OSHA Releases Updated Training Handbook For Employers

Since its inception, OSHA’s mission has been to protect workers and prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. OSHA’s standards not only regulate workplace conditions, but also dictate the necessary training requirements employers must provide their employees.  These training requirements further OSHA’s philosophy that in order for employees to stay safe, they must have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their work. Employers are therefore charged with providing essential training as part of their safety programs.

In furtherance of assisting employers with this task, OSHA has recently released an updated booklet that contains the collected training requirements found within OSHA’s standards. The requirements are organized into five categories of industry standards: General Industry, Maritime, Construction, Agriculture, and Federal Employee Programs. Each category contains the training requirements excerpted  from OSHA regulations that employers within the specific industry are expected to follow. The booklet also provides resources to assist employers in developing training techniques and programs within their workplace. Employers are encouraged to involve their employees in implementing workplace training programs to ensure specific workplace hazards are addressed.

While the focus of the booklet is on detailing the training requirements for the protection of employees, the benefit to employers is not overlooked. The booklet acknowledges that a safer workplace  for employees means less trouble for employers. It emphasizes that proper employee training leads not only to happier and healthier employees, but also to a reduced likelihood of a citation in the event of an OSHA inspection.

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