The focus should be on areas where the employee has a deficit that may lead to a job injury or illness. A training module for new employees should encompass the entire process of a job’s description. The training module for existing employees should focus only on the employee’s job function deficits.

Record The Employee’s Understanding Of The Material

A good course must allow the employee to demonstrate that the information in the OSHA course has been comprehended and absorbed. This will be easier if the course is closely focused on their job function. The ideal course may involve outside instruction through videos (DVD or streaming online video), online interactive media, or guest speakers. It is a good idea to track each employee’s progress on an individual basis. With interactive online courses this can be done through quizzes that both test comprehension and record progress.

Instructional Guidelines

Training should be clear and concise and presented in a way that the employee can understand and relate to their job function. Helpful tips for OSHA training involve the use of learning aids such as materials that show the overview of the lesson, using a summary of what the employee was supposed to learn and relating the education to the employees learning goals. Keep training exercises as close as possible to the actual work environment.

Assessing success and Failure

No matter the course you pick you should go back and evaluate program effectiveness to measure whether or not the training met the intended goals and objectives. Evaluation can be written, verbal or demonstrative. Developing clear measures of your training program’s effectiveness is a critical part of the ongoing OSHA compliance program in your company. Tools that can be used to evaluate program effectiveness are questionnaires, tests, supervisory observation of employee’s job performance, and monitoring employee injury and illness rates.

Ultimately OSHA training is designed to reduce workplace injuries through the establishment of standards that educate employers and employees in workplace safety. The goal is to safeguard workers from dangerous work practices, environmental hazards and more. Therefore you planning and goal setting must take account of this.

Identifying Areas Where Training Can Improve Safety

Not all employee positions require specialized training to perform their job safely. In some cases other issues may be present that are causing injuries or illness. Some issues are not fixable through simple employee training.

To determine if training is needed, the issue/problem must be evaluated to see if lack of training is at fault or partially at fault. Some injuries are not the result of lack of training but in fact may be attributed to a workplace hazard or lack of engineering control. A good goal is to make certain that employee training and education are in place prior to workplace injuries or illness.

Training can effectively reduce injuries and illness that arise from lack of employee training, lack of knowledge of work process or lack of safe operation of equipment. In some cases injuries or illness may be a result of employee moral, lack of attention, or lessened motivation. In situations where employee motivation or lack of attention are concerned, training can be a limited fix for these issues.

Identifying Educational Shortfalls

When lack of training is a reason for injury or illness then the next process is to determine the types of training that are needed to correct the issue(s.) Evaluation of employee job expectations, procedures of accomplishing employee jobs, and areas of job performance/skill that the employee is lacking are all steps used to identify training needs. Developing employee training modules can be achieved by looking at engineering data for equipment as well as the material safety data sheets that cover chemicals the employee may come in contact with.

Any employee who comes into contact with hazardous material must have proper training.  This includes employees who work in shipping and receiving, those who load or unload hazardous materials and those who operate vehicles, including ships and trains, that transport such material.

Even working with a small volume of hazardous material necessitates training.  If you move hazardous material, even a small amount, without the proper training, you and your employer are open to facing fines and penalties from the DOT, or Department of Transportation.  Supervisors and those who manage employees who must undergo hazardous training need to receive training as well.  This is necessary so that they know who needs to be trained and also so they can spot a hazardous situation that might be occurring in the workplace.

All hazardous material training must be properly documented.  Without proof of training, the DOT can assume no training was done.  Civil penalties can result in a $50,000 dollar fine per day.  If any injuries occur, the fine can be as high as $100,000 per day.  Federal regulations state that all employees who transport or handle hazardous materials must undergo proper training.

Can I Use Training I Received With A Previous Employer?

You can, if you can provide proper documentation of this training, and if the training is relevant to your current position.  It also must have been completed within the past 3 years.  You should be able to obtain record of your training from your previous employer or from the agency that offered it.  Remember it is your responsibility to get proof.  If your current employer is not satisfied you will have to undergo new certification.

