Program Purpose
The Outreach Training Program is a voluntary program. Its
purpose is to promote workplace safety and health and to
make workers more knowledgeable about workplace hazards
and their rights. Outreach training does not fulfill the
training requirements found in OSHA standards. Employers
are responsible for providing additional training for
their workers on specific hazards of their job as noted in
many OSHA standards.
Program Growth
The OSHA Outreach Training Program was initiated in 1971,
and has grown significantly in recent years. The
train-the-trainer format expands the reach of the program
to increase training availability. Between FY 2016 and FY
2020, more than 5.21 million workers were trained in job
hazard recognition and avoidance through the program.
Designed For Workers
The OSHA Outreach Training Program provides training on
the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of
workplace hazards. Outreach classes also provide overview
information regarding OSHA, including workers' rights,
employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint.
Program Benefits
- Promotes safety culture through peer training
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Training is intended to be participatory, using hands-on
activities
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Trainers are able to tailor the training topics based on
specific needs of their audience
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Outreach training content includes hazard recognition
and avoidance, workers' rights, employer
responsibilities, and how to file a complaint; it
emphasizes the value of safety and health to workers,
including young workers
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Outreach training is available in languages other than
English (Spanish, Polish, etc.)
10-hour and 30-hour Programs
The 10-hour training program is primarily intended for
entry level workers. The 30-hour training program is
intended to provide workers with some safety
responsibility a greater depth and variety of training.
All outreach training is intended to cover an overview of
the hazards a worker may encounter on a job site. Training
emphasizes hazard identification, avoidance, control and
prevention, not OSHA standards.