It's an employer's responsibility to maintain a safe working environment for their team, and delivering OSHA courses to your employees can bring you one step closer to that goal. We’ve compiled a list of free OSHA 10-hour certificate courses to train your team on OSHA’s safety regulations, effectively preventing workplace injuries and accidents.
What is OSHA 10?
OSHA 10 is a 10-hour safety training program that helps entry-level workers in construction and general industry learn about basic health and safety guidelines. It covers serious workplace hazards, your rights as a worker, what your responsibilities are as an employer. It even tackles the proper way to file an OSHA complaint if needed.
There are also different categories of OSHA 10 certification based on the industry. Some examples include OSHA 10 training on the general industry, construction, and maritime. Overall, OSHA 10 training gives you and your team with the knowledge to stay safe and make sure your workplace is up to par when it comes to health and safety.
Why is OSHA 10-hour certification important?
The OSHA 10-hour safety training is important because it gives employees critical information to protect themselves against workplace hazards. It helps you build a well-prepared team that can prevent accidents and reduce related costs more reliably. Many employers require it to maintain compliance with OSHA regulations.
Who needs OSHA 10-hour certification?
Workplace hazards are present in any industry if teams aren’t precautious enough. This makes OSHA’s 10-hour online training relevant in the maintenance of workplace safety across all industries. Below outlines how an OSHA DOL card might benefit certain roles:
Construction workers: These are teams that usually work in repairs, renovations, or site building. The certification makes sure they can identify common hazards in construction, like falls, electrical dangers, and equipment safety.
General industry employees: The certification is also useful to workers in non-construction industries, like manufacturing and warehousing. It teaches them to recognize machine, chemical, or ergonomic hazards related to their job.
Entry-level employees: A crucial part of a new employee’s onboarding is to know the dos and don’ts of workplace safety. A certification makes sure they can protect themselves from hazard exposure from the first day they start working.
Supervisors and foremen: Other employers may also require supervisors to take this certification to keep them aware of their responsibilities in maintaining worker safety.
What topics are covered in the 10-hour OSHA certification for construction vs. general industry?
The focus four hazards (all, electrocution, struck-by, and caught-in hazards) are typically encountered in construction. It’s often the focus in construction-specific OSHA training, while general OSHA training covers a broader range of common workplace hazards.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Topics
Introduction to OSHA
OSHA Focus Four Hazards
Personal protective equipment
Health hazards in construction
2-hour elective on any of the following topics: cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators, conveyors, excavations, material handling(storage, use, and disposal), scaffolds, stairways and ladders, tools (hand and power)
OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Topics
Introduction to OSHA
Walking and working Surfaces (slips, trips, and falls)
Exit routes, emergency action plans, fire prevention plans
Electrical safety
Personal protective equipment
Hazard communication
Machine guarding
Materials handling
Ergonomics
Bloodborne pathogens