Frequently Asked Questions ABOUT ONLINE TRAINING

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There are many ways a manager could administer training to their employees. In some locations, OSHA facilities offer in-person training sessions, generally for 10 or 30-hour courses. In other cases, some employers choose to present training on their own or hire a professional safety trainer to visit the site. However, in recent years, online training has quickly become one of the most popular options among employers. This is because of its versatile and inexpensive nature.

Some online programs promise certification after only 20 minutes of content. However, these programs rarely provide companies with the information they need to pass OSHA inspections or prevent accidents.

Our training courses teach everything you need to know from OSHA’s standards in only a couple of hours. Employees will be guided through an in-depth course that outlines safety procedures, reviews case studies, and helps them become experienced and knowledgeable in their field. Quiz questions along the way keep them engaged and help review material, while an exam at the end of the course allows them to prove their expertise and receive a certificate.

Every course varies slightly, but generally speaking, each heavy machinery course covers the following:

• Overview of the course/introduction to the equipment
• Anatomy, including pre-shift inspections
• Stability principles
• Common hazards and how to eliminate or mitigate them
• Accident profiles
• Safe operations
• Rigging and hand signals (for crane courses only)

Our awareness courses generally cover these topics:

• Overview of the course/Introduction to the hazard
• Controls
• Safe operations
• Accident Profiles

 Learners can go at their own pace, but in general each class (including the exam) takes anywhere from 2 to 2.5 hours, unless otherwise noted. We recommend planning for two or more, so you don’t end up rushing through the exam. 

All our courses are built and updated by our experts using OSHA and ANSI guidelines. This means they follow the best practices and safety principles put forth by OSHA and other regulatory or safety bodies.

Take note that it is not possible to cover every code for every situation or hazard across every industry. Our online courses are merely tools trainers and employers can use to increase their knowledge and more effectively train and/or certify their crew.

Remember, just because a course or program is OSHA-aligned does not necessarily mean a company as a whole will be aligned or avoid citation if they were to be audited by OSHA. There is so much more that goes into collective company alignment with OSHA. For example, employees must be observed applying in the field what they learned in the classroom. This observation or evaluation should be done by trainers, supervisors, or other designated competent persons. For ultimate alignment, trainers or employers should be completing tasks such as:

• Addressing any gaps in the training with your crew
• Discussing work-specific hazards
• Addressing safety principles specific to your work situation
• Creating and enforcing written safety programs
• Providing training
• Performing regular inspections and risk assessments.

 There is a lot of confusion among operators and even employers about what it means to be certified or qualified. Simply put: no, a course does not certify anyone, only an employer does. It is the employer’s responsibility to make sure an employee is properly trained. 

That means it is also their responsibility to say when the employee is “certified,” “qualified,” or “competent.” Our eLearning courses are just tools that help them in doing so. 

OSHA Outreach courses are provided in partnership with 360training.com, an OSHA-authorized online Outreach Provider. 

For assistance or questions pertaining to an OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 course, please sign up for a FREE consultation

An OSHA 10-hour training course is a course with two options for either construction or general industry. It is intended to teach basic health and safety practices. The course contains ten hours of information regarding workers’ rights, employer responsibilities, hazard recognition, safety procedures, how to file a complaint, etc.

OSHA 10-hour training courses are intended for entry-level workers and are not specific to any job site. Not all occupations, states, and employers require entry-level workers to take this course. Even if you are not required to take an OSHA 10-hour course, it is highly recommended that you do anyway so that you can educate yourself on basic safety principles. For more information including covered topics in the course check out our Ultimate Guide To OSHA 10 Training And Certification.

OSHA 30-hour training is a course much like OSHA 10 but is intended for supervisors or employees who manage safety in the workplace. It covers basic safety information and training on how to recognize, report, and handle hazards in the workplace.

It also delves into the specific roles of supervisors regarding the health and safety of the employees they will be working with.

Most of the topics discussed in the OSHA 10 general industry course will also be covered in the OSHA 10 construction course. The biggest way the two courses differ is that the construction training is presented in the context of a construction workplace rather than the factory or warehouse setting that is usually associated with general industry. In addition to the general industry topics, the construction industry course includes:

• Electrical safety: You will learn the safe procedures and controls for handling electrical equipment.
• Safety data sheets: You will learn about the importance of safety data sheets (SDS), signs, and labels regarding chemicals present in the workplace.
• Hierarchy of controls: You will learn the hierarchy of controls and how they pertain to the safety measures taken to control or prevent hazards. The most effective of these controls is elimination, and the least effective is PPE.

The construction industry is one of the most hazardous workplaces; employees in the construction industry face danger on a daily basis. The topics that are covered in the OSHA 30 course for the construction industry include:

• Introduction to OSHA
• Managing safety and health
• Falls
• Electrocution
• Struck-by hazards
• Caught-in or between hazards
• Personal protective and lifesaving equipment
• Health hazards in construction
• Stairways and ladders
• Concrete and masonry construction
• Confined space entry
• Cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators, and conveyors
• Ergonomics
• Excavations
• Fire protection and prevention
• Materials handling, storage, use, and disposal
• Heavy machinery operating
• Powered industrial vehicles
• Safety and health programs
• Scaffolds
• Steel erection
• Hand and power tools
• Welding and cutting
• Foundations for safety leadership

The most important part of any safety training is OSHA alignment. The laws and practices OSHA has released are based on careful consideration and hundreds of hours of research. Through their standards, OSHA has given employees essentially everything they need to be safe. The difficult part is transferring the information from OSHA to the workforce.

Many employers train their own employees by trying to read through OSHA Requirements and then presenting the information on their own. While this can work, it also presents risk. OSHA is a vast network of information. They have databases, accident reports, and entire books dedicated to safety procedures. The load of information can leave an employer easily confused on where to even start.

This is what makes training courses such a valuable asset for employers. When we create our training courses, our experts perform an in-depth study across all platforms. They combine expert advise, case studies, safety procedures, and OSHA laws to create a comprehensive presentation. This makes all our safety courses OSHA-aligned and guaranteed to prepare you for your next inspection.