If you’re in charge of your company’s safety training, whether as a safety officer, EHS manager, HR lead, or the “voluntold” person who drew the short straw, chances are you’ve heard the terms “OSHA Certified,” “OSHA Authorized,” and “OSHA Compliant” tossed around like safety cones after a windstorm. But what do they actually mean? Let’s cut through the confusion and get to the good stuff.
Is it called OSHA certified or OSHA authorized now?
The term “OSHA Certified” has mostly gone the way of floppy disks. The updated term is “OSHA Authorized,” and it’s used specifically to refer to individuals who have completed the OSHA Outreach Training Program. In plain English? They’re approved by OSHA to teach safety courses that align with federal standards. These trainers hand out official cards that prove your team didn’t just watch a video, they actually earned something for it.
How do trainers become OSHA authorized anyway?
To become OSHA authorized, a trainer must take a specific course through an OSHA-approved Authorizing Training Organization (ATO). After meeting strict prerequisites, including job experience and a solid background in OSHA regulations, they complete a trainer course and get the green light to teach others.
Once certified, they need to keep up their creds with update training every four years. So no, your trainer from 2002 with the binder full of VHS tapes doesn’t count anymore.
Can you actually get OSHA authorized training online?
Yes, and thank goodness for that. OSHA now authorizes certain providers to deliver online training for:
- Construction 10-hour and 30-hour
- General Industry 10-hour and 30-hour
- HAZWOPER 8, 24, and 40-hour
Just make sure the provider lists their affiliation with an OSHA-authorized training organization. Bonus points if they offer the official wallet card and let you train at your own pace without falling asleep at your desk.
So what’s the difference between authorized and compliant?
Think of it this way:
- OSHA Authorized: Courses that are reviewed and officially approved by OSHA. You get a certificate or wallet card after completion. These are typically tied to Outreach programs or specialized industry training.
- OSHA Compliant: Courses that follow OSHA’s guidelines, but aren’t formally reviewed by OSHA. They still meet the regulatory training requirements, they just weren’t created or certified by OSHA itself.
In most workplaces, compliant training is more than enough to stay on OSHA’s good side. The key is making sure the content is accurate, up-to-date, and presented in a way your employees actually understand.
What does OSHA consider a “good” online training program?
According to OSHA, the best training programs hit four marks: accuracy, credibility, clarity, and practicality. Let’s break it down:
- Accurate: Training content should be developed by real experts and updated regularly.
- Credible: Facilitators should actually know what they’re talking about (shocking, we know).
- Clear: Content must be in the language and skill level your employees understand. No jargon, no confusing legal speak.
- Practical: Employees should leave knowing exactly how to apply what they’ve learned.
Basically, OSHA’s saying “teach real stuff, in a real way, to real people.” And we couldn’t agree more.
Which OSHA-authorized or OSHA-compliant training do you need?
That depends on your industry, your roles, and what hazards your employees are exposed to. A few common training needs include:
- Hazard communication (HazCom)
- Fall protection
- Lockout/tagout (LOTO)
- Respiratory protection
- Emergency response
To find the right training mix, consult your industry standards or reach out to someone who knows the ropes. And yes, that someone can be us.
Now tell them they can start with this
If you’re just getting started or looking to reinforce the basics, start with our Introduction to OSHA: General Industry and Construction Training Course. It’s the go-to starting point for understanding worker rights, employer responsibilities, and how to stay on the right side of compliance.
Already training your team? Make it official.
Once you’ve got the basics down, level up with our Safety Training Course Catalog. Whether you’re building a compliant program or looking for OSHA-authorized support, we’ve got the courses to back you up and keep your crew ready for anything.
Expand your knowledge with our full safety training catalog
Expand your knowledge with Atlantic Training’s full safety training catalog. This catalog provides an introduction to OSHA safety training requirements, but there’s more to learn. For a deeper understanding of compliance, certification, and smart course selection, consider enrolling in a training course from our full catalog.
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