Some hazardous training must be updated on a 12-month basis.  The materials you receive when you take the initial course should note when recertification is necessary.  If not, feel free to contact either the DOT or OSHA helpline and ask a customer service representative.  It is better to contact one of these agencies as opposed to a private company that offers such training, just to make sure you don’t wind up taking training that was not necessary.

The OSHA training most closely related to handling hazardous materials is called HAZWOPER. Most Hazmat (hazardous materials) training providers will also offer HAZWOPER certification, and this is widely recognized by employers.

Where Can I Obtain Hazardous Materials Training?

Many private companies offer hazardous materials training.  These courses need to be certified and approved by the DOT or by OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  If you take any courses online, the websites will prominently display notice that the courses being offered are certified by one or both agencies.  Some courses need to be taken at a company training facility.  Course descriptions will detail where and how they can be taken.

What Do The Hazardous Training Courses Cover?

It depends on the length and specifics of the course involved.  Most courses will involve the identification and classification of hazardous materials, disposal restrictions and state versus federal regulations.  You should also learn about recordkeeping and emergency response protocols.  Shipping, including pre-transport, is usually covered as well as loading and unloading regulations.

How Do I Know Which HAZWOPER Training Course I Need?

The 40 hour course is necessary for employees who will or will have the potential to be exposed to hazardous substances, including waste.  The 24 hour course is for people who will occasionally enter sites that contain, store or dispose of hazardous substances.  The 8 hour course is a refresher course that can be taken by those who have already received their 40 or 24 hour training.

Can They All Be Taken Online?

Yes.  All courses can be completed online, with two important exceptions.

• ŸThe 40 hour HAZWOPER training course can have the initial training done online, but there must be two hands on components.  The first one involves PPE, or personal protection equipment training, where the person must learn how to take on and off the necessary equipment.  The second, hands on component is training done on site specific equipment that is directly related to the employee’s job responsibilities.
• ŸThe 24 hour HAZWOPER training course can be completed online, except for one hands on component.  This is field experience training that must be done under a qualified supervisor.

The 8 hour HAZWOPER training course is a refresher course, and the entire module can be taken online.

Who Pays For HAZWOPER Training?

On occasion, federal grants are made available to help pay for training in hazardous substances.  Some of these grants were released under the stimulus bill while others have been given to communities that have brownfields sites.  Brownfields sites are areas that have been contaminated by hazardous substances, but can be rehabilitated for future use.

If you are currently employed, your employer might offer to pay for training.  If you are not employed, check with your city job corps center or human services division.  Either of these might have information about upcoming grants that might become available in your community.

Is There Further Training Available?

You will be required to take a refresher course every 12 months in order to keep your training current.  If you let it lapse, you might have to retake the 40 or 24 hour training you were previously certified in.  Try to keep all your paperwork current and easily accessible.  If you change jobs, you will have to present it to your new employer to prove you have received training.

How Do I Find A Good Online Training Site?

Your employer might be able to recommend a preferred website.  If they can’t, your local junior or community college might offer training online or be able to make a recommendation.  Remember that a trustworthy site will outline OSHA training procedures and will link to relevant sources.  They should also have a phone number or email so you can contact a representative if you have any questions or concerns.

How Do I Get Certified To Work With Hazardous Material?

If you have never been certified to work with hazardous substances, including waste, you need to take the HAZWOPER 40 hour training course.  HAZWOPER stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard.  This standard applies to the following employees:

1. Anyone involved in clean-up of hazardous substances, including on a voluntary basis.
2. Anyone involved in the operation of a facility that treats, stores or disposes of hazardous substances.
3. Anyone involved in an emergency response that involves the release or potential release of a hazardous substance.

Remember that this includes people who will be in charge of employees who work with hazardous substances.

Can I Take The 40 Hour HAZWOPER Training Course Online?

