Safety Training: Explore These Online Resources

Training is an essential component of any safety program and shouldn't be overlooked. Without training, the risk of injury or death increases significantly. A good safety program teaches employees about appropriate procedures, tools and protective equipment. It also includes a written policy and is supported by the proper resources. There is a wide range of resources online to help develop a successful program.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) consultation service offers advice on training requirements in various categories. Review OSHA's guidance document, Training Requirements in OSHA Standards for more information.

This is how frequently training is required for specific operations:

• Bloodborne pathogens: Annually
• Crane operation: One time only
• Electrical safety: Must train employee initially
• Emergency action plan: Annually
• Fall protection: No requirement for industry; one time only for construction
• Fire extinguishers: Annually
• Forklift training: Every three years
• Hazard communication: One time only
• Hearing conservation: Annually
• Lockout/tagout: Must train employee initially
• Personal protective equipment: Must train employee initially, and then after any policy or major equipment changes
• Respiratory protection: Annually

Rather than starting from scratch, look at existing safety guides or sample programs and then customize them for your workplace. The following resources can help:

• OSHA's recommended practices for safety and health programs includes program evaluation and improvement.
• OSHA also provides resources for specific issues, such as lockout/tagout and hearing safety.
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a large amount of information on hearing loss prevention and how to develop a hearing safety program.
• Guide to Developing a Written Safety Program, developed by the New Hampshire Dept. of Labor, provides some good general suggestions.
• The Agriculture Safety and Health Pocket Guide from the National Agricultural Safety Database is a comprehensive reference guide of agricultural safety hazards and prevention best practices. 
• OSHA offers a collection of sample safety programs.
   

Where to get training

The National Safety Council (NSC) offers online, onsite and classroom training in workplace safety, OSHA compliance, first aid, CPR and more. NSC offers a series of standardized safety surveys for collecting feedback from employees to help determine specific strengths and weaknesses of safety programs. Fact sheets are also available on various safety and health topics.

The OSHA Outreach Training Program provides training for workers and employers in construction and general industry on the recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces. This is a voluntary program and doesn't meet training requirements for any OSHA standards.

OSHA also provides training materials that may be accessed and downloaded at no charge. Other organizations offer OSHA training in workplace safety, hazardous materials and other topics. Authorized providers are found here.