The Difference between OSHA 10 Hour and OSHA 30 Hour Training Course

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) is a Federal agency in the United States protecting employees and employers in the 50 states and certain territories and jurisdictions under federal authority. Those jurisdictions include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, Johnston Island, Panama Canal Zone, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands as defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

OSHA training programs such as the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center program and the Outreach Training Program are intended for employees covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 within the Agency’s geographic jurisdiction.

OSHA provides training to employees in the basics of occupational safety and health. On successful completion of the course, employees’ knowledge of the subject accrued during training will be acknowledged with an OSHA 30 Hour Construction Outreach course completion card.

OSHA provides the OSHA 10 Hour and OSHA 30 Hour Training Course. While the OSHA 10 hour course is aimed at employees and is not as in-depth as the OSHA 30 certification course, the OSHA 30 certification is made for supervisors and safety directors. Both safety certification courses deal with construction, general industry, or maritime safety and health hazards. Those trained who have participated in a voluntary Outreach Training Program can receive OSHA course completion cards to train others. OSHA outreach training programs are voluntary, recommended as an orientation to occupational safety and health for employees. However, some states have enacted laws mandating the training. Some employers, unions, organizations or other jurisdictions may also require this training.

The OSHA 10 Hour Training course covers OSHA regulations and standards and courses for the manufacturing sector including fire protection, personal protective equipment (PPE), scaffolding, electrical safety, and more. The OSHA 10 certification course provides basic awareness training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards. The course also provides information regarding employees’ rights, employer responsibilities, and filing a complaint. Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive an OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach course completion card.

The OSHA 30 Hour Course is an in-depth and advanced safety training course about the hazards and injuries employees could suffer at worksites and the kind of preventive methods to be used. The OSHA 30 Hour Training course is specifically designed for safety directors, foremen and field supervisors. The program provides complete information on OSHA trainings as an orientation to occupational safety and health for workers compliance issues. Here too, on successful completion of the course, participants will receive an OSHA 30 Hour Construction Outreach course completion card.

An OSHA 10 certification course must be completed within 10 days (OSHA maxes out instructors at 7.5 hours of instruction per day) and a OSHA 30 certification course requires a minimum of 4 days training.. The 30-hour training is more expensive but in this OSHA safety certification training, the instructor can extend the time spent devoted on individual subjects and the number of subjects discussed. While it is mandatory to cover certain topics for specific amounts of time some others are optional, offering the trainer and trainee flexibility. A 10-hour-course is a beginner’s course and the OSHA 30 Hour Training, which is a recommended course for supervisors or lead persons is a more exhaustive course.

A company like Impact Safety works to provide employers a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and compliance with standards, rules, and regulations issued under the OSHA Act.

OSHA was established to assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. For OSHA to succeed in this mission, companies must adhere to safety standards. Failing to comply and violating these standards can be very costly to the lives of employees and to the business.

It is important to ensure that your company and your employees comply with OSHA standards. One of the first steps in this process is to make sure that your company and employees are aware of these standards and understand the steps needed to be taken to avoid them.

Do you need both OSHA 10 and 30?

No, but throughout your career, you may need to take each. If you complete an OSHA 10 certification course and then discover you need an OSHA 30 certification, you must take a 30-Hour course separately. The training completed on the OSHA 10 certification cannot be included in your 30-Hour course.

Who should take it?

If the industry you work in requires OSHA training and you have supervisory responsibility for worker safety, you should take OSHA 30-hour training. Each “industry” outreach program (Construction, Maritime, and the catchall General Industry) has its own set of topic requirements, so be sure to check and choose the one that fits your requirements. OSHA 30 certifications are suitable for supervisors, site leads, engineers, project managers, and safety specialists. If you’re unsure which training you need, you should ask your employer or check for state or local laws requiring OSHA training.