What OSHA Training Do Your Employees Need? A Complete Requirements Guide

A safe working environment is perhaps the most important obligation a business has. The federal agency that sets workplace safety standards is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); nevertheless, for many, compliance can be very tiring. In fact, proper OSHA training not only saves time and money but also makes the workplace safer and more enjoyable. Hence, it should not be seen as just another box to tick on your compliance checklist but rather as the backbone of a safe, efficient, and thriving business. By disregarding the rules, one can measure the cost in monetary terms through fines and lost production, but, most importantly, the price is paid in human lives.

This guide clarifies OSHA training requirements for 2026. First, we will explain the basic training all employees must undergo. We will then identify the exact requirements for the highly hazardous sectors. Moreover, we will provide practical tips to make your safety program thorough and efficient, thereby protecting both your staff and your company.

Key Takeaways

• OSHA training should be seen as the foundation of a safe, productive, and motivated workforce, not just a compliance exercise.
• OSHA standards require job- and industry-specific training, especially in high-risk sectors such as construction, healthcare, and manufacturing.
• Basic training for all employees typically includes Emergency Action Plans, Hazard Communication (HazCom), and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• The well-known OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Outreach programs are excellent components of a safety program, but they are not sufficient to meet an employer’s full training requirements.
• Coggno makes OSHA compliance easier by providing a centralized marketplace and LMS where you can find, manage, and document a wide variety of both industry-specific and basic safety courses.

Quick Summary Table: Key OSHA Training by Industry

Foundational OSHA Training: The Building Blocks of Safety

All great OSHA programs start with a good base. These training sections cover the most frequent workplace hazards and are a must for almost all employees:

• Hazard Communication (HazCom), also known as the “Right to Know,” ensures employees are fully aware of the hazardous chemicals they work with. Training should include instructions on Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and chemical labels.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): When personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last resort, the workers have to be trained very well so that they can choose, use, and maintain the PPE that is necessary for their safety.

• Emergency Action Plans: In an emergency, the first thing employees need to know is their roles. A part of the instruction covers evacuation plans, emergency phone numbers, firefighting procedures, and responses to natural disasters and other emergencies.

Industry-Specific Training: A Targeted Approach

In addition to the overall requirements, OSHA mandates that companies engaged in particularly hazardous operations provide their employees with specialized training. A thorough hazard assessment guides you in identifying whether the right standards are those of your company only or whether a few others’ standards also apply. Hence:

• Construction: Standards for Personal Protective Equipment, Electrical Safety, and Trenching and Excavation, among others, comprehensively address the risks in this high-risk industry.

• Healthcare: These employees need to be trained in Bloodborne Pathogens to understand how to avoid exposure to infectious materials. Besides this, they need to be trained in ergonomics to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.

• Manufacturing: Lockout/Tagout training is required to prevent accidents in which a machine starts unintentionally during servicing. Also, by learning Machine Guarding, workers become aware of the dangers posed by moving parts.

The Coggno Solution: Simplifying OSHA Compliance

It can be quite taxing to administer such a wide range of complex training needs. Coggno is the platform that provides such an incredibly efficient solution.

A centralized marketplace and a Learning Management System (LMS) merged into one, Coggno makes it possible for you to:

• Access a Vast Library: There are hundreds, if not thousands, of OSHA courses available online, which you can find through hundreds of expert providers. You may initially take the basic OSHA courses, such as the 10-Hour and 30-Hour training programs, and then move on to specialty courses in a particular subject, for example, Confined Spaces or Forklift Operation.

• Target Your Needs: You can easily find training that aligns with your industry and job roles at your company on our platform.

• Document Everything: The Coggno LMS is a powerful tool for managing all your training activities. It helps you produce compliance or audit-ready reports in a matter of seconds, so the issue of proving compliance will never be a problem for you again.

Coggno allows you to design a complete, tailor-made, and thoroughly documented OSHA training program on a single platform.

FAQ

Are the OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Courses Enough to Be Compliant?

No. The OSHA Outreach Training Program—which includes the 10-hour course for workers and the 30-hour course for supervisors—provides only a general overview of workplace safety and is voluntary. Completion of these courses does not relieve employers of their responsibility to provide training specific to the unique hazards present in their workplace.

How Do I Know Which Specific OSHA Training My Employees Need?

The most effective approach is to conduct a comprehensive workplace hazard assessment. This involves identifying all potential hazards associated with each role or task and aligning them with the relevant Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. A qualified safety professional or even your insurance provider can help guide this process to ensure proper compliance.

Can OSHA Training Be Completed Online?

Yes. For many OSHA-related topics, e-learning is both an effective and widely accepted method of training. Online training offers flexibility, standardized content, and strong record-keeping capabilities. However, certain standards—particularly those requiring hands-on skills, such as operating heavy machinery or properly using specific types of personal protective equipment (PPE)—still require in-person demonstration and practical evaluation as part of the training process.

Conclusion

Making smart OSHA training investments is a non-negotiable must for a company aiming for future success. Nothing beats it for keeping workplaces accident-free, reducing your company’s risk, and creating an employee safety culture that really works. Ultimately, that’s what primarily drives productivity. By first understanding the basic and industry-specific requirements and then leveraging a comprehensive platform such as Coggno for your training, you can transform your work environment into one that is not only compliant with standards but also genuinely safe.

References

[1] Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). OSHA’s Outreach Training Program. 

[2] Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Training Requirements in OSHA Standards.