Differences Between OSHA 10 and 30 Course

The OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 courses help workers and employers prevent accidents while maintaining a safe environment. However, they have different objectives. The OSHA 10 course offers basic safety and health information aimed at entry-level workers. However, the OSHA 30 course offers a detailed understanding of hazards in the workplace. You must assess the differences to make the right choice. Learn about OSHA 10 vs. 30 training to ensure a safer workplace for everyone. 

What are the OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 courses?

OSHA10 and OSHA30 are training courses developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promote workplace safety and health. The courses are designed to educate workers and employers on preventing, reducing, and identifying workplace hazards. This ensures a safer working environment. 

OSHA 10 is an hour-long training course aimed at entry-level workers. It teaches about workplace safety and health hazards to prevent common accidents and injuries. OSHA 10 is required for workers in industries such as general industry, construction, and manufacturing. 

OSHA 30, on the other hand, is a 30-hour course. This is designed for leaders with higher responsibilities. OSHA 30 covers all topics in OSHA 10, along with health hazards, risk management, and rights.

Both OSHA 10 and 30 courses help workers and employers create a safe working environment. It increases awareness of hazards, helps manage risks, and improves safety. If you choose the right course, it depends on the level of responsibility and the specific needs of the job. 

OSHA 10-hour training 

• Duration: OSHA 10 is a 10-hour training program that needs to be completed in two days. The training covers an overview of workplace safety and health topics. 

• Course content: OSHA 10 introduces participants to basic safety concepts and common hazards of the workplace. The topics include fall protection, personal protective equipment, and hazard communication. 

• Certification: Upon successful completion, you can receive a course completion card that certifies their completion of the training. It does not have an expiration date and is recognized as a proof of basic safety training. 

OSHA 30-hour training

• Duration: OSHA 30 is a comprehensive program that spans 30 hours. The training is delivered over four days. You can complete it online at your own pace. 

• Course content: OSHA 30 covers several safety and health topics in depth as compared to OSHA 10. The training goes deeper into identifying hazards, control measures, and OSHA standards. 

• Certification: Get certified after successfully completing OSHA 30 training. However, the OSHA 30 card comes with an expiration date and must be renewed every five years. You can renew it by completing a short refresher course. 

What is included in OSHA 10 training?

OSHA 10 training must be administered by an OSHA-authorized trainer and includes an introduction to OSHA, including worker rights, and how to file a complaint. The course offers an overview of common workplace hazards and outlines steps to prevent workplace injuries. Each industry needs its own set of mandatory topics. Once these mandatory topics are covered, the course designer can choose from several elective topics and procedures most beneficial for participants and their occupations. 

Read more: A Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining Your OSHA 10 Certification

What is included in OSHA 30 training?

OSHA 30 is ‘Awareness Training’, which digs into essential topics related to construction job sites. The extra 20 hours provided in the OSHA 30-Hour Training Course. It allows instructors to increase the number of safety topics discussed and the amount of time spent on each topic. This extra emphasis is on job site risk and hazard prevention. This instills customer trust in a company’s safety processes and the ability to complete an injury-free project. 

In addition to the requirements listed for OSHA 10, OSHA 30 covers key topics that vary depending on the industry type. For example, an OSHA 30 certification includes the following topics for the construction industry: 

• Electrical safety 

• Cranes and rigging 

• Fall protection 

• Caught in/between 

• Hazard communications

• Personal protective equipment 

It is crucial to know that if you have already completed an OSHA 10 course, you must complete the OSHA 30 course separately. You cannot add OSHA 10 training to your OSHA 30 training. 

Differences between OSHA 10 and 30 courses

Read more: Top Benefits of Completing the OSHA 10: Construction Industry Outreach Training

Who should take OSHA 10 vs. OSHA 30?

Choosing between OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 depends on your responsibilities and role at work. OSHA is ideal for entry-level workers, including general employees, laborers, and those who are new to the workforce. The course teaches about workplace safety. It also focuses on the most common hazards on the job. If you are starting in industries such as manufacturing, construction, or general industry, OSHA 10 equips you with crucial knowledge to stay safe and prevent accidents.

OSHA 30, on the other hand, is ideal for individuals with more responsibilities, such as managers, supervisors, safety officers, and anyone involved in overseeing safety practices at the workplace. This course studies the complexities of workplace safety and safety program development. If you aim to be a leader, OSHA 30 provides the necessary training to manage teams well. It also ensures a safe work environment. 

How do you pass OSHA 10 or 30 training?

You must attend and complete 10 or 30 hours of content review. OSHA does not require any kind of testing; many providers use an exam to confirm that you have learned the material. You need a passing grade. 

Do you need both OSHA 10 and 30?

No, you do not need both OSHA 10 and 30 courses. However, over the course of your career, you may need to take each. OSHA 10-Hour is not a prerequisite for OSHA 30-Hour. If you take a 10-hour course and discover you need a 30-hour card, you would need a 3-hour course separately. The original hours on the 10-hour course cannot be counted towards the 30-hour course. 

Conclusion

Now that you have learnt the difference between OSHA 10 and 30 training, understand that the OSHA 10-hour training is ideal for a non-supervisory-level worker who is looking to gain knowledge on workplace safety. It also teaches ways to avoid the most common hazards and what to do during an emergency. 

The OSHA 30-hour training is ideal if you are a supervisor or hold responsibility regarding the health and safety of other workers in your organization. The primary difference between these two courses is the time spent on each topic. The 30-hour training offers more insight into each topic, with more ground to cover. So the choice between OSHA 10 vs. 30 training depends on the job requirements, level of knowledge, and level of responsibility needed to ensure a healthy work environment.