The OSHA 10 Hour Outreach Training Programs

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates a range of industry-related and job-specific training that employers must provide employees. OSHA’s requirements range from online training, classroom training, to on-the-job training requirements that employees must fulfill, and employers must provide. Often, such training programs are required to be completed annually and certification obtained.

However, OSHA has also put in place Outreach Training Programs. These are voluntary training programs to encourage occupational health and safety procedures and promote increased worker safety and health awareness in the workplace. These outreach training programs do not, however, fulfill any training requirements as required by OSHA standards.

OSHA’s outreach training programs are developed for the construction industry, general industry, maritime industry, and disaster site workers. These outreach training programs are 10-hour, or 30-hour training programs offered by OSHA authorized outreach training partners. However, the training course for disaster site workers is 15 hours.

Purpose of the OSHA 10 Hour Outreach Training Program

The primary purpose of the OSHA 10 hour outreach training program is to promote workplace safety and health by making workers more knowledgeable about the common job-related hazards and the best practices to prevent or minimize them. These OSHA 10 hour outreach training courses also highlight the importance of workplace safety training. Hence, the focus of the program is to help workers to recognize, avoid, reduce, and prevent health and safety hazards in the workplace—be it at a construction site, a shipyard, a manufacturing facility, a laboratory, a warehouse/storage facility, or a mechanic or electronic equipment workshop. This OSHA 10 hour outreach training can be useful for workers in diverse industries and various professions as well. Furthermore, the OSHA 10 hour outreach training program also provides information about employer responsibilities, workers' rights, and how to file a complaint.

Key Features of the OSHA 10 Hour Training Program

The following are some of the key features of the OSHA 10 hour outreach training program.

• Participatory training with activities and case studies.
• Training topics (electives and optional) can be customized to meet the needs of different groups of workers.
• Covers a wide range of topics that workers must be aware of to recognize, avoid, reduce, and prevent safety and health hazards.
• The OSHA 10 hour outreach training is available in many different languages.
• The OSHA 10 hour outreach training brings to the forefront the value of safety and health of workers, especially first-time and young workers.
• Drives the importance of a safety culture in the workplace.

Topics Covered under the OSHA 10 Hour Training Programs

OSHA gives detailed guidelines for developing the OSHA 10 Hour training programs, going so far as to giving guidelines as well as learning objectives in some instances. Trainers are required to follow these set standards and offer personnel training programs that cover all aspects as per OSHA requirements. Below is an overview of the pertinent information regarding the OSHA 10 hour construction industry and the OSHA 10 hour general industry outreach training program topics.

OSHA 10 Hour Construction Industry Outreach Training Program

According to OSHA’s outreach training requirements, the OSHA 10 hour construction industry outreach training program must cover 6 hours of mandatory training, 2 hours of elective training, and two hours of optional training. The topics to be covered under the three different categories are details below.

Topics Under the Mandatory 6 Hours of Training

1. Introduction to OSHA – 1 hour
2. OSHA Focus Four Hazards – 4 hours divided as follows:
   • Falls – 1.5 hours (minimum);
   • Electrocution – 30 minutes (minimum);
   • Struck-By (e.g., falling objects, trucks, cranes) – 30 minutes (minimum); and
   • Caught-In or Between (e.g., trench hazards, equipment) – 30 minutes (minimum).
3. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – 30 minutes
4. Health Hazards in Construction – 30 minutes

Topics of Choice for the 2-hour Elective Training

Any two topics from the below must be covered by the training.

1. Cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators, and conveyors
2. Excavations
3. Materials handling, storage, use, and disposal
4. Scaffolds
5. Stairways and ladders
6. Tools - hand and power

Topics Under the 2-hour Optional Training

OSHA allows for the training course to either expand on the elective topics mentioned above or educate workers on the other hazards or policies in the construction industry. OSHA allows for a minimum of 30 minutes to be allocated per topic.

For complete details read the OSHA Construction Industry Outreach Training Program processes and procedures.

OSHA 10 Hour General Industry Outreach Training Program

OSHA has also specified the training requirements for the OSHA 10-hour general industry outreach training program. Like the OSHA 10 hour construction industry training, the course must cover 6 hours of mandatory training, 2 hours of elective training, and two hours of optional training. Here are the topics that trainers must provide students.

Topics Under the Mandatory 6 Hours of Training

5. Introduction to OSHA – 1 hour
6. Walking and Working Surfaces, including fall protection – 1 hour
7. Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans, and Fire Protection – 1 hour
8. Electrical – 1 hour
9. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – 1 hour
10. Hazard Communication – 1 hour

Topics of Choice for the 2-hour Elective Training

Any two topics from the below must be covered in the training.

1. Hazardous Materials
2. Materials Handling
3. Machine Guarding
4. Introduction to Industrial Hygiene
5. Bloodborne Pathogens
6. Ergonomics
7. Safety and Health Program
8. Fall Protection

Topics Under the 2-hour Optional Training

Again, like the OSHA 10 hour construction outreach training course, OSHA allows for the OSHA 10 hour general industry training course to either expand on the elective topics mentioned above or educate workers on the other hazards or policies in the construction industry. A minimum of 30 minutes may be allocated per topic.

For complete details read the OSHA General Industry Outreach Training Program processes and procedures.

Who can offer these 10 Hour Outreach Training Programs?

It must be noted that only OSHA-authorized trainers are allowed to deliver the 10-hour training programs. These OSHA-authorized trainers are not certified by OSHA nor are they employed by OSHA. Trainers must obtain the OSHA Trainer Card. This trainer card should include the name of the authorizing OTI Education Center and the card’s expiration date. Workers planning on enrolling in the OSHA 10 Hour outreach training course can find and verify the status of an authorized outreach trainer here.

To be eligible to deliver the OSHA 10 Hour Outreach training programs, OSHA requires trainers to meet experience and training criteria as detailed in these two publications:

• OSHA Construction Industry Outreach Training Program
• OSHA General Industry Outreach Training Program

Enroll to obtain the OSHA 10 Hour Construction Industry Training Program

Now, that you know the importance of taking the OSHA 10 hour outreach training, depending on the industry you are working for, and the work tasks that you undertake, do not hesitate to enroll in an appropriate online safety training. Sign up today for either the OSHA 10: Construction Industry Outreach Training or the OSHA 10: General  Industry Outreach Training here provided by HAZWOPER OSHA’s outreach programs training Partner, UL EHS Sustainability.

Read our blog titled OSHA Outreach Training Programs – Know the Facts, to ensure you enroll with an authorized trainer.

Reference

• OSHA. (2019, January 1, revised). OSHA outreach training program: Construction industry procedures. Website. https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach/construction
• OSHA. (2019, January 1, revised). OSHA outreach training program: General industry procedures. Website. https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach/general-industry
• OSHA. (n.d.) Outreach Training Program (OSHA 10-Hour & 30-Hour Cards). Website. https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach