Why Every Construction Worker Needs to Take OSHA 10-Hour Training

Your phone rings, lulling you out of bed at 5 a.m. You stumble into the kitchen and make yourself some strong coffee.

You slip on your heavy work boots and put on your hard hat. Good looking. : Another day on the job.

But once you’ve entered those gates, are you totally ready for the risks that lie behind? Drills, electrical cables, scaffolding of a tower — you never know what you might see again if you do the wrong thing.

Do not leave your security up to chance. 10 hours of OSHA 10-hour training is a good starting point.

Let’s dive into five reasons why it’s necessary.

1. OSHA 10 Keeps You on the Right Side of the Law

The National Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains the watch of workers in all states. They penalize employers for violating regulations.

10-hour OSHA training will keep you updated on the construction industry standards. But not because of your work, where you (and your employer) are vulnerable to citations.

You know what federal and state OSHA laws mandate. For instance, fall protection by certified harnesses and tie-offs. Careful storage and handling of toxic chemicals. Detailed inspections of heavy equipment, such as cranes and bulldozers.

Government and commercial projects are typically all about OSHA 10 for all the employees. Don’t be denied good jobs because you don’t have a 10-hour card.

2. OSHA 10 Training Reduces Accidents and Injuries

You decided to become a builder because you like to build with your hands. But it is also one of the most hazardous jobs in the world. In 2020 alone, 1,065 construction workers were killed in the line of duty.

Thankfully, there is good news: most construction accident could have been avoided.

OSHA 10 equips you with knowledge to detect hazards such as:

• Dangerous wiring that can set you on fire or electrocute you.
• Faulty floor and wall gaps leading to fatal slips.
• Silica dust in cutting equipment that leads to lung disease.
• Using personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Safety ladders.
• Material handling must be handled with proper methods.
• Gates into confined space.
• Eliminating trench collapses.

And with OSHA 10 in your toolbox, you’ll know what to look out for when dealing with most common risks.

3. OSHA 10 Gives You Confidence to Handle Hazards

Imagine you have a team of workers that is constructing a skyscraper on a very tight deadline. In the corner of your vision, you notice an associate untying off a scaffold.

An uninformed worker might ignore it or assume that is no big deal. But you took OSHA 10 training, so you are alert to the risk. You scurry over and tell your colleague to attach a harness before proceeding any further.

OSHA 10 enables you to be quick to make the right decisions that can save lives. You develop a sixth sense of danger even in the most chaotic workplaces.

Getting involved early avoids accidents. Your crew returns home at night.

4. OSHA 10 Opens Doors in Your Construction Career

You pride yourself on your abilities and strive to get ahead of the game. You also get hired promotions and employers notice you if you have OSHA 10 certification. It manifests:

Safety is the number one thing you think about.

• You act to defend yourself and others.
• You invest in ongoing learning.

OSHA 10 cards last long. It’s just one certification you need to take once for multiple purpose. Others will not allow crewmembers who are not certified.

And OSHA 10 is your pathway to more safety qualifications. It’s a way to build a path for your career to the next level.

5. OSHA 10 Promotes a Safety-Focused Worksite Culture

Picture working on a crew with everyone certified to OSHA 10. It would give you reassurance that everyone in your office thinks about security before anything else.

And when everyone has safety as a priority, it just gets done. We spend less time absorbing injuries and injury caused by preventable accidents.

Teamwork is also helped by having a common concern for safety. Taking care of one another means you can both feel the good of achieving goals—and coming home to your families each night.

Final Thoughts

When you walk to the job site armed with your OSHA 10 certification, you’re ready to take on each day. You’re competent and prepared to skip unnecessary risk, shield colleagues and develop a stellar construction career.

Above all, OSHA 10 allows you to get home safely to your loved ones. The training hour is a small investment in your health and livelihood.

Before you switch shift, take the time to get OSHA 10 certified. Once the training is completed, you can head into the office knowing that you have this.