Is OSHA 10- or 30-Hour Training Really Mandatory?
A contractor once called me, seeking a bid for an on site OSHA 10-hour construction class for his workers. While chatting, he mentioned that they lost an entire week on another project a few months earlier because their crew was turned away at the gate. The issue wasn’t equipment, permits, or insurance. It was training. The site owner required OSHA 10 cards, and several workers didn’t have them. With no cards in hand, the crew couldn’t access the site, and it took several days to locate a trainer and get everyone qualified.
That scenario is far more common than most employers realize.Â
One of the most frequent questions I hear is, “OSHA 10 and 30 aren’t actually required, right?” At the federal level, that’s often true. But once you factor in state laws, local ordinances, and contract language, the answer quickly becomes: it depends. And that’s where employers get tripped up.
Why Do Employers Think OSHA 10 and 30 Are Optional?
Federal OSHA does not generally require OSHA 10- or 30-hour outreach training for most workers. That single fact leads many employers to assume the training is purely optional.
What often gets missed is that OSHA outreach training requirements frequently come from states, municipalities, and project contracts, not federal OSHA itself. When those requirements are overlooked, workers can be denied job-site access and projects can grind to a halt.
What Is OSHA Outreach Training and Why Does It Matter?
OSHA outreach training provides workers with a baseline understanding of workplace hazards, employer and employee responsibilities, and how to recognize unsafe conditions before someone gets hurt.
For employers, OSHA outreach training helps reduce risk, strengthen safety culture, and demonstrate due diligence. It also creates documentation that often satisfies state, local, or contractual safety requirements.
Where Is OSHA 10- or 30-Hour Training Required?
This is where compliance gets complicated.
Several states require OSHA 10-hour Construction training for workers on public works projects, with OSHA 30-hour Construction training required for supervisors. These requirements are common in states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
Some jurisdictions extend OSHA outreach requirements beyond construction. Nevada, for example, requires OSHA 10-hour General Industry training for workers in entertainment and cannabis operations, and OSHA 30-hour General Industry training for supervisors. California’s Assembly Bill 1775 similarly requires OSHA outreach training for certain workers at public entertainment venues, with the required course level tied to job duties.
Local governments also impose requirements. Cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Miami-Dade County enforce OSHA 10- and 30-hour construction training through local ordinances or permitting rules.
Even where no statute exists, many owners and general contractors require OSHA outreach training by contract, which can be just as enforceable as a law.
Which OSHA Course Applies, Construction or General Industry?
Choosing the wrong OSHA course is a common and costly mistake.
- Construction OSHA 10 and 30 courses apply to traditional construction activities such as building, renovation, demolition, and infrastructure work.
- General Industry OSHA 10 and 30 courses apply to manufacturing, warehousing, entertainment production, cannabis processing, and other non-construction workplaces.
The correct course depends on the type of work being performed, not the employer’s industry label.
Who Needs OSHA 10-Hour Training and Who Needs OSHA 30-Hour Training?
OSHA 10-hour training is typically required for non-supervisory workers when outreach training is mandated. OSHA 30-hour training is generally required for supervisors, foremen, superintendents, project managers, and safety personnel.
Many state laws, city ordinances, and contracts follow this structure, even though the specifics can vary by jurisdiction.
Why Do Many Employers Require OSHA 10 and 30 Even When It’s Not Mandated?
Even when outreach training isn’t legally required, many employers still choose to require it. OSHA 10 and 30 training creates a consistent baseline of safety knowledge, supports hazard recognition, and helps reduce incidents.
From a practical standpoint, it is far easier to have workers trained before they arrive on a job site than to deal with delays, denied access, or last-minute compliance issues.
Can OSHA 10- and 30-Hour Training Be Completed Online?
Yes. OSHA-authorized online training courses allow workers to complete OSHA 10- and 30-hour Construction or General Industry courses before reporting to a job site.
Online training is especially useful for employers with multiple locations, traveling crews, or tight schedules, and ensures training records are available when needed for inspections, contracts, or site access.
What Happens If Workers Don’t Have OSHA 10 or 30 Cards?
Workers who do not have required OSHA outreach training may be denied jobsite access, removed from work, or cause project delays. Employers may also face contract violations, scheduling disruptions, and compliance concerns.
So, Is OSHA 10- or 30-Hour Training Mandatory or Not?
The short answer is: sometimes, and often more than employers expect.
While federal OSHA does not broadly mandate OSHA 10 or 30 training, state laws, local ordinances, and contract requirements frequently do. Employers who look only at federal OSHA guidance risk missing requirements that can stop work entirely.
Understanding where OSHA outreach training applies, and selecting the correct Construction or General Industry course, helps prevent delays, reduce risk, and keep projects moving, even when the rules get complicated.
For comprehensive on-site and online OSHA training courses, including OSHA 10- and 30-hour programs, click the links below.
