Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health Training

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Explain the purpose and structure of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the role of OSHA as the regulatory authority, the General Duty Clause, and the fundamental employer obligations and employee rights that create the legal framework for workplace safety.
• Navigate the structure of OSHA standards: 29 CFR 1910 (General Industry) and 29 CFR 1926 (Construction), understanding how standards are organised by Subpart and how to locate specific regulatory requirements.
• Identify the major categories of workplace hazards: chemical (gases, vapours, dusts, fumes, liquids), physical (noise, vibration, radiation, thermal), biological (bloodborne pathogens, mould, infectious agents), ergonomic (repetitive motion, manual handling, workstation design), and psychosocial (stress, fatigue, workplace violence).
• Explain the principles of occupational exposure limits: OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) under 29 CFR 1910.1000 Tables Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3, the difference between 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) and Ceiling (C) values, and how these limits represent the maximum safe exposure during a standard work shift.
• Conduct basic hazard identification: recognise common workplace hazards during walkthroughs, understand how hazards cause harm (energy sources, exposure pathways, vulnerable populations), and document hazards for further assessment.
• Apply the basic risk assessment framework: severity versus likelihood evaluation, risk ranking, and the prioritisation of hazards for control action.
• Apply the hierarchy of controls to workplace hazards: elimination (remove the hazard), substitution (replace with less hazardous alternative), engineering controls (isolate or contain the hazard), administrative controls (change how work is done), and personal protective equipment (protect the worker as a last resort).
• Explain the purpose and principles of key safety disciplines at awareness level: fire safety, electrical safety, machine guarding, fall protection, chemical safety (HazCom), ergonomics, and emergency preparedness.
• Understand OSHA’s inspection and citation process: how inspections are triggered, what happens during an inspection, the types of citations (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious), and how penalties are determined.
• Identify the career pathways available in the safety profession: the progression from introductory training through 10-Hour and 30-Hour programmes, certifications (CHSO, CHSM), and diplomas that the American Institute of Safety Professionals offers.

Core Curriculum Topics

• The Occupational Safety and Health Act: history, purpose, OSHA’s role, General Duty Clause, employer obligations, employee rights and responsibilities
• OSHA Standards Structure: 29 CFR 1910 and 1926 organisation, Subparts, how to find and read specific standards
• Workplace Hazard Categories: chemical, physical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards — what they are, how they cause harm, and where they are found
• Occupational Exposure Limits: PELs (29 CFR 1910.1000), Tables Z-1/Z-2/Z-3, TWA versus Ceiling values, and the concept of safe exposure during a work shift
• Multi-Agent Exposure: introduction to the concept of assessing risk from exposure to multiple air contaminants simultaneously
• Basic Hazard Identification: walkthrough techniques, hazard recognition, documentation, and the observation skills that every safety professional begins developing
• Risk Assessment Fundamentals: severity, likelihood, risk ranking, and prioritisation for control action
• The Hierarchy of Controls: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and PPE — the foundational framework applied to every hazard in every industry
• Overview of Key Safety Disciplines: fire safety, electrical safety, machine guarding, fall protection, chemical safety (HazCom/GHS), ergonomics, emergency preparedness
• OSHA Inspections and Citations: inspection triggers, process, citation types, penalties, and abatement
• Safety Career Pathways: how this course connects to 10-Hour/30-Hour programmes, certifications, career ladders, and diplomas

• No prior safety knowledge required
• No work experience required
• No academic degree required
• Suitable for complete beginners, career explorers, and professionals from any background
• All instruction in English; basic English proficiency required

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• Individuals exploring a career in occupational safety and health who need to understand the profession before committing to longer programmes
• New employees receiving foundational safety awareness training as part of onboarding
• Supervisors and team leaders who need basic safety knowledge before progressing to the CSSP (Certified Safety Supervisor)
• Engineers, operations managers, and HR professionals who work alongside safety professionals and need to understand safety fundamentals
• Students in engineering, science, or management programmes who want an introduction to occupational safety
• International professionals unfamiliar with the US OSHA regulatory framework who need an orientation before taking OSHA-based courses
• Workers in any industry who want to understand their OSHA rights, recognise workplace hazards, and contribute to a safer work environment

This course is the entry point. Everything starts here:

• 10-Hour General Industry Safety or 10-Hour Construction Safety (foundational OSHA training)
• 30-Hour General Industry Safety or 30-Hour Construction Safety (comprehensive OSHA training)

• CHSO: Certified Health and Safety Officer (entry-level officer)
• CSSP: Certified Safety Supervisor (supervisory enforcement)
• CSHT: Certified Safety and Health Trainer (training delivery)
• CSS: Certified Safety Specialist (technical expertise)
• CSE: Certified Safety Engineer (engineering design)
• CHSM → RHSM → RHSP → RSP (management and senior professional)

•  International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management (flagship general diploma)
• DIP-1002, DIP-1007, DIP-1008, DIP-1010, DIP-1011, DIP-1012, DIP-1017, DIP-1020, DIP-1022, DIP-1025 (industry-specific diplomas)