Construction labor: what OSHA-10 means for your site

What OSHA-10 is

OSHA-10 refers to the 10-hour Construction Outreach course from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Outreach Training Program. It is taught by OSHA-authorized trainers, in person or online through authorized providers, and workers who complete it receive a Department of Labor course completion card.

The course is aimed at entry-level workers. It teaches how to recognize and avoid common jobsite hazards and explains workers' rights and employers' responsibilities. A big part of it covers the Focus Four hazards that cause many construction deaths:

• Falls
• Struck-by hazards (vehicles, falling objects, equipment)
• Caught-in or caught-between hazards (trenches, machinery)
• Electrocution

Other topics typically include personal protective equipment, health hazards, stairways and ladders, scaffolds, excavations and material handling. Supervisors and safety leads usually take the longer OSHA-30 course.

Where it is required

Federal OSHA does not require the 10-hour card for every construction worker. But it is required or expected in many places:

• Some states require it by law for certain work. Examples include New York for many public works projects, Nevada for construction workers, and Connecticut and Massachusetts for many public projects. New York City has its own site safety training requirements.
• Many general contractors require it on every site, public or private, as a condition of entry.
• Owners, public agencies and project specs often write it into contracts.

Rules change and vary by project type and value, so check the current requirements for your state, city and contract. Some states and employers also require refresher training every few years.

What OSHA-10 does not do

A 10-hour card is an awareness course. It is not a license, and it does not replace:

• Site-specific orientation. Every site has its own hazards, access routes, emergency plan and rules.
• Task-specific training. Operating a forklift, working in a trench, using fall protection or running a powder-actuated tool each has its own requirements.
• Supervision. A new laborer with a card still needs someone watching how the work is done.

Safety with temp workers is a shared job

When you use temporary laborers, safety responsibility is shared between the staffing company and the host employer. OSHA's guidance on temporary workers says both have a role in making sure the worker is trained and protected. In practice, that usually splits like this:

The most common problem is task creep: a laborer booked for cleanup ends up on a roof or in a trench. If the job changes, call dispatch first so we can confirm the worker is trained and covered for it.

Questions to ask your labor partner

Before a staffing company sends anyone to your site, get clear answers to these:

• Are the workers W-2 employees with workers' compensation in place, and can you send a certificate of insurance?
• How do you verify OSHA-10 and other cards, and can I see proof before the first shift?
• What general safety training do workers get before they arrive?
• What PPE will workers bring, and what do you expect my site to provide?
• Who do I call if a worker is hurt, and how is the injury reported?
• If a worker is not a fit, how fast can you replace them?

A good partner answers these quickly and in writing. If the answers are vague, the safety program probably is too.

A quick checklist for your next order

1. 1List the certifications required: OSHA-10, OSHA-30, flagger, fall protection or others.
2. 2List the PPE workers must bring and what you will provide.
3. 3Describe the real tasks, including heights, trenches, heavy lifting and heat.
4. 4Name the person who will run orientation and supervise the crew.
5. 5Share the site's emergency plan and nearest clinic.

See our construction staffing page, indicative rates for construction laborers and our safety program, or request a crew.