OSHA Requirements for Training and Recordkeeping
Training documentation can supply an answer to one of the first questions an OSHA accident investigator will ask: "Did the employee receive adequate training to do the job?"
Many OSHA regulations explicitly require employers to provide safety training to employees. If an employee is injured on the job, OSHA will always check whether the training provided was appropriate, complete, and properly documented.
Training documentation will be one of the first areas OSHA will evaluate, especially after an accident. The OSHA inspector will likely begin by reviewing the employer’s safety training records.
OSHA will check to see if the employer met minimum training requirements — attendance rosters if the training involved general instruction, and formal employer certification for technical training of that includes hazardous tasks. This helps OSHA determine if the injured employee had been properly trained for the task they were performing at the time of the incident. If records are missing, incomplete, or outdated, OSHA may issue citations or fines for failure to comply with required training standards.
Below is a breakdown of training documentation requirements in various OSHA standards.
| OSHA Standard | Topic | Minimum Training Documentation Requirements | Minimum Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.1200 | Hazard Communication (HazCom/GHS) | Written proof that employees received training on hazardous chemicals (labels, SDS, hazards) | Duration of employment |
| 1910.134 | Respiratory Protection | Records of training, fit-testing, medical evaluation; include dates and contents | Fit-test: until replaced + duration of employment |
| 1910.147 | Lockout/Tagout | Certification with employee name, date(s), and trainer (authorized & affected employees) | Until replaced by updated certification |
| 1910.178 | Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts) | Certification for each operator (truck type, date, trainer/evaluator name) | 3 years |
| 1910.1030 | Bloodborne Pathogens | Detailed records: dates, content summary, trainer qualifications, attendee names/job titles | 3 years |
| 1910.132(f) | Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Certification that each employee received and understood required PPE training | Until replaced by updated certification |
| 1910.95 | Hearing Conservation | Record of annual training (employee name and date) | 2 years (training records) |
| 1910.119 | Process Safety Management (PSM) | Training certification (initial + refresher every 3 years) | Until replaced by updated certification |
| 1910.120 | HAZWOPER | Detailed certificates (40/24/8-hr) with hours, dates, topics | Duration of employment + 30 years (exposure records) |
| 1910.146 | Permit-Required Confined Spaces | Certification for entrants, attendants, and entry supervisors | Until replaced by updated certification |
| 1910.1001 | Asbestos | Training records (name, date, content) for awareness and Class I–IV work | Duration of employment + 30 years |
| 1910.1053 | Respirable Crystalline Silica | Documentation of silica hazards, tasks, controls, and medical surveillance training | Duration of employment + 30 years (exposure records) |
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-2 What is the minimum requirement to document training that includes hazardous tasks?
You forgot to answer the question!