OSHA compliance training is a necessary requirement for any business that must follow OSHA safety regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces the federal employees’ rights to a safe workplace, as outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. In order to stay compliant, businesses need employees who know how to keep themselves and those around them safe from dangers such as hazardous chemicals, sharp tools, or heavy machinery.
In general, there are four types of OSHA certifications: access-controlled construction sites (“white cards”), confined space entry (“yellow cards”), fall protection equipment use (“blue cards”), and hazardous waste operations & emergency response (“HAZWOPER”/”cards”). This post will provide an overview of the types of OSHA certifications and then focus on the types that employers commonly demand: “white cards”, “blue cards”, and “HAZWOPER”.
Table of Contents
What is OSHA Certification Good For?
OSHA certification is a surefire way to prove that you have the skills necessary to work within OSHA regulations. OSHA regulations are put in place for our own safety, so it’s important to know what types of OSHA certifications are available and which types are most beneficial. If you’re looking for ways to increase your job prospects or improve your standing at your current workplace, finding out how you can become OSHA-certified is the first step toward applying for better positions with higher salaries.
OSHA certification is achieved through completing sessions on health and safety, often including hands-on experience with tools like ladders and hoists. It proves that an employee is capable of completing specific types of work, which can help bridge the gap between employees who are not only qualified for a given position, but are also not able to be replaced. OSHA certifications are often required by other types of safety organizations. This means that once you have one certification, you may automatically qualify for others.
The types of OSHA certifications organizations offer to cover a wide range of topics, from traffic safety to handling explosives. The most common types associated with maintenance and manufacturing industries include:
1. Confined Space Entry
Confined spaces are defined as enclosed areas which may pose a danger to workers who enter them due to poor air quality or lack of oxygen, unsafe temperatures, or the existence of chemical hazards. Confined spaces include (but are not limited to) storage tanks, pipelines, sewers, and manholes.
Confined space safety equipment and entry training is required for workers who must enter a confined space in the course of business. The types of OSHA certifications related to this topic include: the “white card” (also known as Confined Space – General Industry), which deals with entering and exiting freely accessible spaces; and the “yellow card”, which focuses on confined spaces that are large enough for an employee to fit into.
2. Fall Protection Equipment Use
The types of OSHA certifications related to fall protection equipment provide training on how to use safety harnesses, ropes, lanyards, and other types of fall protection gear. Fall hazards are common in construction work and other types of job sites, and OSHA Training Requirements for this type of work depend on the height at which employees will be working.
3. Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
Hazardous materials are used in all types of businesses. These may include chemicals such as cleaning supplies, pesticides, and automotive products, or simply items that could pose a fire hazard if left exposed to heat or flame, like gasoline. Employers must train their staff on how to handle hazardous materials safely. This is often done through types of OSHA certifications related to Hazardous Waste Operations (HAZWOPER). HAZWOPER training includes information about hazardous materials management resources available for your industry. For example, some types of OSHA certifications cover oil and gas emergencies, while others cover mining. Certain types of OSHA certifications may only take a day while others may require multiple training sessions to ensure the staff retains what it has learned.
Employers are increasingly demanding potential job applicants to have taken any of the many types of OSHA certifications that are available nowadays. This is a common practice these days in High-Risk jobs and industries such as the construction industry. Once you get to learn what is OSHA certification good for, you will want to take it to add weight to your resume!
