Workplace Safety Training Is More Than a Requirement

By Abbie Geigle

Recent enforcement action by Oregon OSHA serves as a strong reminder of why workplace safety training is critical—not optional. In this case, Tualatin-based Avalon International Aluminum, a maker of metal door and window framing, willfully violated a safety rule by refusing to follow the installation and maintenance requirements set by the manufacturer of its industrial storage racks.  This exposed employees to serious struck-by and crushing hazards. Hundreds of pounds of raw materials were stored on unanchored, damaged, and improperly installed racks, some reaching nearly 18 feet high. The result was a willful safety violation, significant penalties, and a corrective order.

Situations like this don’t happen overnight. They develop when safety requirements are ignored, misunderstood, or deprioritized. Effective safety training helps prevent these scenarios by ensuring employees and employers understand hazards, proper equipment installation, and safe operating procedures. It also reinforces why manufacturer instructions and safety standards exist—to protect lives.

Safety training empowers workers to recognize unsafe conditions and speak up before an incident occurs. In this case, a complaint triggered the inspection, highlighting the importance of employee awareness and confidence in reporting hazards. Training builds that awareness and reinforces the right to a safe and healthy workplace.

For employers, ongoing safety training reduces risk, prevents costly violations, and protects the workforce. Willful violations are rare, but when they occur, they signal a breakdown in safety culture. Training is one of the most effective tools to build and maintain that culture—helping organizations move from reactive compliance to proactive prevention.

Workplace safety training isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s about ensuring that every employee goes home safe at the end of the day. OSHAcademy supports this goal by providing practical, accessible workplace safety training that helps organizations identify hazards, meet requirements, and strengthen their safety culture.