What Subjects are Covered in the OSHA 10-Hour Class for Construction?

What Subjects are Covered in the OSHA 10-Hour Class for Construction?

When construction workers and contractors hear about the OSHA 10-hr Construction Industry Outreach Training Program, the first question usually is, what is the outline or the course description?

Here is a description and syllabus of the course:

OSHA “Construction Industry” standards apply to new construction, installation, repair, renovation, painting, demolition and decorating. The construction standards do not pertain to the manufacturing, agriculture or maritime (ship building) industries having their own OSHA standards.

This training program is designed to inform entry level construction workers about their rights, employer responsibilities, how to contact OSHA, and how to identify, abate, avoid and prevent related hazards on a job site. As you can notice in the outline below, this training is made out of customization.

Such a program can be tailored towards supervisors, but the OSHA 30-hr Construction Outreach Training is the best suited for that type. These hazards include different safety and health hazards faced by a worker on the construction industry. According to OSHA, this training is about how to identify and avoid hazards, as well as controlling and preventing hazards — not OSHA standards. The instructional time should be at least 10 hours.

According to OSHA, the Instruction must consist of 6 hours of Mandatory topics with time allotments for each topic, 2 hours of Elective topics, and 2 hours of Optional topics. The minimum topic requirements are the following:

MANDATORY – 6 hours

a) Introduction to OSHA – 1 hour

Covers workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and how to file a complaint. It has useful workers’ safety and health resources. It is focused on identifying and removing and preventing hazards.

They are given handouts, and participate in in-class role plays and activities.

b) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – 30 minutes

c) Health Hazards in Construction – 30 minutes

It may train noise, hazard communication, crystalline silica, lead, or other construction health hazard.

d) OSHA Focus Four Hazards – 4 hours

Since the majority of construction fatalities are due to risk of falls, falls are required to be covered at least for a duration of one hour and 15 minutes. The remaining Focus Four Hazards must be addressed for at least one-half hour each.

  • Falls (at least 1 hour 30 minutes)
  • Electrocution
  • Struck-By ( i.e. falling objects, trucks, cranes,… )
  • Caught-In or Between (i.e. trench hazards, equipment, …)
  • Focus Four Hazards Training Requirements

The following objectives are required for all Focus Four Hazards lessons. The student will be able to identify [fall, caught-in or between, struck-by, electrocution] hazards in construction given current OSHA and industry information on construction worksite illnesses, injuries, and/or fatalities.

In particular, for each of the focus four the student will be able to:

  • List out what are the potential top hazards
  • Types of hazards in the workplace
  • + Protect him/her from these risks
  • Identify employer obligations to safeguard workers from these hazards

These objectives are the expected student outcomes and as such, trainers:

  1. May not deviate from these goals in conducting the training session;
  2. Must implement the participatory training model by using the effective training techniques.

ELECTIVE – 2 hours

You need to receive two hours of training covering at least: That you offer two or more topics. One topic runs a minimum of half an hour.

  1. Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Elevators, & Conveyors
  2. Excavations
  3. Handling, Storage, Use and Disposal of Materials
  4. Scaffolds
  5. Stairways and Ladders
  6. Tools – Hand and Power

OPTIONAL – 2 hours

This could be to teach other construction hazards or policies and/or guidelines or expand on the mandatory or elective topics. The minimum duration for any subject is half an hour.

The Outreach Training Program is not mandatory.

Some states and local jurisdictions have enacted laws that require Outreach training, however. Many other jurisdictions and some unions and employers also use this training to gain access to job sites and achieve their own safety training goals.

For any queries or further information about our OSHA 10-hour Construction Course, contact Safety Counselling. Thank you for your time to read this far down. We hope to have the opportunity and privilege of training your team and you.