GUIDE
OSHA training requirements by job and task
Updated October 29, 2026 · ToolboxKits
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, writes its standards in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It does not publish one list of required training by job title. The training rules sit inside the individual standards, each tied to a hazard or a task: driving a forklift, entering a permit space, working on a scaffold, using a respirator. This guide pulls those rules together by job and task, from the text of 29 CFR 1910 (general industry) and 29 CFR 1926 (construction).
Every row below is cited to the exact paragraph, so you can check it yourself. To build a list for your own crew, use the free OSHA training requirements finder: pick your industry and the tasks your people do, and it gives you the same requirements with links to each topic.
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Some states run their own OSHA state plans and can add rules of their own.
How to read the tables
Each table gives you five things:
- Job or task: who the rule applies to.
- Rule: the standard and paragraph.
- What the training covers: the main points the standard lists.
- When: before the work starts, plus any refresher interval the text actually states. If the text gives no interval, the table says so.
- Proof: any certification or record the standard requires.
Most workers fit more than one row. A warehouse lead who drives a forklift, wears a respirator for a dusty task and is the designated first aider needs all three.
The baseline every worker gets
Construction. The general training rule for construction is 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): "The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury." Three more lines in the same section cover workers who handle poisons, caustics and other harmful substances (29 CFR 1926.21(b)(3)), work where harmful plants or animals are present (29 CFR 1926.21(b)(4)), or handle flammable liquids, gases or toxic materials (29 CFR 1926.21(b)(5)). On top of that, the employer "shall permit only those employees qualified by training or experience to operate equipment and machinery" (29 CFR 1926.20(b)(4)).
General industry. Part 1910 has no single training rule like 1926.21. Training comes from the standards that apply to the work, which is why the tables below matter so much outside construction.
Everyone around hazardous chemicals. Workers exposed to hazardous chemicals get hazard communication training at initial assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard comes into their work area (29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1)). Construction follows the same rule through 29 CFR 1926.59. The written HazCom program guide covers what that training must include.
Injury reporting. Employers who keep OSHA injury and illness records must set up a reasonable procedure for reporting work-related injuries and illnesses and tell each employee about it (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)). Employers must not discharge or discriminate against an employee for reporting (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(iv)). See reporting injuries right away.
Training requirements by job and task
Vehicles, cranes and lifting
| Job or task | Rule | What the training covers | When | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forklift and other powered industrial truck operators | 29 CFR 1910.178(l); construction uses the same rule through 29 CFR 1926.602(d) | Formal instruction, practical training and an evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace (l)(2)(ii); truck-related and workplace-related topics (l)(3) | Before operating, except as a trainee under direct supervision (l)(1)(ii); refresher after unsafe operation, an accident or near miss, a failed evaluation, a different type of truck, or changed conditions (l)(4)(ii); evaluation at least once every three years (l)(4)(iii) | Certification with operator name, training date, evaluation date and who trained or evaluated (l)(6) |
| Crane operators in construction | 29 CFR 1926.1427 | Trained, certified or licensed, and evaluated before operating (a); operators in training only under a trainer's continuous monitoring (b)(2) | Before operating; retraining when performance or an evaluation shows it is needed (b)(5) | Certification or license; a certification from an accredited testing organization is valid for 5 years (d)(4); documented evaluation with operator, evaluator name and signature, date and equipment (f)(6) |
| Signal persons | 29 CFR 1926.1428 | Know the signals used (the Standard Method for hand signals), basic understanding of equipment operation and limits, the related rules; oral or written test plus a practical test (c) | Before giving any signals (a); retraining and reassessment if their actions show they do not meet the requirements (b) | Documentation from a qualified evaluator, kept at the site and listing each type of signaling (a)(3) |
| Riggers on crane work | 29 CFR 1926.1404(r)(1) and 29 CFR 1926.1425(c)(3) | Rigging for assembly and disassembly, and rigging of loads when workers are in the fall zone, must be done by a qualified rigger | Before the rigging work | No record specified |
| Operators and crew working near power lines | 29 CFR 1926.1408(g) | What to do if the equipment contacts a line, step potential, staying in the cab, clearance distances, lines presumed energized and uninsulated, grounding limits; dedicated spotters trained for their task (g)(2) | Before the work, administered under 29 CFR 1926.1430(g) | Employer evaluates that each trained employee understands (29 CFR 1926.1430(g)(1)) |
| Overhead and gantry crane operators | 29 CFR 1910.179(b)(8) | Only designated personnel may operate | Before operating | No record specified |
| Aerial lift operators | 29 CFR 1910.67(c)(2)(ii) in general industry; 29 CFR 1926.453(b)(2)(ii) in construction | General industry: only trained persons operate. Construction: only authorized persons operate; the general duty in 1926.21(b)(2) also applies | Before operating | No record specified |
Crane operators of derricks, sideboom cranes and equipment rated at 2,000 pounds or less are not covered by 1926.1427, but other training rules still apply to them (29 CFR 1926.1427(a)(2)). Whenever crane training is required, it is at no cost to the employee (29 CFR 1926.1430(g)(3)), and so is operator certification (29 CFR 1926.1427(c)(3)).
