Six Most Common OSHA Safety Training Courses

Did you know that there were approximately 4,700 fatal work-related accidents in 2020? Nonfatal injuries tallied over 2.5 million cases, with falls, slips, and trips leading the causes.

OSHA safety training emphasizes comprehensive courses for construction and general sites that work towards reducing injury, death, and loss of work.

Healthy living starts with ensuring proper safety protocols and training in the workplace.

Are you still interested? We have put together the six most common OSHA training courses and how your workplace can benefit from them. Keep reading for more information!

What Is OSHA Safety Training?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers specific training courses. They help workers who face hazards at their job. OSHA operates at the federal level and has various standards, policies, and regulations for work sites.

These OSHA safety training requirements must often be completed before workers start their jobs. Additionally, switching jobs or positions may require additional training for your job duties. OSHA safety courses include training that covers:

• Hazardous materials
• Safety equipment
• Safe noise levels
• Fall protection
• Other topics

Additionally, employees under OSHA perform random or scheduled inspections at worksites. If there are breaches in regulations, companies can accrue hefty fines. Recently, legislation has pushed for even higher OSHA fines with maximum penalties of $70,000 per occurrence.

Minor fines can still result in thousands of dollars. Luckily, there are plenty of popular and cost-friendly courses that can help keep workers safe.

1. Electrical Safety

Electricity creates a host of concerns and safety issues. Injuries include electric shocks, burns, explosions, or electrocutions. It is one of the most common causes of construction-site injuries and deaths.

Courses for electrical safety are designed for any worker coming into close contact with electricity. This course should be given at the start of each job and annually for the most up-to-date safety knowledge.

Construction workers are the most at-risk individuals for electrical injuries. Courses will address hazard recognition, protective devices, identifying solutions, and accessing other resources.

2. Ladder Safety

OSHA ladder safety training is critical for construction and general workers. Typical training courses combine ladder and stairwell safety. Additionally, it meets OSHA requirements for both safety protocols.

OSHA found that in 2020, there were 351 fatal falls out of the 1,008 fatality cases with construction workers. Ladders are one area that is heavily prone to falls, injury, and death.

To help combat this problem, OSHA has outlined three guidelines:

• Plan
• Provide
• Train

Planning includes assessing safety equipment and job sites before starting. If there are fall hazards, ensure that personal fall arrest systems or other safety measures are in place.

Providing the necessary equipment goes hand-in-hand with planning. Using the right type and length of the ladder can prevent many unnecessary injuries. Lastly, train workers properly so they can recognize safety concerns and hazards.

3. Chainsaw Safety

OSHA chainsaw safety training teaches management of a chainsaw and preventing injury or bodily harm. Operating chainsaws is commonplace at construction sites, and training includes:

• Tree trimming
• Cutting down trees
• Forestry
• Disaster clean-up

It will also address personal protective equipment, gear, and techniques. Additionally, there are specific courses focusing on personal protective equipment (PPE).

PPE applies to construction workers, general safety, and healthcare employees. PPE helps protect employees and employers from worksite hazards and injuries.

4. Fall Prevention and Safety

Falls and slips are the leading cause of death for construction workers. OSHA workplace safety training requires fall prevention and safety courses, which address identifiable hazards, fall prevention systems, and PPE.

Construction is notoriously known for high fall rates, and courses are designed to address this setting heavily. However, OSHA 1926 requires supervisors and managers who work in these sites to take fall prevention courses as well.

Employees must complete courses before beginning tasks that involve fall hazards. Retaking the course is necessary when there are changes in procedures. What are some of the most common areas for falling in construction?

• Scaffolding
• Stairways
• Unstable walkways
• Slick floors
• Unfinished roofs
• Tripping hazards

Minor injuries like bruises and broken bones are common. However, falls from greater heights present a serious concern for head or spinal cord injuries, resulting in permanent disability and loss of work.

5. Hazmat Protection

HAZMAT stands for hazardous materials and falls under different categories such as:

• Explosives
• Gas
• Flammables
• Oxidizing substances
• Infectious
• Radioactive materials
• Corrosive materials

Who is most exposed to hazardous wastes? Waste clean-up operators, storage and disposal facilities, emergency responders, and healthcare workers are all at risk. OSHA has hazardous waste courses that help workers identify hazardous waste.

It also addresses exposure prevention and identifying proper disposal techniques. HAZMAT protection training is recommended annually for these workers.

6. 10/30 Outreach Programs

While the 10/30 outreach programs are not necessarily specific safety training, they are by far one of the most popular options. There are 10-hour course options for construction or general workers. They are 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA-approved courses that provide a comprehensive course.

These are ideal for complete training sets that target various areas and safety concerns. The 10-hour construction course gives workers OSHA Department of Labor cards. Better yet, they can be completed online.

Find OSHA Safety Training Courses Today

We offer various OSHA safety training courses at Compliance Training Online. They cover many topics and multiple work settings. Whether your employees work in construction, healthcare, or are exposed to risk for injury in the workplace, we have you covered.

With many courses to choose from, you can find something that will help keep you and your workers safe. What are you waiting for? Check out our website and find your next online OSHA training course.