Instruction and Training
OSHA believes that both general and specific safety training to help employees gain an adequate level of knowledge, skills, and abilities (SKAs) is an essential part of the employer’s safety and health program for protecting workers from injuries and illnesses.
General Training
OSHA standards address the employer's responsibility to include a general training requirement. The employer must make sure their employees are instructed and trained in:
- recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions in the workplace;
- OSHA regulations applicable to their work environment; and
- how to control or eliminate hazards and exposures to illness or injury.
Specific Training
Other OSHA standards make it the employer's responsibility to limit certain job assignments to employees who are "certified," "competent," or "qualified" - meaning that they have had special previous training, in or out of the workplace. The term "designated" personnel means selected or assigned by the employer or the employer's representative as being qualified to perform specific duties.
Many researchers conclude that those who are new on the job have a higher rate of accidents and injuries than more experienced workers. If OSHA determines that new employees have not received training or are not adequately trained, the current employer will be held responsible regardless of who trained the employees. An employer, therefore, has a responsibility when hiring new employees, who have been previously trained by someone other than the current employer, to evaluate each employee's SKAs against the training and information requirements of the associated standard.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-3. You have hired a new employee who claims he is trained in confined space entry. What is your responsibility as the employer?
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