Falls, ladders and scaffolds
| Job or task | Rule | What the training covers | When | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction workers exposed to fall hazards | 29 CFR 1926.503 | Recognizing fall hazards and the procedures to minimize them (a)(1), taught by a competent person: the systems used, how to erect, inspect and take them down, safety monitoring, materials handling (a)(2) | Before exposure; retraining when workplace or equipment changes make training obsolete, or when a worker shows gaps (c) | Written certification record with name, dates and the signature of the trainer or employer (b)(1); keep the latest one (b)(2) |
| General industry workers using personal fall protection | 29 CFR 1910.30(a) | Fall hazards and how to recognize them, procedures, installing, inspecting and using personal fall protection, taught by a qualified person (a)(2) | Before exposure to a fall hazard (a)(1); retraining when a worker lacks the understanding or skill (c) | No record specified; training must be in a manner the employee understands (d) |
| Users of equipment covered by subpart D in general industry (ladders, dockboards, rope descent systems, designated areas) | 29 CFR 1910.30(b) | Proper care, inspection, storage and use of the equipment (b)(1), with specific lines for dockboards, rope descent systems and designated areas (b)(2) to (b)(4) | Before using the equipment | No record specified |
| Scaffold users | 29 CFR 1926.454(a) | Electrical, fall and falling object hazards; proper use of the scaffold and handling of materials; load capacities; taught by a person qualified in the subject | Before working on the scaffold; retraining when site or equipment changes, or a worker's work shows gaps (c) | No record specified |
| Scaffold erectors, dismantlers, movers, repairers and inspectors | 29 CFR 1926.454(b) | Scaffold hazards, correct procedures for the work, design criteria and intended load, taught by a competent person | Before the work; retraining as in (c) | No record specified |
| Ladder and stairway users in construction | 29 CFR 1926.1060 | Recognizing ladder and stairway hazards and the procedures to minimize them (a), taught by a competent person: fall hazards, correct use and placement, load capacities (a)(1) | As necessary; retraining as necessary to keep the knowledge (b) | No record specified |
| Steel erection workers | 29 CFR 1926.761 | Fall hazard training (b), plus special training for multiple lift rigging, connectors and controlled decking zones (c); given by a qualified person (a) | Before exposure | No record specified |
Electrical work and hazardous energy
| Job or task | Rule | What the training covers | When | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorized employees (lockout/tagout) | 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A) | Recognizing hazardous energy sources, the type and size of the energy, and how to isolate and control it | Before the work; retraining when job assignments, machines, processes or procedures change, or when an inspection shows gaps (c)(7)(iii) | Certification with each employee's name and dates of training (c)(7)(iv) |
| Affected employees (lockout/tagout) | 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B) | The purpose and use of the energy control procedure | Before the work; retraining as above | Same certification |
| All other employees in areas where lockout is used | 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C) | The procedure, and the rule against restarting locked or tagged equipment | Before working in the area | Same certification |
| Where tags are used | 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(ii) | The limits of tags: no physical restraint, never bypassed, must be legible and securely attached | With the training above | Same certification |
| Employees facing a risk of electric shock | 29 CFR 1910.332 | The safety-related work practices in 1910.331 to 1910.335 for their jobs (b)(1) | Classroom or on-the-job training; how much depends on the risk (c) | No record specified |
| Qualified electrical workers | 29 CFR 1910.332(b)(3) | Telling exposed live parts from other parts, finding the nominal voltage, and the clearance distances in 1910.333(c) | Before working on or near exposed energized parts | No record specified |
| Electric power generation, transmission and distribution workers | 29 CFR 1910.269(a)(2) | Safety-related work practices for the job (a)(2)(i); qualified employees also: live parts, voltage, minimum approach distances, PPE and insulated tools (a)(2)(ii) | Employer checks compliance through supervision and inspections at least once a year (a)(2)(iv) | Proficiency must be demonstrated before training counts as complete (a)(2)(viii) |
