Overlooking Local OSHA 10- and 30-Hour Program Requirements Is a Serious Safety Violation: Here’s Why!

By Tyler Doupe'

Federal OSHA Requirements Are Not the Whole Picture

Some employers incorrectly assume that Federal OSHA guidelines are the gold standard when making safety decisions, but federal requirements are only part of an often-nuanced equation. Although OSHA does not require completion of a 10- or 30-Hour Program at the federal level, several states, municipalities, and certain job contracts have their own additional safety training requirements and overlooking them is a compliance misstep that can lead to costly consequences.

Regional Requirements Can Lead to Serious Penalties

Employers who overlook regional safety training requirements open themselves up to unnecessary liability, potential delays in productivity, and steep fines that add up quickly. For instance, Missouri and New Hampshire mandate OSHA 10- and 30-Hour Outreach Training for public projects and enforce civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation, including a compounding fine of $100 for each day that an employee works without proper training. 

Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and parts of Pennsylvania and Florida also require 10- and 30-Hour Outreach Training at the local level and enforce similar penalties for non-compliance.

The Cost of Overlooking Training Requirements

Employers who do not observe regional training requirements may face civil fines in addition to being required to remove untrained workers from the job site. They might also have to contend with federal penalties if the lack of proper training leads to compliance violations enforceable under national standards.

Why 10- and 30-Hour Training Still Matters

Although most states do not have laws mandating OSHA 10- and 30-Hour Outreach Training, the content contained within is essential for keeping workers safe on any job site in any location. That’s one of many reasons why a large number of insurance companies, general contractors, and employers require completion of a 10- or 30-Hour Program as a prerequisite for access to job sites.

Understanding the Difference Between Outreach and Online Training Options

If you work in a place where OSHA Outreach Training is required and you need a DOL card after completing a 10- or 30-Hour Program, you’ll want to find an authorized Outreach Trainer in your area. But if that requirement does not apply to you, OSHAcademy’s 10- and 30-Hour Programs offer similar training content in a fully online format.

OSHAcademy’s programs are self-paced and fully online, so students can complete the training when it works best for them. Students who finish a paid OSHAcademy 10- or 30-Hour Program receive a transcript and certificates of completion. OSHA Outreach Training, by contrast, provides a DOL card but does not include a transcript or course certificates.

OSHAcademy offers both 10- and 30-hour programs in Construction Safety and Health, as well as 10-hour and 30-hour General Industry. This gives students the ability to choose the format and focus area that best matches their goals.