OSHA 10-HOUR TRAINING

Steven Cesare, Ph.D.

A business owner from New Jersey called me the other to discuss his company’s safety program. His revenue streams include landscape maintenance, construction, enhancements, and irrigation, all supported by a general safety program (e.g., safety tailgates, PPE emphasis, and basic record keeping). Not complacent to maintain the status quo, while motivated by increasing workers compensation premiums year-over-year, the Garden State business owner sought clarity on multiple employee safety issues. Here are some of the basic issues we discussed.

It is illegal to offer a bonus program based on a reduction of workers compensation claims filed by employees each year.
His company should promote a high-performing Foreman to be the full-time Safety Coordinator (e.g., training responsibilities, OSHA paperwork, job site audits, investigations, primary point of contact for the occupational health clinic).
Monthly Safety Committee meetings should be scheduled to address recent injuries, near misses, training priorities, modified duty incidents, safety audits, equipment repair, etc.
Employee safety should be a standard agenda item for every executive and management team meeting.
The company should require its workers compensation vendor to provide quarterly job site audits and an annual mock OSHA audit to pinpoint potential vulnerabilities and issues related to non-compliance.

Beyond those fundamentals, I suggested the industry-wide best practice of requiring all his Foremen to receive their OSHA 10-hour training certificate during their next 90 days of employment, with all new Foremen earning their certificate as part of their 30-day on-boarding program.

It’s not that tough to complete. The content is straightforward, available in English and Spanish. Keep in mind, according to federal law, OSHA regulations restrict students to a maximum of 7.5 hours of training per calendar day. Thus, because the course requires a minimum of 10 hours, it must be spread across at least two days.

The OSHA 10-hour training course teaches basic safety and health information to entry-level workers in either “construction” or “general industry.” It is part of the OSHA Outreach Training Program, which explains serious workplace hazards, workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and how to file an OSHA complaint.

Every OSHA 10 course begins with this required module, which covers: worker rights and responsibilities, employer responsibilities, how to file a confidential complaint with OSHA, and whistleblower protections.

The construction track is heavily focused on the “Focus Four” hazards, which account for the majority of construction industry fatalities: (1) Falls (e.g., fall protection systems, guardrails, and scaffolds) (2) Electrocution (e.g., power lines, extension cords, and grounding), (3) Struck by (e.g., falling objects, heavy machinery, and vehicle traffic), and (4) Caught-in or between (e.g., trenching cave-ins and equipment entrapment.

Additional mandatory topics include: Personal Protective Equipment (i.e., PPE), Health Hazards in Construction (e.g., silica, lead, and asbestos), and Stairways and Ladders. Elective topics may include: Materials handling, storage, and disposal, Tools (e.g., hand and power), Excavations, and/or Scaffolds.

A written test is required at the end of the session. Every student who successfully completes the OSHA 10-Hour course receives an official Department of Labor OSHA 10-Hour card, which is valid for life.

At $59, it’s not that expensive.

You and I both know your “safety culture” can easily afford that expense for each of your Foremen.

If not, can you really say “Safety First” with integrity again at your company?

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