06 Feb OSHA 10- and 30-Hour Training Programs: What You Need to Know

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The OSHA 10-hour training programs are intended to provide entry-level training for workers and employers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces. The 30-hour course provides more in-depth information for supervisors or workers with some safety responsibility.

Because the curriculum outlined for the courses is provided and approved by OSHA, these programs can help improve regulatory compliance at the employee level.

Program Guidelines

• Training Topics. Training must cover the topics designated by OSHA. Some topics are required and others are optional. The objective of all OSHA General Industry Outreach Training Program training is to provide workers with information on recognizing and preventing hazards on a general industry site. Standards applicable to the trainees’ workplaces should be covered. Presentations should meet the needs and understanding of the audience.
• Length of Topics. One-half hour is the minimum a trainer may spend on any topic. OSHA recommends spending an hour on each elective or optional topic. In the 10-hour class, a trainer may not cover any topic for more than four hours. In the 30-hour class, a trainer may not spend more than 6 hours on any topic.
• Class Time. Breaks and lunch periods are not counted as class time. Instructional time must be at least 10 or 30 hours, as applicable.
• Conducting the Class over a Period of Time. Classes may be taught in segments. Each segment must be at least an hour and the course must be completed within 6 months.
• Guest Trainers. You may use trainers who have topic expertise to help you conduct classes. The authorized outreach trainer must design and coordinate the course, teach at least 50% of the class, and attend all sessions to answer questions and ensure topics are adequately covered and document students’ attendance.
• Class Size. If a planned training class will exceed 40 students, contact your Outreach Training Program Coordinator prior to the class to receive permission to hold the class and receive student cards.
• 10-Hour Training Topics. The 10-hour training includes a 2-hour Introduction to OSHA class, 1-hour classes on each of five mandatory topics, two 1-hour classes chosen from among several topic options, and the remaining 1 hour may include training on any other general industry standards and safety policies. Required topics may be expanded to fill this time.
• 30-Hour Training Topics. The 30-hour program is intended to provide a variety of training to supervisors and people with some safety responsibility. Included are 13 hours of training on mandatory topics and 10 hours of training on elective topics. For the remaining 7 hours, you may teach any other general industry standards or policies, or expand on the required topics for a minimum of one-half hour each.