course covers a specific set of topics depending on the business you work in.

OSHA 10-hour training programs give entry-level workers basic, industry-specific safety and health information. The OSHA 30-Hour training programs are targeted towards workers who are beginning safety responsibilities, as well as those who require a more expanded training program. Now, which means, this is more of training for management or supervisory-level employees.

Benefits of OSHA 10 Safety Training Program

Both employees and employers can reap a vast array of benefits with the OSHA 10 program. Some of them include:

  • Cultivating a healthier workplace safety culture
  • Fewer accidents or incidents
  • Adherence to OSHA regulations
  • Lowered costs of accidents
  • increased employee retention

Safe work environments not only improve the bottom line of your company but also, the employees. Productivity increases when you take safety policies.

What Does OSHA 10-Hour Construction Training Cover?

in fact, 10 hours of OSHA training for entry-level employees in construction has minimum topic requirements. Some of the industry-specific topics are required, while others are optional.

OSHA 10-Hour Safety Training for Construction Workers

  • Mandatory Topics (7 Hours)
  • Introduction to OSHA (2 hours)
  • Rights of workers
  • Responsibilities of employers
  • How to file a complaint
  • OSHA “focus four” hazards (4 hours)
  • Falls (at least 1 hour and 15 minutes)
  • Electrocution (at least 30 minutes)
  • Struck-by (at least 30 minutes)
  • Caught in/between (at least 30 minutes)
  • Personal protective and lifesaving equipment (30 minutes)
  • Health hazards in construction (30 minutes)
  • Elective Topics (2 Hours)

It must include at least two topics. Each one must be a minimum of 30 minutes of:

  • Cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators, and conveyors
  • Excavations
  • Materials are managed, stored, used, and disposed of
  • Scaffolds
  • All hand and power tools

Optional Topic (1 Hour)

Select from additional hazards / policies / etc or elaborate more upon required/optional topics. Each topic(s) must be 30 minutes long.

OSHA 10-Hour training is designed for entry-level professionals working on a construction job site. it is supposed to educate workers about workplace safety and health hazards.

Who should take it?

Construction workers

It is prescriptive training for all construction workers engaged in new construction, repairs, or alterations.

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