OSHA Safety Specialist: Online Courses and Training Information

The Occupational and Health Administration (OSHA) was created to help workers protect themselves from workplace hazards. OSHA safety specialist online courses and training programs are available through certificate programs of varying length. Typical topics studied in these training courses include safety training, hazardous material handling, pathogens, machine guarding and fall protection.

Overview of OSHA Safety Specialist Online Courses and Training Programs

Certificate programs in OSHA classes are awarded after the completion of training class hours within a particular program. The certificates are referred to as cards. Typically these programs are available in the 10 hour or 30 hour duration. Examples of the certificate programs or cards awarded upon completion of the training programs are a 10-hour card in the construction industry or a 30-hour card in general industry.

Course Requirements

To participate in OSHA safety specialist online courses, students must have a computer with Internet access and an email account. Typing skills and experience in the particular industry the student desires to obtain a certificate in are helpful.

Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction

This class covers OSHA policies, procedures, and construction safety and health principles. Topics include scope and application of the OSHA construction standards. Special emphasis is placed on those areas that are the most hazardous, using OSHA standards as a guide.

Industrial Hygiene

Here students address industrial hygiene practices and related OSHA regulations and procedures. Topics studied include exposure limits, OSHA health standards, respiratory protection, engineering controls, hazard communication, OSHA sampling procedures and strategy.

Hazardous Materials

This course covers OSHA general industry standards that relate to hazardous materials. Included are flammable and combustible liquids, compressed gases, LP-gases, and cryogenic liquids. Related processes such as spraying and dipping are covered, as well as electrical equipment issues.

Respiratory Protection

Students explore the requirements for the establishment, maintenance and monitoring of a respirator program. Program highlights include laboratories on respirator selection, qualitative fit testing, and the use of a large array of respiratory and support equipment for hands-on training.

Ergonomics and Nerve Disorders

This course covers the use of ergonomic principles to recognize, evaluate, and control work place conditions that cause or contribute to musculoskeletal and nerve disorders. Topics include work physiology, anthropometry, musculoskeletal disorders, use of video display terminals, and risk factors such as vibration, temperature, material handling, repetition, and lifting and transfers in health care.

Confined Space Entry

After completion of this class students will be able to recognize, evaluate, prevent, and abate safety and health hazards associated with confined space entry. Technical topics include the recognition of confined space hazards. Also studied is the instrumentation used to evaluate atmospheric hazards and ventilation techniques used to dissipate hazards.