Confined spaces
| Job or task | Rule | What the training covers | When | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit space entrants, attendants and entry supervisors in general industry | 29 CFR 1910.146(g) | The understanding, knowledge and skills to do their assigned duties safely (g)(1), with proficiency in those duties (g)(3) | Before first assigned, before a change in duties, when operations change, or when deviations or gaps are found (g)(2) | Certification with each name, the trainers' signatures or initials and the dates, available to employees (g)(4) |
| Confined space workers in construction | 29 CFR 1926.1207 | Same idea, at no cost to the employee (a), in a language and vocabulary the employee understands (b)(1) | Before first assigned, before a change in duties, and when entry operations change (b) | Training records with name, trainers and dates, kept while the employee works for the employer (d) |
The confined space attendant duties and atmospheric testing talks are good refreshers, but they do not replace this training.
Chemicals and health hazards
| Job or task | Rule | What the training covers | When | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers exposed to hazardous chemicals | 29 CFR 1910.1200(h); construction through 29 CFR 1926.59 | How to detect a release, the hazards of the chemicals, protective measures, labels and SDSs (h)(3) | At initial assignment and when a new chemical hazard is introduced (h)(1) | No record specified |
| Respirator users | 29 CFR 1910.134(k); construction through 29 CFR 1926.103 | Why the respirator is needed, its limits, emergencies, inspecting, putting on and seal checks, maintenance, medical signs (k)(1); in a manner the employee understands (k)(2) | Before first use (k)(3); retraining annually and when changes or gaps appear (k)(5); medical evaluation before fit testing (e)(1); fit test before first use and at least annually (f)(2) | Fit test records kept until the next fit test (m)(2) |
| Workers exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels | 29 CFR 1910.95(k) | Effects of noise on hearing; hearing protectors and how to select, fit, use and care for them; audiometric testing (k)(3) | Repeated annually (k)(2) | No record specified in (k) |
| Employees with occupational exposure to blood | 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2) | The elements listed in (g)(2)(vii), with material suited to the employees' education, literacy and language (g)(2)(vi), given at no cost during working hours (g)(2)(i) | At initial assignment and at least annually (g)(2)(ii); additional training when tasks change exposure (g)(2)(v) | Records with dates, contents, trainers and their qualifications, attendees and job titles, kept 3 years (h)(2) |
| Employees required to use PPE in general industry | 29 CFR 1910.132(f) | When PPE is needed, which PPE, how to put it on, take it off, adjust and wear it, its limits, care and useful life (f)(1) | Before work that requires PPE, after showing they understand it (f)(2); retraining when changes or gaps appear (f)(3) | The worker must demonstrate understanding before working (f)(2) |
| Asbestos workers in construction | 29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9) | Course by class of work: Class I, and Class II work that needs critical barriers or negative pressure enclosures, equal to the EPA model plan (k)(9)(iii); Class II work on roofing, flooring, siding, ceiling tiles or transite panels at least 8 hours (k)(9)(iv)(A); Class III at least 16 hours (k)(9)(v); Class IV at least 2 hours (k)(9)(vi) | Before or at initial assignment and at least annually (k)(9)(ii) | No record specified in (k)(9) |
| Lead workers in construction | 29 CFR 1926.62(l)(1) | Employees exposed at or above the action level on any day, or to lead compounds that can irritate skin or eyes (l)(1)(ii) | Before job assignment (l)(1)(iii); at least annually for those at or above the action level (l)(1)(iv) | No record specified in (l)(1) |
| Silica-exposed workers in construction | 29 CFR 1926.1153, paragraph (i)(2) | Health hazards, the tasks that can expose them, the controls and respirators used, the standard itself, the competent person's name, medical surveillance | Not stated | No record specified |
| Silica-exposed workers in general industry | 29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(3) | Health hazards, exposing tasks, controls and respirators, the standard, medical surveillance | Not stated | No record specified |
