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PCCA Journal|1

st

Quarter 2011

42

O

SHA recently revised its

policy for all outreach train-

ing programs to address the

number of hours each day

a student may spend in OSHA 10- and

30-hour classes. OSHA revised the length

of daily classroom instruction to prevent

workers from being saturated with so

much information that they may miss

important course content.

Revised program policy now requires

OSHA trainers to limit worker training

classes to a maximum of 7

1

/

2

hours per

day. Previously, there were no limita-

tions on class length. With 10 hours of

training, along with necessary breaks

and lunch, students could sit in classes

for up to 13 hours a day. OSHA became

concerned that long, mentally fatiguing

class days might cause students to miss

essential safety and health training.

Another concern was that one- and

three-day training classes were not meet-

ing 10- and 30-hour program time re-

quirements in some cases. This concern

became evident after OSHA conducted

random records audits and unannounced

monitoring visits.

To address these issues, the agency

now requires OSHA outreach trainers to

conduct 10-hour courses over a minimum

of two days and 30-hour courses over at

least four days. The agency also set up an

outreach fraud hotline at (847) 725-7810

to which the public can call to file com-

plaints about program fraud and abuse.

This policy change is effective im-

mediately and will be reflected in the

next revision of the Outreach Training

Program Guidelines. OSHA will not

recognize training classes that exceed

7

1

/

2

hours per day or do not meet all

program content requirements. In such

cases, trainers will not receive comple-

tion cards to distribute to students.

Trainers may, however, submit written

requests for exceptions to limiting train-

ing days to 7

1

/

2

hours based on extenu-

ating circumstances.

The Outreach Training Program, a

voluntary participation information

resource, is part of OSHA’s Directorate of

Training and Education, comprises a na-

tional network of more than 17,000 inde-

pendent trainers who teach workers and

employers about OSHA, workers’ rights,

and how to identify, avoid, and prevent

workplace hazards. There are 10- and

30-hour outreach classes for construc-

tion, general industry, and maritime and

16-hour classes for disaster site work-

ers. Students who successfully complete

classes receive completion cards.

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Safety News

Continued from page 41

OSHA Tightens Rules on Worker Training Program