Regulatory Training Requirements - Environmental Health & Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to comply with safety and health standards and regulations promulgated by OSHA or by a state with an OSHA-approved state plan, as is the case in North Carolina.

In addition, the Act’s General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1), requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

Check out the Training Requirements in OSHA Standards Guide.

Employee Emergency Plans and Fire Prevention Plans (OSHA 1910.38)

(a.5.i) Designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in emergency evacuation of employees.

(a.5.ii) Review the plan with covered employees:

(A) when the plan is developed;

(B) whenever the employee’s responsibilities change; and

(a.5.iii) Review with employees upon initial assignment parts of the plan employees must know in the event of an emergency. The written plan must be kept at the workplace and made available to employees.

(b.4.i) Apprise employees of the fire hazards to which they are exposed.

Powered Platforms (OSHA 1910.66)

(i.1.i) Only persons proficient in operation of a particular platform can operate a working platform.

(i.1.ii.) Employees operating working platforms must be trained in recognizing and preventing safety hazards, and knowing emergency action plans, work procedures and how to take care of personal fall arrest systems.

(i.1.iii) A competent person must perform training.

(i.1.iv) Provide written work procedures for employee training.

(i.1.v) Certify employee training.

Occupational Noise Exposure (OSHA 1910.95)

(i.4) Provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors.

(k.1) Institute a training program for all employees exposed to noise at or above an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels (dB), and ensure that every employee participates.

(k.2) Repeat training program annually for employees included in the hearing conservation program. Update information in the program to keep it consistent.

(k.3) Ensure employees are informed of the following:

(i) effects of noise on hearing;

(ii) purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages and attenuation of various types, and instruction on selection, fitting, use and care; and

(iii) purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedures.

Personal Protective Equipment (OSHA 1910.132)

(f.1) Train employees using PPE in the following:

(i) when and what PPE is necessary for the workplace;

(ii) how to put on, remove, adjust and wear the PPE; and

(iii) the limitations, proper care, maintenance, life expectancy and disposal of the PPE.

(f.2) Employees must demonstrate that they understood their training prior to performing work.

(f.3) Retrain employees when:

(i and ii) changes occur in the workplace or types of PPE; and

(iii) inadequacies exist in the employee’s knowledge of PPE.

(f.4) Verify employee training with a certificate.

Respiratory Protection (OSHA 1910.134)

(k)(1)(i) Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator;

(k)(1)(ii) What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are;

(k)(1)(iii) How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions;

(k)(1)(iv) How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator;

(k)(1)(v) What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator;

(k)(1)(vi) How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators; and

(k)(1)(vii) The general requirements of this section of the OSHA standards.

Accident Prevention Signs & Tags (OSHA 1910.145)

(c.1.ii) Employees must be instructed that danger signs indicate immediate danger.

(c.2.ii) Employees must be instructed that caution signs indicate a possible hazard.

Permit-Required Confined Spaces (OSHA 1910.146)

(g.1) Train employees on the knowledge and skills necessary for safe performance in this area.

(g.2) Training must be given to affected employees:

(i) before their first assigned duties;

(ii) before there is a change in assigned duties;

(iii) whenever a change in permit space operations causes a hazard that an employee has not previously been trained on; and

(iv) whenever the employer believes there are deviations from the procedures in (d.3) of this section.

(g.3) Training must establish employee proficiency and introduce new or revised procedures when necessary.

(g.4) Certify employee training.

The Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (OSHA 1910.147)

(a.3.ii) When other standards in this part require lockout/tagout, they must be used and supplemented by procedural and training requirements.

(c.4.i) Develop procedures for control of hazardous energy.

(c.6.i.C) Periodic inspection of tagout used for energy control must include a review between the inspector and authorized employees.

(c.7.i) Training must include:

(A) recognizing and controlling applicable hazardous energy sources;

(B) purpose and use of energy control procedures; and

(c.7.ii) Employees must know the following about tags:

(A) they are warning devices without physical restraint;

(B) they must not remove tags without authorization;

(D) tag’s material must withstand environmental conditions;

(E) tags may evoke a false sense of security; and

(F) tags must be securely attached to energy isolating devices.

(c.7.iii) Retrain employees when:

(A) a change in job assignments, machines, equipment or processes occurs;

(B) periodic inspections reveal inadequacies; and

(c.7.iv) Certify employee training.

(c.8) Lockout/tagout must be performed only by authorized employees.

Medical Services & First Aid (OSHA 1910.151)

(b) When medical aid is not nearby, a person or persons must be trained to give first aid.

Portable Fire Extinguisher (OSHA 1910.157)

(g.1) Provide employees with portable fire extinguishers and an education program on their use.

(g.2) Education of (g.1) must be given upon initial employment and annually thereafter.