You can take the initial training online, yes.  However, your training will not be considered complete under OSHA standards unless you do the following:

1. You obtain hands on training in the use of PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment,
2. You receive hands on training on the site specific equipment that you will be using in the workplace.

OSHA has deemed hands on training necessary for an employee to receive the full benefits of the course offerings.  What this means is, while you can take the majority of the training course online, you still need to have hands on training to satisfy OSHA’s certification requirement.

Where Do I Take The 40 Hour Training Course Online?

Many companies have received OSHA approval to offer the online portion of the 40 hour HAZWOPER course.  When you visit a site, make sure the courses are noted as being OSHA approved.  This should be displayed on the front page of the website.  Also, look for a contact toll-free number so you can call a representative if you have any questions.  A reputable company should go out of its way to work with you and offer you guidance.

So The Online Course Will Be Accepted By My Employer?

It is up to you to verify that the course you want to take will be accepted by your employer.  Remember that an employer cannot authorize you to take less training than what is required for your specific job under OSHA standards.  However, an employer can have more stringent requirements that you must meet.  Again, it is up to you to verify what your employer wants you to do.  Check with your supervisor or your human resources department.

What Can I Expect In A Good Online HAZWOPER 40 Hour Course?

This course is extensive and should include the following:

1. Training on the purpose of OSHA and how it contributes to workplace safety
2. Recognizing problems before and as they develop
3. Training on the identification of hazardous materials
4. Training on the compounds, mixtures and materials that are classified as explosive, chemical, flammable or radiological
5. Respiratory protection and other PPE standards
6. Decontamination standards and air monitoring.

If you have supervisory duties on a construction jobsite, you will need to take this course.  That means Safety and Project Specialists, Superintendents, Foremen and Shift Supervisors must complete the OSHA 30 hour construction training course.  If you are in charge of anything on a public jobsite, OSHA wants you to take this course.  Your private employer might also require it.

Where Can I Go To Get It?

Some jobsites will hold OSHA seminars for employees.  Or, you might be asked to take the course online.  If you are told to complete the course online, ask for further instructions, in case your jobsite needs you to use a specific website.  If they don’t, and you have to choose which OSHA 30 hour construction training course to take, there are some steps you should follow:

1.  Make sure the website is offering a training course that has been approved by OSHA in all 50 states.  This will assure you that you are getting the latest training available.

2. Only use a website that is offering an OSHA card upon successful completion of the course.  Most websites will allow you to download a temporary OSHA certificate and will mail you the official OSHA certification card.

3.  There are 2 OSHA 30 hour training courses.  You will need to take the one that is specifically for the construction industry.  This should be duly noted before the course begins.  The other one is for general industry.

Once I Take It, What Happens?

You are required to pass the quizzes that end each module.  Don’t worry; the courses are set up to be easily digestible and very few people have trouble passing the quizzes.  Once you successfully complete the course, you are OSHA certified.  This is important.  You will receive a wallet completion card that you need to carry with you on the jobsite.

What Will I Be Learning In The Course?

The OSHA 30 hour construction training course will give you an overview of OSHA regulations and standards.  This is important to know, because OSHA indirectly contributes to the quality of life for millions of Americans.  Because of OSHA, workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths have been reduced.  A jobsite that adheres to OSHA standards is safer and there are less insurance costs involved.  There is also increased productivity, as well as less employee turnover.  When you look at the big picture, you will see that OSHA contributes to the very fabric of American life.

On top of learning about OSHA regulations, you will learn specific safety measures.  These will include fire prevention and protection, the different types of rigging that must be used for safety and electrical hazards that are common on construction sites.  After each module, you will take a quiz that will help you to understand and remember everything you are learning.

Also see osha 30 hour training (general industry).

Who Needs To Take The OSHA 30 Hour Training Course?

