What is the Minimum OSHA Safety Training Required for a Construction Worker?

As of September 2009, seven states now require construction workers to complete a 10-hour OSHA training program before beginning work. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency.

Employer Responsibility

According to the OSHA website, construction employers are responsible for providing their employees with the proper safety training for any unsafe conditions they might encounter on the job..

OSHA Topics

The 10-hour training course covers an Introduction to OSHA and these subjects: General Safety & Health Provisions, Electrical, Fall Protection, Personal Protective & Lifesaving Equipment, Materials Handling, Storage, Use & Disposal, Hand & Power Tools, Scaffolds, Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Elevators & Conveyors, Excavations, Stairways & Ladders and Fire Protection.

Considerations

To receive credit for the safety training, workers also must pass quizzes after every topic and then pass a comprehensive final exam.

Significance

Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Nevada and Missouri require workers to complete the 10-hour training course before beginning work at all public construction sites and, in some states, private sites.

Misconceptions

The OSHA training initially was designed to be voluntary, but an increase in work-related deaths and injuries pushed states to make the training courses mandatory.

References

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety Course Now Mandatory in Seven States
• Online OSHA Training