Contrary to popular belief, OSHA does not actually certify workers and you cannot get “OSHA certified”. Courses and trainers are considered OSHA “authorized”, and students receive course completion cards, but anyone claiming to be OSHA certified would be mistaken. The closest thing to OSHA certification is OSHA Outreach training, which is provided by OSHA authorized trainers and results in the issuance of an official Department of Labor OSHA 10-Hour or 30-Hour card. That said, many workers do not need an official DOL card to remain OSHA compliant – they just need proper training that will teach them how to stay safe on their worksite!
While OSHA does not directly certify workers, official Department of Labor Cards are required in many states and on certain types of job sites, such as any governmental work site, oil rigs, or certain states (such as the state of New York). Only authorized OSHA Outreach courses can provide these cards, and there are a limited number of approved providers, so make sure you are registering for a course that issues an official Department of Labor card such as that offered by USFOSHA.com. If you are not sure whether or not you need a Department of Labor card, you should check directly with your employer or research any state or local laws regarding OSHA training and Department of Labor cards.
The creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1970 provided workers the right to a safe and healthful work environment. A safe and healthful workplace means all hazards are removed. If hazards cannot be removed completely, protection must be provided to the employees. Some examples of a safe and healthful workplace include:
- Fall protection and training is provided and required when working at high levels on a construction site.
- Machines and equipment with rotating and moving parts are guarded.
- Trenches are inspected and have protective systems in place.
- Proper confined space entry procedures are practiced.
- Noise levels are controlled. When noise levels are too high, workers are given hearing tests and provided training and hearing protection.
- Protection from chemical hazards is provided, including an evaluation of chemicals used, a written program including a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), worker protection such as gloves, and information and training.
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) provides cards to authorized trainers to issue to students who complete OSHA Outreach Training Programs. 10-Hour and 30-Hour OSHA cards can only be issued by an authorized OSHA trainer and are the property of the student who completed the course.
Since these cards must be processed through the Department of Labor, cards can take up to 8 weeks to be delivered. USFOSHA.com offers a temporary completion certificate available for immediate download; students can use this temporary certificate as proof of their successful Outreach training completion until their official card arrives.
10-Hour Department of Labor Outreach Completion cards are awarded to students who successfully complete 10 hours of construction or general industry OSHA Outreach training. The 10-Hour Construction DOL card is a light gold color, while the 10-Hour General Industry DOL card is light blue.
OSHA Trainer Cards signify authority to train OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour Outreach courses and to receive and issue completion cards to students. Trainer courses are offered by the University of South Florida. These courses are sometimes known as OSHA 500 (Construction Industry Trainer Course) or OSHA 501 (General Industry Trainer Course). Note: these courses are not available online.
OSHA 500 Trainer Course for the Construction Industry
OSHA 501 Trainer Course for General Industry
30-Hour Department of Labor Outreach Completion cards are awarded to students who successfully complete 30 hours of construction or general industry OSHA Outreach training. The 10-Hour Construction DOL card is an orange/dark gold color, while the 10-Hour General Industry DOL card is blue.
OSHA also offers Maritime training cards (which are white and gray or white and blue) and Disaster Site Worker cards (which are gray and white).
OSHA 5410 Maritime Standards Training
OSHA 7600 Disaster Site Worker Training
OSHA 510/511 Courses
OSHA 510 and 511 courses are extensive courses covering OSHA standards for construction and general industry.
As of October 1, 2012, these courses are no longer offered online due to revised OSHA requirements. The classes are offered in live classrooms from the University of South Florida.
Starting November 1, 2024, all workers who complete or renew certain construction training courses will be issued a Worker Wallet card. This card serves as proof of your qualifications to operate specific construction equipment, such as scaffolds, cranes, and derricks. It is issued through the Training Connect platform, the same system used for issuing Site Safety Training (SST) cards.
The Worker Wallet card simplifies the process by consolidating multiple certifications into one convenient card. Similar to the SST card, it can be scanned to display all your stored qualifications, making it easier to verify your credentials on job sites.
Key Dates to Remember:
- November 1, 2024 – July 2025: While not mandatory during this period, workers are strongly encouraged to obtain the Worker Wallet card to avoid potential issues on job sites.
- By July 2025: The Worker Wallet card will be mandatory for all workers, including those with valid licenses. Workers without this card will not be permitted on job sites after this date.
Courses Requiring the Worker Wallet Card:
- Mast Climber User/Operator and Refresher
- Climber/Tower Crane Rigger
- Rigging Supervisor
- Rigging Worker
- Supported Scaffold User
- Supported Scaffold Installer & Remover
- Suspended Scaffold User
- Suspended Scaffold Supervisor
- Periodic Gas Piping Inspector
The cost of a Worker Wallet card is $60, and it has a durability of 10 years. However, it’s important to understand that this refers to the physical longevity of the card itself. Workers are still required to renew their scaffold or rigging certifications every 4 years. Additionally, please note that the Worker Wallet card does not replace the SST card. Both cards will coexist and must be presented together at job sites as required
If you lose your card and need a replacement, you can visit us at any of our locations:
- 115 Bay Ridge Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220
- 187 Lafayette St, Newark, NJ 07105
We typically reprint SST cards during your visit. However, for OSHA 30 or OSHA 10 cards, it usually takes 2 to 3 weeks for the replacement to arrive at our office, where you will need to pick it up.
Please note the following important details about OSHA card replacements:
- OSHA allows only one replacement. If you lose the replacement card, you will need to retake the course.
- If the card is more than 5 years old, you cannot request a replacement.
We recommend keeping your card in a secure location to avoid any inconvenience.