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OSHA Course Now Mandatory in 7 States

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Seven states now require construction workers to complete OSHA safety training before they can work on publicly funded road, bridge and other projects.

Laws requiring workers to complete the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s 10-hour construction safety training course are already in effect in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York and Missouri and will take effect Jan. 1 in Nevada.

Most of the state laws restrict the required training to workers on publicly funded construction sites, such as public roads and bridge construction projects and public school buildings. However, Nevada’s law will require all construction workers to complete the course.

Details of the state laws vary as to which workers are required to be trained and on which projects.

OSHA originally developed the 10-hour course as a voluntary safety program to teach workers about the hazards of construction work and the regulations applicable to their worksite. But these seven states have decided to make the course mandatory training for construction workers.

Instructors authorized by OSHA may conduct the training and issue the OSHA completion cards. OSHA has also authorized online courses at http://www.osha10hourtraining.com/.

More on each state’s laws is available at the following links.

• Massachusetts:

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw04/sl040306.htm

• Connecticut:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/ACT/PA/2006PA-00175-R00HB-05034-PA.htm

• New Hampshire:

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/hb0533.html

• Rhode Island:

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law04/law04593.htm

• New York:

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/publicwork/PDFs/OSHA10Require.pd

• Missouri:

http://www.dolir.mo.gov/ls/faq/faq_constsafety.htm

• Nevada:

http://leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/AB/AB148.pdf