(g.3) Train employees in the use of the appropriate fire fighting equipment.

(g.4) Training in (g.3) must take place upon initial assignment and annually thereafter.

Powered Industrial Trucks (OSHA 1910.178)

(l) Operator training

(1) Safe Operation.

(i) The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).

(ii) Prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck (except for training purposes), the employer shall ensure that each operator has successfully

completed the training required by this paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5).
(2) Training Program Implementation.

(i) Trainees may operate a powered industrial truck only:

(A) Under the direct supervision of persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train operators and evaluate their competence.
(B) Where such operation does not endanger the trainee or other employees.

(ii) Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training
(demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace.
(iii) All operator training and evaluation shall be conducted by persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence.
(3) Training program content. Powered industrial truck operators shall receive initial training in the following topics, except in topics which the employer can demonstrate are not applicable to safe operation of the truck in the employer’s workplace.
(i) Truck-related topics:
(A) Operating instructions, warnings, and precautions for the types of truck the operator will be authorized to operate;
(B) Differences between the truck and the automobile;

(D) Engine or motor operation;

(E) Steering and maneuvering;

(F) Visibility (including restrictions due to loading);

(G) Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and use limitations;

(H) Vehicle capacity;

(I) Vehicle stability;

(J) Any vehicle inspection and maintenance that the operator will be required to perform;

(K) Refueling and/or charging and recharging of batteries;

(L) Operating limitations;

(M) Any other operating instructions, warnings, or precautions listed in the operator’s manual for the types of vehicle that the employee is being trained to operate. (ii) Workplace-related topics:

(A) Surface conditions where the vehicle will be operated;

(B) Composition of loads to be carried and load stability;

(D) Pedestrian traffic in areas where the vehicle will be operated;

(E) Narrow aisles and other restricted places where the vehicle will be operated;

(F) Hazardous (classified) locations where the vehicle will be operated;

(G) Ramps and other sloped surfaces that could affect the vehicle’s stability;

(H) Closed environments and other areas where insufficient ventilation or poor vehicle maintenance could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide or diesel exhaust; (I) Other unique or potentially hazardous environmental conditions in the workplace that could affect safe operation.

(iii) The requirements of this section.

(4) Refresher training and evaluation.

(i) Refresher training, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of that training, shall be conducted as required by paragraph (l)(4)(ii) to ensure that the operator has the knowledge and skills needed to operate the powered industrial truck safely.

(ii) Refresher training in relevant topics shall be provided to the operator when:

(A) The operator has been observed to operate the vehicle in an unsafe manner;

(B) The operator has been involved in an accident or nearmiss incident;

(D) The operator is assigned to drive a different type of truck;

(E) A condition in the workplace changes in a manner that could affect safe operation of the truck.

(iii) An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator’s performance shall be conducted at least once every three years.

(5) Avoidance of duplicative training. If an operator has previously received training in a topic specified in paragraph (l)(3) of this section, and such training is appropriate to the truck and working conditions encountered, additional training in that topic is not required if the operator has been evaluated and found competent to operate the truck safely.

(6) Certification. The employer shall certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l). The certification shall include the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.

(7) Dates. The employer shall ensure that operators of powered industrial trucks are trained, as appropriate, by the dates shown in the following table.

If the employee was hired: Before December 1,1999 — The initial training and evaluation of that must be completed by December 1, 1999.

If the employee was hired: After December 1,1999 —– The initial training and evaluation of that must be completed before the employee is assigned to operate a powered industrial truck.

Oxygen-Fuel Gas Welding and Cutting (1910.253)

Oxygen-Fuel Gas Welding and Cutting (1910.253)
(a.4) Deem employees competent to do their work.

Arc Welding and Cutting (1910.254)
(a.3) Instruct and qualify workmen.

Resistance Welding (1910.255)
(a.3) Instruct workmen and deem them competent.

Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices (1910.332)
(b.1) Train employees in the safe work practices required by 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertain to their respective job assignments.

Bloodborne Pathogens (1910.1030)

Hazard Communication (1910.1200)
(h) Train employees on hazardous chemicals in their work area.
(h.1) Inform employees of: (i) the requirements in this sec-tion; (ii) operations where hazardous chemicals are pres-ent; and (iii) location of the written hazard communication program, and the material safety data sheets.
(h.2) Employee training must include: (i) methods used in detecting the presence of hazardous chemicals; (ii) hazards of chemicals in the workplace; (iii) protective measures; and (iv) details of the hazard communication program.

Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (1910.1450)
(f.4.i) Employee training must include: (A) methods used to detect the presence of a hazardous chemical; (B) hazards of the chemicals in the work area; and (C) measures employees take to protect themselves from these hazards.