The OSHA 30 hour training courses are taught by people who have extensive experience in the general industry field. This is a serious training module that is meant to inform and educate because both those things lead to a safer jobsite. The 30 hour training is designed for supervisors and managers who are in charge of factories, plants, retail, manufacturing and healthcare operations.

There is an OSHA 30 hour construction course that has been created specifically for the construction industry. There is also one that is more all-around, and is usually called general industry. If you are a supervisor at a health care facility, automotive plant, manufacturing plant, or factory, you will need to take the OSHA 30 hour general industry training course.

Can The OSHA 30 Hour Training Be Done Online?

Your jobsite might not have the training facilities available to host an onsite 30 training course. That’s okay though, because you can take the training online. Your human resource department might have a list of websites you can use. If they don’t, and it’s up to you to choose a website to obtain your training, keep the following things in mind:

1. Make sure the website you are considering is offering training that is accepted in all 50 states. This will be prominently displayed on the first page.

2. Make sure the training material is up to date. You can usually tell if this is the case if the material they are offering will pass requirements in the seven states that require by law OSHA training. These states are MA, CT, RI, NY, NH, MO and NV.

3. Make sure you will receive email notification of course completion as well as your OSHA card in the mail. It is important you have the OSHA card that certifies you took the 30 hour training course. You need documentation that you took the course.

What Is Covered In The 30 Hour OSHA General Industry Training?

The training course will have separate modules so you will have time to learn and digest information before moving on to the next one. The beginning of the course will be an OSHA overview. This is important. You need to be aware of your rights as an employee, and your responsibilities if you are a salaried manager or supervisor. There will also be a basic safety orientation.

The other learning segments will include personal protection equipment, hazardous substances and reporting, blood borne pathogens and workplace violence. Each module is taught in an easy to learn and engaging manner and most people learn valuable information. The OSHA 30 hour training module has no prerequisites, and after completion, you should receive your OSHA certification card in the mail.

The 10 Hour Construction Class Is For Entry Level Workers

This class is meant to teach employees the fundamentals involved in making a workplace safer.  A safe workplace happens from the ground up.  That means everyone has to take part in training so that they understand the big picture as well as their own roles in ensuring a non-hazardous workplace.  Training varies depending on your job description, but suffice it to say that almost everyone at one time or another will have to take the 10 hour class.

Seven states require the OSHA 10 hour training for construction when the jobsite is public. These states are MA, NY, CT, RI, NH, NV and MO.  This training course can be conducted onsite or online.  The first half of the training session is given over to OSHA mandated information.  This includes how to find OSHA regulations and then goes on to cover fall prevention and electrical safety.  The second half of the session is often tailored to a jobsite’s specific operations, such as use and OSHA standards involved in scaffolding, crane equipment and excavations.

Can You Do The 10 Hour Construction Training Online?

Before you do, though, make sure the training you are considering is certified by OSHA.  Your employer should help in this regard, but if not, you will notice the OSHA certification prominently displayed on the website you are considering.  It shouldn’t be hard to tell if a website is offering the training that is mandated by OSHA.

Remember that OSHA contracts with organizations and companies that are willing to offer the various training modules.  Since its inception in 1970, OSHA has been at the forefront of worker and jobsite safety.  OSHA takes seriously its mission to decrease workplace injury, illness and fatalities through training and outreach programs.

What Exactly Will I Learn In The 10 Hour Training Course?

The goals of the OSHA 10 hour training course are lofty but achievable.  An employee will learn how to identify and reduce workplace hazards.  The necessary reporting will be covered as well.  An employee will be informed of certain rights they have under labor laws, and also about their employer’s responsibility in conducting a safe jobsite.  There are tests at the end of the training modules, though they vary slightly depending on the company doing the training.  Once an OSHA 10 hour training course has been satisfactorily completed, the employee will be certified and will receive notice of certification in the mail within 6 to 8 weeks.

Do I Need The OSHA 10 Hour General Industry Course?

