The OSHA Outreach Training Program, initiated in 1971, is a voluntary initiative designed to enhance workplace safety and health by making workers more knowledgeable about workplace hazards and their rights. It focuses on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards, and also provides an overview of OSHA, including workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and complaint procedures. The program has seen significant growth, training over 5.21 million workers between FY 2016 and FY 2020 through a train-the-trainer format.
Program Benefits
- Promotes safety culture through peer training
- Training is intended to be participatory, using hands-on activities
- Trainers are able to tailor the training topics based on specific needs of their audience
- Outreach training content includes hazard recognition and avoidance, workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint; it emphasizes the value of safety and health to workers, including young workers
- Outreach training is available in languages other than English (Spanish, Polish, etc.)
10-hour and 30-hour Programs
The 10-hour training program is primarily intended for entry level workers. The 30-hour training program is intended to provide workers with some safety responsibility a greater depth and variety of training. All outreach training is intended to cover an overview of the hazards a worker may encounter on a job site. Training emphasizes hazard identification, avoidance, control and prevention, not OSHA standards.
Card Hierarchy for Classroom Training
Issued Prior to 3/1/16, or For Online Training
Issued After 2/29/16
Become a Trainer
The Mountain West OSHA Education Center provides training for professionals interested in teaching construction and general industry courses, and we make the authorization process easy.
Trainers who meet the prerequisites must simply complete one Outreach Trainer Course through our center, and we offer both in-person and online sessions throughout the year. Trainers are required to renew their authorization every four years by completing an Outreach Trainer Update Course.
Mountain West OSHA proudly offers the majority of Authorized Trainer courses listed by OTIEC. View our complete course schedule.
OSHA Trainer Course Prerequisites
OSHA #500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry - OSHA #510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry course completed within the last seven years and five years of construction safety experience. A bachelor or higher college degree in occupational safety and health or industrial hygiene by an accredited college or university, a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) designation in the applicable training area may be substituted for two years of experience.
OSHA #501 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry - OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry course completed within the last seven years and five years of general industry safety experience. A bachelor or higher college degree in occupational safety and health or industrial hygiene by an accredited college or university, a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) designation in the applicable training area may be substituted for two years of experience.
Outreach Trainer Resources
Outreach Trainer Portal
The OSHA Outreach Training Program offers voluntary training for workers and employers on recognizing, avoiding, abating, and preventing workplace safety and health hazards. It also covers workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and complaint filing. The program includes 10-hour classes for entry-level workers and 30-hour classes for supervisors or those with safety responsibilities, delivered by OSHA-authorized trainers. This training aims to enhance workers' knowledge of workplace hazards and rights, contributing to national productivity.
Existing trainers who needs to reauthorize by attending an OSHA 502 or OSHA 503 classes can download the prerequisite form below.
If you have any questions, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for quick answers. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us at