Safety training courses take many forms, but online training is the most highly recommended.
- Benefits of taking online safety courses
- Where to find effective online safety training
- Alternatives to online safety training
What are Safety Training Courses?
Employees can take safety training courses for specific and general hazards to better prepare them for labor in their workplace. Online courses are offered for most hazards and range from topics such as fall protection to bloodborne pathogens. No matter what the topic is, safety in the workplace is the goal.
Not all workplaces require safety training courses; OSHA also does not require them. However, certain employers may mandate that you, as an employee, become certified through safety training. Even if you are not required to take safety training, you will benefit greatly by doing so. Safety training can help you make the workplace a safer environment by preparing you for potential hazards and teaching you how to deal with them.
There are multiple ways you can receive safety training courses. Below are some general questions and recommendations regarding how and where you can find effective safety training courses.
Why Take Online Training?
Although safety training can take many forms, one of the most effective is online training because of its accessibility. Additionally, there are many other benefits to online safety training such as:
- More cost-effective than other training methods
- Quick access to training materials and answers to questions
- Standardized information that can be constantly updated as needed
- Simple and organized tracking and teaching system
- More time saving than other training methods
Companies are able to save anywhere between 50-70% when switching to online safety training, making it the cheapest option available. Here at Safety Provisions, our online courses for safety training include well organized presentations, quizzes, news articles, training documents, and more.
Another benefit of our training courses is the option to play text-to-speech with the presentation. This option can be very useful because it helps keep employees engaged with the training as they follow along with the reading and diagrams. This also makes our online training accessible to both visual and hearing impaired employees that might work within the company.
With such extensive information, resources, and easy-to-use interface, online safety training is by far the most accessible and cost effective training method for companies. Best of all, they can be started and stopped at any time. You can end the training one day, then pick up where you left off the next. This means that you can complete the training at your own pace.
Does OSHA Offer Training Courses Online?
OSHA itself does not offer any training courses, only the safety standards for companies to abide by and workers’ rights. The OSHA Outreach Training Program is not connected directly to OSHA and works as a third party group for safety training.
As stated earlier, OSHA recommends safety training but does not require it. Some areas within an occupation will require training in accordance with OSHA standards. Examples of this include working in confined spaces or with heavy machinery. Without proper training, you won’t be permitted to perform these operations.
Safety training is widely available online, but finding where to get it can be tricky. The key is to know where to look and to know what it is you are looking for.
Where Can I Find Online OSHA Training Courses?
Because OSHA does not offer training courses itself, it works primarily through third party retailers. These groups offer safety training courses that are compliant with OSHA standards and adequately prepare employees for workplace safety. OSHA provides a list of these groups, known as OSHA-Authorized online training providers, and encourages those looking for courses to research them in order to find the training they need.
You won’t be able to find all training vendors on the small list OSHA gives for training courses. Outside of OSHA’s list, however, there are many other alternatives that are just as reliable and OSHA compliant. In fact, the list only gives the names of providers who offer 10 and 30-hour training for construction and general industry.
At Safety Provisions, we not only offer 10 and 30-hour training courses but also more courses in a variety of topics for many different industries.
Do I Need 10 or 30-Hour Safety Training?
The type of training you need depends on what state you are working in, and on your workplace. Not all states and workplaces will require you to get a 10 or 30-hour safety training. Your employer may require this kind of certification and even if they don’t, it will benefit you regardless. A 10-hour training is usually intended for employees, whereas a 30-hour training is usually intended for employers and supervisors that play a larger role in overseeing workplace safety.
The process of getting OSHA certified through a safety course is relatively simple. As stated above, you contact an agency or trainer that provides the training, then you take a course, pass an exam, and get an OSHA card. The training will take either 10 or 30 hours depending on your chosen course.
You may find that the training you need for your workplace is something more specific than what is covered by a 10 or 30-hour course. Before deciding on where to go for safety training, determine what it is you need safety training for. If you are in a warehouse setting, for example, it would be beneficial for you to get safety training to operate a forklift or for ergonomic hazards like heavy lifting. Employers will need to consider training for any hazard that is in their workplace and prepare their employees accordingly.
These trainings will vary in length, taking either longer or shorter than 10 hour courses. The process for becoming certified will be the same as it will be with a 10 and 30-hour course, but may also require a practical (hands-on application) exam.
What Alternatives to Online Safety Training Are There?
If online safety training is not a viable option for a company, then there are alternatives to consider. If a company is small enough, it can engage instead in a hands-on, interactive training experience for its employees. With a small enough group, a focused training method could benefit the company more than an online course.
The first alternative to online courses usually involves contacting a trainer through a third party retailer and having them personally come teach a class with materials and methods they provide. This varies heavily from trainer to trainer though, and researching which trainer and schedule works best for you will be necessary for this alternative.
At Safety Provisions, we also offer alternatives to online safety training such as onsite training and our unique “Train The Trainer” model of training. The “Train The Trainer” model is also available online and comes as an addon to our DIY kits. Depending on your needs, onsite training involves full or half day classes taught by an experienced OSHA compliant trainer. If taught at your worksite, the teacher can also train employees on how to inspect and use their own equipment.
Our trainers are flexible, readily available, and professional. They provide efficient OSHA compliant information that will help you get the job done and be certified in no time.
Why Choose Safety Provisions Online Training?
There are many reasons that we recommend our online courses to those who are looking for safety training. Our company seeks to give quality information and professional service by providing you with:
- An extensive catalog of training topics
- Safety standards compliant with OSHA and other safety groups such as ANSI
- Safety standards that are consistently updated
- Reasonable prices
- Excellent customer support
- Flexible trainers
- Additional information and resources for training
- Printable certificate and wallet card template
- Versions in both English and Spanish
Our training also comes in many forms that are not available in many other places. The option that works best for you will depend on the size of your workplace and the availability you have to receive the training. In addition to online training, we offer:
- DIY training kits – These training kits provide an employer everything they need to conduct the training themselves with their employees.
- Train The Trainer – This option comes with training that certifies an individual (usually the employer) to train others and a full training kit to train others on their topic of choice.
- Onsite Training – A hands-on experience for safety training provided by one of our trainers who will work with you on your own equipment.
The needs you have as an employee or as an employer can be met with our safety training options. You decide how you want your training and when you want it. That is why we recommend you try Safety Provisions today.