Workplace safety is crucial for employees and those around them. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers 10-hour and 30-hour certifications to train workers about workplace safety. Employees need quality working equipment to keep them safe and reduce strain at work.
Difference between OSHA 10 and OSHA 30
The OSHA 10-hour course is narrow, but the OSHA 30-hour course is extensive. Hence, those taking OSHA 30 courses are managers who guide other employees about work safety at the workplace. To get a certification, including a confined space certification online, you must get at least 70% in no more than three tries.
The general OSHA 10-hour training includes;
- Introduction to OSHA
- Learning about employees’ rights
- Health hazards in the Workplace
- Personal protection equipment (PPEs) and job safety requirements
- General safety when handling equipment
On the other hand, OSHA 30-hour training is more comprehensive and more than the basics of safety in the workplace. You need to pass your grade of 70% with a minimum of three tries. The training includes;
- Understanding OSHA standards, workplace safety, and health hazards
- Describes PPEs and their use
- Understanding fire hazards and protection
- Trains about safety requirements in confined spaces, hazardous materials, excavation sites, and using ladders
- Implementing preventative measures to prevent workplace accidents
Topics Covered between OSHA 10 and OSHA 30-Hour Training Programs
Those who take OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 learn different courses. OSHA 10-hour courses include;
- Machine Guarding
- Hazardous materials
- Blood pathogens
- Fall protection
- Industrial hygiene
- Ergonomics
OSHA 30-hour courses include;
- Confined spaces
- Ergonomics
- Powered industrial trucks
- Lead exposure
- Lockout/Tagout
- Wielding and cutting
- Asbestos Exposure
- Marine operations
- Rollover protective structures
Topic Requirements
If you get training in maritime, construction, or general industry, you need to understand the topic requirements.
Mandatory Topics
During the 10-hour course, about seven hours of training is about in-depth introduction to Occupational Safety and Health Administration. However, subjects vary depending on the program you are undertaking. Thus, students must learn about safety, employee rights, and the responsibilities of a company to its employees. However, there is a minimum number of each training.
Elective Topics
Some topics listed in the OSHA 10 and 30-hour training are elective. Thus, you can choose to do it or not. However, students must cover all mandatory topics, which are at least half of the topics.
Optional Topics
Besides the mandatory and elective topics, there are additional topics that you can choose to learn during your training. Thus, you can learn more topics and exceed the minimum number of topics listed by OSHA.
Benefits of the OSHA 10-Hour Course
Though OSHA 10-hour training isn’t extensive, there are several benefits of taking the program, including;
Reduced Workplace Accidents
OSHA 10-hour course teaches the basics of workplace safety and safety hazards. Hence, employees with this certification are aware of accidents that can happen at work and how to prevent them. Hence, there are fewer accidents in workplaces each year.
Companies Become OSHA Compliant
The major courses of accidents at workplaces are ignorance. Hence, employees with OSHA certification have extensive training on using equipment, workers’ rights, and the requirements of employers. Therefore, companies must comply with OSHA to keep their employees.
Health and Safety at Work
Companies with OSHA-certified employees must provide personal protective equipment to their employees to reduce chemical contamination and other health hazards. Hence, employees are healthy and safe.
Benefits of the OSHA 30-Hour Course
OSHA 30-hour course is extensive and has many benefits, including;
Reporting Workplace Hazards
Most employees with a 30-hour certification are managers and oversee the company’s safety. Therefore, if the company fails to meet specific requirements, o employees ignore the safety requirements, the managers can report reducing accidents.
Permit Requirements
Before putting any requirement into place, a manager with a 30-hour OSHA certification must approve it. This includes managers who acquired a confined space certification online to check into the requirements of confined spaces.
Industrial Hygiene
Cleanliness in industries is vital for the safety of employees. Hence, a top employee who attained a confined space certification online can ensure that enclosed spaces are clean and have adequate airflow to protect employees.
Final Thoughts
Both OSHA 10 and OSHA 30-hour training programs have many benefits to employees. The above guide can help you to choose the OSHA program to learn and the topics in general OSHA courses.