Your employer should inform you if you need to take the OSHA 10 hour general industry course.  Usually, this course is offered to hourly employees who work in health care, factories, manufacturing plants and some retail.  Because there are two 10 hour courses, some people get confused.  If you are not directly employed by the construction industry, you will need to take the general industry 10 hour course.

What Happens If I Don’t Do The Course?

Some companies require you to take the course and make it a consideration of employment.  In other words, you have to take the course if you want to stay employed.  The 10 hour course goes by quickly and offers interesting information, so you will not be disappointed.  You will also learn things that you can apply in your day-to-day life.

Do I Have To Take It Online?

The answer to this question depends entirely on your work situation.  Some work sites will schedule an onsite OSHA training module when they hire a certain number of new employees.  Other work sites will allow you to use an onsite computer to access the course online.  Still others might ask that you complete the training on your own computer at home.  OSHA has certified both onsite and online courses.  Where or how you take the course is up to your immediate supervisors.

Why Do I Need To Learn This?

OSHA was created in 1970 in an effort to make the workplace safer.  Up until then there were no uniform standards of workplace safety.  This led to thousands of deaths each year and thousands more people who were seriously injured.  The United States Congress recognized that the loss of productivity and wages was staggering, and created the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

This Act outlined the roles and responsibilities of individuals on various job sites.  It also helped to create reporting standards for accidents and illnesses.  Without it, information that might have been recorded was split up amongst various job sites and there was no real ability to see probable outcomes or statistics.  When safety and training are uniform, they are easier to address and improve upon.

Can I Just Look Up The Answers Online?

When you are properly trained by an OSHA certified course, you will have knowledge that will help not just you but your fellow employees.  When you successfully complete the training, you will be sent an OSHA card that you can carry in your wallet.  This will make you more attractive to potential employers.  If you try to circumvent what is actually a very easy learning experience, you not only risk harming yourself but others who might be depending on you.

With the vast array of training options available, this article is a guide to finding a high quality bloodborne pathogen training course that is right for you.

Why Bloodborne Pathogen Training Is Important

The entire point of OSHA is to reduce the risk of illness or injuries that occur in the workplace. Healthcare providers are significantly at risk of contracting an illness related to bloodborne pathogens. The primary vector for infection in these cases is injury from equipment such as needle sticks.

Educating employees in the safety habits of protecting themselves is one of the main reasons why employees should be bloodborne pathogen trained. Educating employee’s is not only an employer responsibility, it is an OSHA mandate.

The use of simple personal protective equipment is enough to reduce risk and this is reason enough to teach employees about the hazards of bloodborne pathogens.

First, Ensure Compliance With OSHA

First of all, you must ensure any bloodborne pathogen course you pick complies with OSHA regulations.

Under the OSHA guidelines, employers must also make certain that employees receive regular training at least annual and each time that risk may be incurred. The employees are to be instructed in bloodborne pathogens, disease, occupational exposure and the methods used to control exposure, hepatitis B vaccination, medical evaluations and post-exposure procedures including the procedure use to follow up after an exposure has occurred.

Compliance is not just about teaching employees. It also sets guidelines that define what an employer’s responsibility is. The reasoning is that educating employees is not enough. Employers should ensure that the workplace itself is safe and not a vector of contamination. In this regards, employers must have an exposure control plan in place.

The exposure control plan must be updated annually and involves policies that cover the implementation of universal precautions, identification engineering controls and work practice controls. It should also cover the use of personal protective equipment and the supply of said equipment. Part of this plan is to develop methods that follow up exposure and provide a post exposure evaluation. OSHA is clear that clear communication should be in place that communicate hazards effectively. Ideally, bloodborne pathogen training course should cover this ground.