| Process safety (PSM) operators | 29 CFR 1910.119(g) | Overview of the process and its operating procedures, with emphasis on hazards, emergency operations including shutdown, and safe work practices (g)(1)(i) | Before operating a newly assigned process; refresher at least every three years, more often if needed (g)(2) | Record with identity, date and how understanding was verified (g)(3) |
| HAZWOPER site workers | 29 CFR 1910.120(e) | General site workers: at least 40 hours off site and 3 days supervised field experience (e)(3)(i); occasional or low-exposure workers: 24 hours and 1 day (e)(3)(ii) and (e)(3)(iii); supervisors: extra 8 hours of specialized training (e)(4) | Before the work; 8 hours of refresher training annually (e)(8) | Written certificate (e)(6) |
| Laboratory workers | 29 CFR 1910.1450(f) | Hazards of the chemicals in the work area, how to detect releases, protective measures (f)(4)(i), the chemical hygiene plan (f)(4)(ii) | At initial assignment and before new exposure situations; refresher frequency set by the employer (f)(2) | No record specified in (f) |
PPE training under 1910.132(f) covers eye and face, head, foot and hand protection and personal fall protection; respirators and electrical protective equipment have their own rules (29 CFR 1910.132(g)). In construction, 1926.95 has no training paragraph, so PPE training falls under the general duty in 1926.21(b)(2), plus specific rules like respirators.
Emergencies, fire and hot work
| Job or task | Rule | What the training covers | When | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aid responders in general industry | 29 CFR 1910.151(b) | When no infirmary, clinic or hospital is in near proximity, a person or persons must be adequately trained to render first aid | Not stated; the trained person must be available | No record specified |
| First aid responders in construction | 29 CFR 1926.50(c) | When no medical care is reasonably accessible, a person with a valid first-aid certificate (Bureau of Mines, Red Cross or verifiable equivalent training) must be available at the worksite | Certificate must be valid | Valid certificate, verifiable by documentary evidence |
| Employees provided with fire extinguishers | 29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1) | General principles of extinguisher use and the hazards of incipient stage firefighting | At initial employment and at least annually (g)(2) | No record specified |
| Employees designated to use firefighting equipment under an emergency action plan | 29 CFR 1910.157(g)(3) | Use of the appropriate equipment | At initial assignment and at least annually (g)(4) | No record specified |
| Evacuation helpers and everyone covered by an emergency action plan | 29 CFR 1910.38(e) and (f); construction 29 CFR 1926.35(e) | Designate and train employees to help evacuate others (e); review the plan with each employee | Review when the plan is developed or the employee is first assigned, when their responsibilities change, and when the plan changes (29 CFR 1910.38(f)) | Plan in writing; employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate it orally (29 CFR 1910.38(b)) |
| Welders, cutters and their supervisors | 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(xiii)(C); construction 29 CFR 1926.351(d) | Safe operation of the equipment and safe use of the process; in construction, instruction in the safe means of arc welding and cutting | Before the work | No record specified |
| Fire watch | 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(B); construction 29 CFR 1926.352(e) | General industry: trained in using the extinguishing equipment and familiar with the alarm; construction: instructed in the expected fire hazards and how to use the firefighting equipment | Before the work; the general industry fire watch stays at least a half hour after welding or cutting ends | No record specified |
Machines, tools and specific trades
| Job or task | Rule | What the training covers | When | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical power press operators | 29 CFR 1910.217(f)(2) | The safe method of work, with adequate supervision that correct procedures are followed | Before starting work on the operation | No record specified |
| Powder-actuated tool operators | 29 CFR 1926.302(e)(1) | Trained in the operation of the particular tool in use | Before operating | No record specified |
| Logging crews | 29 CFR 1910.266(i) | Each employee, supervisors included, at no cost (i)(1); first aid and CPR kept current (i)(7) | Before initial assignment, with new tasks, tools or equipment, and after unsafe job performance (i)(2) | Written certification record with name, dates and trainer or employer signature (i)(10) |
How often: the refresher cheat sheet
Most standards do not set a calendar interval. The ones that do:
| Interval | Who | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| At least annually | Employees with occupational exposure to blood | 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii) |
| Annually | Employees in a hearing conservation program | 29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2) |
| Annually, plus a fit test at least annually | Respirator users | 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5) and 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2) |
| At least annually | Employees provided with fire extinguishers, and designated firefighting equipment users | 29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2) and (g)(4) |
| At least annually | Asbestos workers | 29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(ii) and 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(7)(ii) |
| At least annually | Lead workers at or above the action level | 29 CFR 1926.62(l)(1)(iv) and 29 CFR 1910.1025(l)(1)(iv) |
| 8 hours annually | HAZWOPER site workers and supervisors | 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(8) |
| At least once every three years | Forklift operator evaluation | 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii) |
| At least every three years | PSM refresher training | 29 CFR 1910.119(g)(2) |
| 5 years | Crane operator certification from an accredited testing organization | 29 CFR 1926.1427(d)(4) |
Many more rules are triggered by events instead of dates: a new chemical hazard (29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1)), a change in jobs, machines or procedures (29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iii)), an accident or near miss on a forklift (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(ii)), or a worker who shows gaps (for example 29 CFR 1926.503(c) and 29 CFR 1910.132(f)(3)). Lab training refreshers are set by the employer (29 CFR 1910.1450(f)(2)).
Proof of training: which standards require records
| Standard | What the record must show |
|---|---|
| Forklifts, 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6) | Operator name, training date, evaluation date, who trained or evaluated |
| Fall protection in construction, 29 CFR 1926.503(b) | Name, dates, signature of the trainer or employer; keep the latest |
| Lockout/tagout, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iv) | Each employee's name and dates of training |
| Permit spaces, 29 CFR 1910.146(g)(4) | Names, trainers' signatures or initials, dates |
| Confined spaces in construction, 29 CFR 1926.1207(d) | Names, trainers, dates; kept while the employee works there |
| Bloodborne pathogens, 29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(2) | Dates, contents, trainers and qualifications, attendees and job titles; kept 3 years |
| PSM, 29 CFR 1910.119(g)(3) | Identity, date, how understanding was verified |
| HAZWOPER, 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(6) | Written certificate for each person certified |
| Crane operator evaluation, 29 CFR 1926.1427(f)(6) | Operator, evaluator name and signature, date, equipment make, model and configuration |
| Signal persons, 29 CFR 1926.1428(a)(3) | Qualification documentation at the site, by type of signaling |
| Respirator fit tests, 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2) | Employee, type of test, respirator make, model, style and size, date, results |
| Logging, 29 CFR 1910.266(i)(10) | Name, dates, signature of trainer or employer |
Where a standard does not ask for a record, keep one anyway. A sign-in sheet with the date, topic, trainer and signatures is the simplest way to show the training happened.
Who is allowed to train
The standards name different trainers for different jobs:
- A competent person trains workers on fall protection (29 CFR 1926.503(a)(2)), ladders (29 CFR 1926.1060(a)(1)) and scaffold erection (29 CFR 1926.454(b)). A competent person is "one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them" (29 CFR 1926.32(f)). See the competent person.
- A qualified person trains scaffold users (29 CFR 1926.454(a)), general industry fall protection (29 CFR 1910.30(a)(2)) and steel erection (29 CFR 1926.761(a)). The definition is in 29 CFR 1926.32(m).
- Someone with the knowledge, training and experience trains and evaluates forklift operators (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(iii)) and evaluates crane operators (29 CFR 1926.1427(f)(4)).
- Someone knowledgeable in the subject as it relates to the workplace runs bloodborne pathogens training (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(viii)).
- Qualified trainers with a teaching program or credentials run HAZWOPER training (29 CFR 1910.120(e)(5)).
