721 OSH Training Development

Documenting the Training

Protect the Employee and the Employer

As a member of your employer's safety staff, it's not only your responsibility to help protect employees — it's also your obligation to help protect the employer. One of the best ways to do this is by making sure safety training is well-documented and up to date.

It's not just a good idea for the employer to keep complete and accurate records of all safety and health training — it's required by more than 100 OSHA standards. According to ANSI Z490.1-2016, strong training documentation is also part of a high-quality safety training program.

Training records serve several important purposes:

1. Proof of compliance: Documentation shows that the employer made a good faith effort to follow OSHA standards.

• Example: A company provides forklift training and keeps a signed attendance sheet, test scores, and a written training outline. If OSHA inspects the workplace, these records prove that the company followed the Powered Industrial Truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178).

2. Legal protection: Proper records can help the employer defend against claims of negligence or unsafe work conditions.

• Example:If a worker is injured while using a machine, and the employer can show that the worker received lockout/tagout training and passed a hands-on evaluation, this may help protect the company during an investigation or lawsuit.

3. Answers for accident investigations: One of the first questions an OSHA inspector or internal investigator will ask after an incident is, "Was the injured employee trained to do the job?"

• Example: After a chemical spill, investigators check the records and find that the worker completed hazardous chemical training under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. This helps determine if the incident was caused by human error, equipment failure, or something else.

Strong training documentation helps ensure accountability, improves workplace safety, and protects both workers and the company from costly mistakes. It's more than a box to check — it's a key part of a complete safety program.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.