by Rebecca Walker — May 29, 2009—Now that some states and cities require workers to complete a 10-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training course to be hired in certain industries, OSHA has stepped up efforts to make sure the trainers are qualified.
OSHA has established new requirements for trainers to become authorized to teach the 10- and 30-hour training courses in both general industry and construction. Trainers are authorized by completing a one-week course through an OSHA Training Institute Education Center.
OSHA has also increased unannounced monitoring visits to verify that trainers are in compliance with program requirements.
Trainers caught falsifying information and fraudulently issuing completion cards will face criminal prosecution. Penalties include fines and jail time. A watch list of trainers who have received disciplinary action will be posted on OSHA’s Web site.
To learn more about OSHA’s Outreach Training Program, see the Web site.
