OSHA Training in Montana

There is no official certification required to teach most OSHA training classes in Montana. But, you must make certain that on site OSHA 10 or 30-hour training classes are conducted by a trainer who is officially authorized to conduct these OSHA courses. The trainer must first complete a series of OSHA trainer classes provided by one of the OSHA Education centers located around the country. You can confirm their status as a currently authorized OSHA Outreach trainer by asking to look at their credentials proving they completed the following trainer courses.

Construction industry trainers must successfully complete the OSHA 510 course, followed by the OSHA 500 course. This qualifies the trainer to conduct OSHA 10-hour construction training in Montana and anywhere else in the USA and territories for a four-year period. The trainer is also authorized to conduct OSHA 30-hour construction training in Montana and elsewhere. To maintain their status as an authorized OSHA Outreach trainer for construction, they must complete the OSHA 502 trainer update course every four years.

General industry trainers must successfully complete the OSHA 511 course, followed by the OSHA 501 course. This qualifies the trainer to conduct OSHA 10-hour general industry training in Montana and anywhere else in the USA and territories for a four-year period. The trainer is also authorized to conduct OSHA 30-hour general industry training in Montana and elsewhere. To maintain their status as an authorized OSHA Outreach trainer for general industry, they must complete the OSHA 503 trainer update course every four years.

Be assured that our trainers who conduct on-site OSHA training classes in Montana are authorized OSHA Outreach trainers.

Online OSHA 10 and 30-hour Training Courses Accepted in Montana

There are also OSHA-authorized online 10 and 30-hour training courses available for construction and general industry. However, you must pay close attention, as only those course providers that are specifically authorized to provide these courses can issue trainees the official DOL / OSHA 10 or 30-hour wallet cards. There are plenty of imitators out there who use deceptive fine print and “too good to be true” pricing to sell you a course that is not OSHA authorized. You can rest assured that the 10 and 30-hour online OSHA training courses offered on our website are authorized by OSHA, and are accepted in Montana as well as all other states and US territories.

Regulation of Workplace Safety & Health in Montana

OSHA training for private companies in the state of Montana is regulated by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Montana does not operate an approved state OSHA program for public employees at the state or political sub-division (e.g.: county, municipal, public schools or universities) level.

Links to federal OSHA training requirements for construction and general industry are available below on this page.

OSHA Training Regulations and Standards

Regulated employers located in the state of Montana are governed by the Federal OSHA health and safety standards found in the 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These include, but are not limited to, the OSHA workplace poster requirements in Part 1903, OSHA injury and illness record-keeping requirements in Part 1904, general industry standards in Part 1910, maritime standards in Parts 1915, 1917 and 1918, construction standards in Part 1926, and agricultural standards in Part 1928.

Many of these OSHA standards require that employers provide their employees in Montana with OSHA training and information on a variety of health and safety topics (scroll down to see links to OSHA training requirements below).

Special Safety Training Consideration for Montana Workplaces

While our onsite and online OSHA 10 and 30-hour training courses for construction and general industry are the gold standard for training about general hazard recognition and avoidance for workers and supervisors, there are many workers in Montana who face unique environmental and occupational hazards that require other specialized safety training to prevent serious injuries and illnesses.  

Montana’s average winter temperature of 21°F means outdoor workers frequently contend with extreme cold. Industries such as ranching, forestry, and oil and gas must prepare their teams for prolonged exposure to freezing conditions. Implementing cold stress prevention training can help workers recognize early signs of cold stress and take preventive measures to avoid serious health issues.

At the other end of the spectrum, Heat Illness Prevention Training is critical for anyone exposed to high temperatures or humid conditions, where prolonged exposure can result in heat stress or even life-threatening heat stroke. Workers in construction, roadwork, landscaping or lawn-care, commercial kitchens, attic work, or buildings without adequate ventilation must know how to recognize the early signs of heat-related illness and know how why they need to stay hydrated, take proper rest breaks, and respond to emergencies. This training provides essential knowledge to help them work safely in extreme heat.

Also, workers in industries such as oil and gas, storm or wastewater management, and agriculture must be aware of the dangers of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), a highly toxic gas commonly found in drilling sites, refineries, chemical plants, manure pits, grain elevators, sewers, and underground utility spaces. Without proper precautions, exposure can quickly become fatal. H2S Hazard Awareness Training ensures workers can identify H2S hazards, understand the importance of gas detection equipment, and follow emergency procedures to stay safe in high-risk environments.

Workers must complete Confined Space Entry Training for General Industry before entering hazardous areas such as tanks, vats, silos, sewer and storm drain systems, underground utilities, and many crawl spaces. Supervisors overseeing confined space entry and attendants monitoring entrant safety must also be trained. These environments pose serious risks, including toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, and engulfment. Additionally, construction workers and supervisors entering confined spaces must complete specialized Confined Space Training for Construction.

Jurisdiction

Federal OSHA exercises jurisdiction over most private employers in the state of Montana. Federal employers in MT also operate under the jurisdiction of Federal OSHA. There is one area office located inside the state:

Billings Area Office
2900 4th Avenue North, Suite 303
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 247-7494

The OSHA national emergency hotline telephone number is 1-800-321-OSHA.

State of Montana Safety Committee Rule

Federal OSHA regulations do not require employers to form a safety committee. However, the state of Montana has a unique rule requiring employers having five or more employees to establish a safety committee. The rule can be viewed at this link.

Occupational Fatality Data – Montana

– See BLS Data