California OSHA Training

California OSHA training is required by law.

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, requires training for employees in certain industries (such as the construction and industry fields) and jobs to make the workplace safer and to reduce injury and death. OSHA also encourages and allows states to operate their own safety and health standards and training requirements. In working together with OSHA on the federal level, California has its own program, known as Cal/OSHA, which was set forth by the state in the 1970s.
Cal/OSHA, under the eye of OSHA, sets its own standards for training requirements, including frequency, requirements for certification and employee eligibility.

Identification

California sets its own standards and policies regarding OSHA training requirements and certification. Ca/OSHA also enforces its standards and helps businesses comply with OSHA standards. Ca/OSHA also helps identify and educate businesses by alerting them to potential hazards and training requirements for all applicable employees. Training can be done through a third-party training school, provider or organization, or through the employer. In either case, training must meet OSHA standards and be certified by the provider. OSHA standards are set forth by the California Department of Industrial Relations and can be found in the Resources section.

Frequency of Training

OSHA training must be done at a predetermined frequency set by the California Department of Industrial Relations. Training must be done at the following frequencies: at the initial training period for an employee, annually, before an employee needs to use certain equipment, when a program changes at a company or at specified time frames determined by the type of job and type of employee.

Topics

Training topics vary according to the activity, industry and workers involved. For example, topics may include Bloodborne Pathogens, Agricultural & Equipment Tractors, Acrylonitrile (AN), Cotton Dust, Explosives , Industrial/Lift Trucks (Forklifts) and Tractors.

Time Frame

The time it takes for training depends on the provider of the training and the type of training. For example, American Safety Training offers training that can be taken in one day, two days or four days. For training offered online, some online training classes can be taken in a single day and may also be available for a number of days after registration so that you have time to complete the training online at your own pace.

Job Classification

There are a number of different kinds of job classifications that determine the type of training needed, and the frequency of the training. Classifications include the following: "All employees" (meaning that everyone needs to take OSHA training for a specific task), "Only users" (which pertains to users of the equipment or material) and "Exposed employees" (which refers to anyone who is in the vicinity of equipment, supplies or chemicals). A list of job classifications can be found at the California Department of Industrial Relations link in the Resource section.

References

• CA Department of Industrial Relations: Safety and Health Training and Instruction Requirements
• American Safety Training: Welcome
• OSHA: FAQs
• OSHA: California State Plan Information