What Does It Mean to Be OSHA Certified?
Having an OSHA certification means that a person is qualified to work towards a safer and healthier workplace. A holder of an OSHA Certificate can oversee and report on workplace safety and guarantee legislative compliance in the industry in which he or she is employed. Within dangerous industries, OSHA certification is mandated by law. Furthermore, the certificate holder must attend additional training at least once or twice annually to keep their certification in good standing.
Basically, an OSHA certification represents an official certificate of competency according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Typically, OSHA training involves about 30 hours of coursework specific to the industry in which one works.
Why Is OSHA Certification Important?
In 1970, OSHA was created to establish safety regulations and requirements in the workplace. Prior to this point, there was no federally mandated way to handle occupational injuries and illnesses among staff. Subsequently, these new regulations started being mandated and enforced to protect the health and interests of employees.
In the ensuing half century, OSHA has committed itself to keeping worksites and offices around the United States safe via regular training, inspections, and education for both employers and staff. OSHA certification is important because it guarantees that certificate holders have the requisite knowledge and training to maintain safe work practices throughout their respective industries around the country.
What is the Difference Between OSHA 1910 and 1926?
The OSHA 29 CFR 1910 regulations specify the general industry safety regulations that apply to most workplaces. On the other hand, the OSHA 29 CFR 1926 standards apply specifically to the construction industry, concentrating on the type of risks commonly associated with it. This is because the construction industry deals with the kind of job and environmental hazards that are rarely present in your average worksite.
While both standards deal with fall safety rules, there is a difference between the general safety guidelines and the construction industry rules. On a construction site, it makes sense for companies to use the construction guidelines in addition to the general rules. OSHA compliance mandates that companies apply the safest industry requirement for the job being performed.
How Do You Know Whether to Apply OSHA 1910 or OSHA 1926?
Although fall safety is important for every industry, it is especially important for the construction industry. Being aware of these rules is critical for avoiding unnecessary injuries and deaths on construction sites. Nevertheless, fall safety is still important for other industries. Indeed, the 1910 OSHA standards deal with fall safety in areas common to any industry such as loading docks and powered platforms.
While the 1910 standards apply to all industries including construction, they should not supersede 1926 construction guidelines. The latter guidelines were developed specifically to deal with hazards encountered on the job in addition to those that occur while using heavy construction equipment.
Coverage Area
Access Training Services offers training programs for OSHA 1910 certification for hazardous waste workers, confined space entry, emergency response and more. If you are an industry professional located in or near southern New Jersey or greater Philadelphia, contact Access Training for the regulatory compliance training you need to begin or further your career.
As the founder and president of Access Training Services, Mark Schlager also travels to other states and countries to deliver on-location seminars for industry professionals seeking compliance training in their respective areas.