Some competent person roles are about inspections more than training: daily excavation inspections (29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1)), scaffold inspections before each shift (29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3)), and frequent and regular jobsite inspections (29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2)). See competent person for excavations and scaffold inspection.
Training has to be understood
Several standards say it outright. Fall protection training in general industry must be given "in a manner that the employee understands" (29 CFR 1910.30(d)). Respirator training must be "understandable to the employee" (29 CFR 1910.134(k)(2)). Construction confined space training must be in a language and vocabulary the employee can understand (29 CFR 1926.1207(b)(1)). Bloodborne pathogens material must fit the employees' education, literacy and language (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(vi)). Asbestos training must be conducted so the employee can understand it (29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(viii)).
Some standards also require the worker to show it: PPE users demonstrate understanding before working (29 CFR 1910.132(f)(2)), respirator users demonstrate knowledge (29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)), and crane-related training is followed by an evaluation (29 CFR 1926.1430(g)(1)).
For crews that work in Spanish, the practical answer is to train in Spanish, check understanding in Spanish, and keep the sign-in sheet in both languages. The mixed-language crews talk has tips.
Training requirements by industry
Use these as a starting checklist, then add the rows above that match your crew's tasks. Each industry page lists its common topics.
- Construction: the general duty in 1926.21(b)(2), fall protection (1926.503), ladders (1926.1060), scaffolds (1926.454), cranes and signal persons (1926.1427, 1926.1428), confined spaces (1926.1207), HazCom (1926.59), silica (1926.1153), lead (1926.62), asbestos (1926.1101), welding and fire watch (1926.351, 1926.352), powder-actuated tools (1926.302(e)(1)) and a certified first aider when medical care is not reasonably accessible (1926.50(c)).
- General industry: HazCom, PPE (1910.132(f)), emergency action plans (1910.38), fire extinguishers where provided for employee use (1910.157(g)), first aid (1910.151(b)), plus the task rows above.
- Warehousing: forklifts and other powered industrial trucks (1910.178(l)), dockboards (1910.30(b)(2)), HazCom, fire extinguishers where provided, emergency action plans, and lockout/tagout for maintenance staff (1910.147(c)(7)).
- Manufacturing: lockout/tagout, power presses (1910.217(f)(2)), forklifts, noise (1910.95(k)), PPE, respirators where used, electrical work practices (1910.332), permit spaces (1910.146(g)) and HazCom.
- Landscaping: HazCom for fuels and pesticides, PPE, noise training when exposures reach the 85 decibel time weighted average, aerial lifts for tree work, and first aid. Logging operations have their own rule (1910.266(i)).
- Healthcare: bloodborne pathogens (1910.1030(g)(2)), HazCom, respirators where used, PPE, the laboratory standard for labs (1910.1450(f)) and emergency action plans. OSHA has no specific standard for ergonomics or patient handling; the ergonomics, safe patient handling and infection control talks still help.
- Restaurants: HazCom for cleaning chemicals, PPE, fire extinguishers where provided for employee use, emergency action plans, and bloodborne pathogens only for employees with occupational exposure, meaning contact with blood that can reasonably be anticipated from their duties (29 CFR 1910.1030(b)).
- Oil and gas: PSM where the process is covered (1910.119(g)), HazCom, permit spaces, respirators, lockout/tagout, HAZWOPER for emergency response roles and fire extinguishers where provided.
How to build your training plan in five steps
- List every job and task. Walk the site or the shop with a supervisor. Write down the equipment people run, the chemicals they use, where they work at height, and any entries, hot work or energized work.
- Match each task to its standard. Use the tables above or the training requirements finder.
- Pick trainers who meet each standard. Some rules call for a competent person, a qualified person or someone with specific experience.
- Schedule initial training and the refreshers. Put the annual and three-year items from the cheat sheet on a calendar, and list the events that trigger retraining.
- Check understanding and keep records. Ask questions, watch the task, and use the record format the standard asks for, or a sign-in sheet where it asks for none.
Common training mistakes
- Generic training that does not match the tasks the crew actually does.
- Training at hire and never again, even after new equipment or new chemicals arrive.
- No check that workers understood, even where the standard requires a demonstration or evaluation.
