Attendance Rosters
As we learned before, if the training or safety meeting presents general information related to safety, it is most likely considered safety "instruction." For this type of instruction, a simple attendance roster is usually good enough to document participation.
An attendance roster is a basic sign-in sheet. It includes the names of participants, the date of the session, and the title or topic of the training. It may also include the name of the trainer or meeting leader. While it is not detailed enough for all types of safety training, it is often suitable for documenting attendance at sessions that cover general safety topics.
Examples of when an attendance roster is adequate:
- Classroom instruction of general safety concepts – such as fire prevention, emergency procedures, or office safety.
- Online safety training – when the platform tracks completion and the topic is general or awareness-level (like ergonomics or hazard communication overview).
- Tool-box or tailgate safety meetings – short sessions focused on routine safety reminders or seasonal hazards.
- New employee orientation – when the training covers basic safety policies, rules, and reporting procedures.
Safety trainers must ensure the correct type of training documentation is used. For general instruction, a well-maintained attendance roster may be enough. For job-specific or hazardous training, you must create and keep more detailed records that show not just attendance, but proof that the employee can do the job safely.
OSHA does not always specify the exact format for training records, but it does require that the records include the names of trained employees, the dates of training, and the content covered. When in doubt, it's better to create more complete documentation to protect both the employee and the employer.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-4 Which situation shows that an attendance roster would NOT be sufficient documentation?
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