
Intro to OSHA
Hello! I’m about to teach an OSHA 30 class and I’m wondering if anyone has any ideas for the intro to OSHA section. How to make it more fun? What type of content to include with it? I was thinking of including the Triangle Shirt Waste Factory video but would like some other ideas or possibly a frame work!
Thanks in advance :)
Comments (6)

On a 30-Hour Course I will usually spend over 3 hours on the OSHA Module. Since I am usually teaching OHS and HR types I spend almost half the time on 1904 and Recordkeeping. I will pass out actual 300 Logs and scenarios and we will work out how we would complete our Logs. Including scenarios on when you need to notify OSHA and how to handle that notification.
We may also spend at least .75hrs on dealing with OSHA during inspections and communication.
I do not have a video on the Triangle fire but do use a slide that I use in talking on how and why OSHA came about. There are several pictures on the internet you can use, but be careful and use public domain. I also use a slide of the ship blowing up in the late 1940s or 50s that killed hundreds and took out a good share of the dock areas near Houston! The ship was full of Ammonium Nitrate.
Several years ago I taught the class and a lady raised her hand. She said she remembered the ship blowing up as she was a young child near Houston. Her uncle and a cousin were killed!

This is incredibly helpful. Thank you!

It depends on your audience. Like Fitz mentioned, if you're teaching HR and/or OSH pros, then you may spend a little more time on the OSHA forms, recordability, etc. You could go through several recordkeeping scenarios, talk about how to properly log things, and where to get assistance.
For me, most of my OSHA outreach courses are for front line workers in manufacturing settings and field service employees at construction job sites (typically no one in HR or OSH). With that being said, I usually spend a lot more time on things that apply to them, such as OSHA investigation processes, their rights during the investigation process, etc. Depending on the class size, we may do a mock OSHA inspection and let them go through the process to understand it better. You could also show them how to file a complaint with OSHA using the online form (for both the safety/health complaint, as well as whistleblower complaint), explain to them when you can (and can't) file a complaint, etc.
Regardless, it's important to remember that the purpose of the Intro to OSHA course (and the outreach training in general) is not necessarily to teach them OSHA standards, but rather to teach them about OSHA, why they exist, how they help employers, their rights as an employee, etc. OSHA has established the following lesson objectives for the "Intro to OSHA" course:
• Explain why OSHA is important to workers
• Explain worker rights under OSHA
• Discuss employer responsibilities under OSHA
• Discuss the use of OSHA standards
• Explain how OSHA inspections are conducted
• Utilize helpful worker safety and health resources
If you go to this link (
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/1hr_IntroToOSHAwApp.pdf
), there are several exercises you can utilize at the end of the document. It has several good things to review on there.
OSHA also has 5 handouts available on their website that you can utilize during the outreach training (link below).
https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach/teaching-aids
You could use the famous 1932 “lunch atop a skyscraper” photo to illustrate how far we’ve come. Note the violations and potential fines an employer would face today, and highlight the reduction of injuries, illnesses, and deaths since OSHAs inception.