- Missing or incomplete records for the standards that require them.
- A trainer who does not meet the standard, for example fall protection training not given by a competent person.
- Assuming an OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card covers job-specific training.
- English-only training for a crew that works in Spanish.
- Forgetting temporary workers and new hires on their first day. See temporary workers and new worker orientation.
OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 cards
The 10-hour and 30-hour Outreach courses are not required by the federal standards in 29 CFR 1910 or 1926. They give a general overview, and they do not replace the job-specific training in the tables above. A forklift operator with an OSHA 30 card still needs the training, evaluation and certification in 1910.178(l).
That said, some states, project owners, general contractors and unions do require the cards on their jobs. If you work in more than one state or on public projects, check each one before you bid.
What a free toolbox talk can and cannot do
A five-minute talk is a good way to deliver the general instruction in 1926.21(b)(2), to refresh a crew between formal trainings, and to brief a new hazard. It does not replace training that a standard spells out. A talk on forklifts does not satisfy the practical training and workplace evaluation in 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii), and a talk on fall protection is not the competent-person training and written certification in 1926.503.
Every topic linked above has a free talk in English and Spanish with a printable PDF. When you need more, ToolboxKits sells $4.99 talk kits (the talk in both languages, a sign-in sheet and a quiz) and $9 training kits with an editable PowerPoint, trainer notes, a 10-question quiz and a certificate. No subscription. If a topic is missing, a custom kit is $9 and delivered in 24 hours. See pricing.
Related guides
QUESTIONS
Questions people ask
Does OSHA require safety training for all employees?
In construction, yes: 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) requires the employer to instruct each employee in recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions and the rules for their work. In general industry there is no single rule like that; training is required standard by standard, for the hazards and tasks each worker faces, such as hazard communication for anyone exposed to hazardous chemicals (29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1)).
Are the OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour courses enough to be compliant?
No. The federal standards in 29 CFR 1910 and 1926 do not require the Outreach cards, and the cards do not replace job-specific training such as forklift training and evaluation under 29 CFR 1910.178(l). Some states, project owners, general contractors and unions require the cards, so check each job.
Which OSHA training has to be repeated every year?
Only some standards set an annual interval: bloodborne pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)), hearing conservation (29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2)), respirators (29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5)), fire extinguishers where provided for employee use (29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2)), asbestos (29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(ii)), lead at or above the action level (29 CFR 1926.62(l)(1)(iv)) and the 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher (29 CFR 1910.120(e)(8)). Forklift evaluations and PSM refreshers are every three years.
Do I need to document OSHA training?
Several standards require a certification or record, including forklifts (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6)), fall protection in construction (29 CFR 1926.503(b)), lockout/tagout (29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iv)), permit spaces (29 CFR 1910.146(g)(4)) and bloodborne pathogens, kept 3 years (29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(2)). Where a standard is silent, keep a sign-in sheet anyway so you can show the training happened.
Can OSHA training be completed online?
Parts of it can, but some standards require hands-on steps. Forklift training must combine formal instruction, practical training and an evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii)), signal persons need a practical test (29 CFR 1926.1428(c)(5)), and tight-fitting respirators need a fit test (29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2)).
How long does OSHA training have to be?
Most standards set no length. The exceptions include HAZWOPER, with at least 40 hours off site and 3 days of supervised field experience for general site workers (29 CFR 1910.120(e)(3)(i)) and 8 hours of annual refresher training, and asbestos courses such as at least 16 hours for Class III work (29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(v)).
Who is allowed to train workers under OSHA rules?
It depends on the standard. Fall protection and ladder training in construction must come from a competent person (29 CFR 1926.503(a)(2), 29 CFR 1926.1060(a)(1)), scaffold users are trained by a qualified person (29 CFR 1926.454(a)), and forklift trainers need the knowledge, training and experience to train and evaluate operators (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(iii)).
What are the OSHA training requirements of each employer?
Each employer must give the training required by the standards that apply to its work, at the times those standards set, and keep any records they require. Employers who keep injury records must also tell each employee how to report a work-related injury or illness (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)). The training requirements finder on this site builds the list for your industry and tasks.
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