Course Content To Look For

Your bloodborne pathogen training course must contain elements of the following protocols:

• Educational material that defines both the cause and the symptoms of hepatitis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
• Educational material that defines personal protective equipment (PPE), The safe usage of PPE, and how to clean PPE.
• Educational material that define engineering controls and how to use them.
• Educational material that teach sharps handling protocols, defines sharps and the disposal of sharps. An example of a sharp is a hypodermic needle.
• Educational materials that teach safe hand washing protocols and the reasons why safe hand washing protocols are used.
• Educational materials that address prevention as a means of reducing risk of exposure.

Choosing Bloodborne Pathogen Training Online

Choosing an online bloodborne pathogen course should begin by researching course introductions. The introduction of each course should be available to the consumer without cost. This is merely a means by which the consumer can determine if this course is going to cover everything that is required.

A course introduction should also contain a course syllabus that lists the education modules, the time expected to complete each module, an outline of testing options, and the cost of the program.

All online or in-person training should be OSHA compliant. This means that the site or instruction must meet or exceed OSHA standards for the topics being taught.

Approximate Cost

The cost for online bloodborne pathogen training ranges from $20.00-$125.00 per person.

Finally

The brighter side of government regulation is that a healthier workforce produces more. In the healthcare industry, this translates to more employees caring for more patients – and probably at lower cost when fees for compensation are saved. However you look at it, this is a good thing.

Training is not just required of those people who transport hazardous materials but for every person along the entire product chain. As a result they are a variety of Hazmat courses and training programs you can attend.

Basics Of Choosing The Best Program

The industry of compliance is complex. The Department of Transportation and OSHA have provided a set of guidelines that businesses and employees are required to follow. How those guidelines are interpreted, is left up to the public. There are many different products and many different spins put upon the same basic guidelines. For example, a Google search for hazmat training returned 2,340,000 results. Which product is the right one for you? Keep in mind that certification can cost between $250-$600.

At the very basic level a quality course should indicate that it is approved by the Department of Transportation. Quality training programs may also have the Better Business Bureau (BBB) logo or other consumer protection organization’s approval.

Below are a few, more specific ideas to consider when choosing a quality certification program.

3 Basic Hazardous Material Programs

There are three basic certifications that are required to work with hazardous materials.

• Hazardous Materials Transportation Certificate
• Hazardous Materials Air Shipper Certificate
• Hazardous Materials Vessel Shipper Certificate

There is also a special course for those people who work with automotive parts.

• Hazardous Material for Automotive Parts & Automotive Service Operations:

Be Clear On The Certification You Need

It is important to understand exactly what certification(s) that you need. There are a lot of gray areas between the three standard certification programs. An example would be an employee who only deals with a specific task. If that task is shipping automobile batteries by semi-truck, then being certified to ship cargo by air is over-kill. Being over-certified is not a benefit to most people.

Quality programs should offer a function specific training mode. This is an individualized training module that is designed for employees who work with hazardous materials. These function-specific modules should be job specific. An example of a job-specific employee is a clerk who fills out air cargo bills-of-lading forms but may not work directly with the hazardous material being shipped.

Hazmat Training Online -  Choose The Right Format

Hazard Material certifications are very complex. They require the conveyance of a great deal of information in a short amount of time. There are few programs that offer self-paced online certifications. Most certifications are based on webcasts. There is not an opportunity for viewers to ask questions. This means that the content is only meant to be absorbed. A quality program should provide students with a comprehensive handbook/textbook to help overcome information overload.

Some online programs can be customized to meet the needs of each facility. Training does not have to be universal especially when compliance is based on job function. Quality programs should meet an educational goal that addresses a specific compliance need.

Some online programs offer a multiple topic module course for employees or businesses that cross over many hazardous material boundaries. A diversified business or job function may need multiple certifications. An example would be an employee or business that deals with hazardous materials that are shipped by both air and land. In these situations consider choosing a program the offers multiple certifications during one training mode.

The important thing to remember about certification is that it is intended to keep everyone safe. Choose a program that offers competency through education.

Also see osha hazwoper training, and hazwoper training for information on this topic.