Career Opportunities for OSHA 30 Card Holders
Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser
Completing OSHA Outreach Training opens many doors for supervisors and managers. This program is backed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Department of Labor.
The advanced safety training available through federal programs creates opportunities for higher pay and unlocks new careers for students who complete an OSHA-authorized course program.
An OSHA 30 card shows you have industry-specific knowledge and the education to keep workers safe on the job. This improves uptime and productivity while ensuring your environment meets safety requirements. Leaders who obtain their card are more valuable to employers and are better equipped to:
- Apply industry standards and meet regulations
- Identify and address workplace hazards
- Respond to workers’ safety concerns
- Undertake accident investigations
While training doesn’t guarantee you a job, it will give you a leg up on others looking for work and open the door to more managerial positions.
The Benefits of OSHA Certification
While “OSHA certified” and “OSHA certification” are common phrases in the working world, they are a little misleading. OSHA does not offer certification. A DOL OSHA card shows employers that you have completed an OSHA-authorized Outreach Training program.
If you are looking to get a job or advance your career in a management role, you may need to get your 30-hour card. For individuals, benefits include:
- Earning more money: Employers may be willing to pay better wages to employees who demonstrate a commitment to safe operations. Lessons also help prepare you for managerial responsibility, which typically pays better.
- Getting access to more jobs: Many employers will require these credentials, which means that you may be passed over for promotion or consideration without one.
- Avoiding workplace incidents: Workplace education helps you better manage the workplace environment, recognize hazards and take appropriate actions.
For businesses, the benefits of this type of education include:
- Improved Culture: Helps to create a safer workplace by promoting a culture of awareness and compliance.
- Reduced Accidents: By identifying and addressing potential hazards, businesses can reduce the number of workplace accidents and injuries.
- Enhanced Employee Morale: A safer workplace can boost employee morale and job satisfaction.
- Legal Compliance: Ensures that businesses are meeting federal, state and local requirements to avoid potential fines or penalties.
When employees are more aware of hazards and risks, businesses typically see fewer accidents, better productivity and reduced absenteeism. According to the National Safety Council, more than 108 million days are lost annually from work-related injuries. Another 60 million lost days may also result in future years.
Employers may also be able to limit their liability in case of an incident when everyone has been properly trained on safe protocols.
What Jobs Can I Get with an OSHA 30 Card?
Here are 10 examples of the kinds of jobs that require OSHA 30 and what they do:
1. Construction Supervisor/Foreman
- Supervising construction sites and ensuring that safe protocols are followed.
- Overseeing workers, conducting hazard inspections and implementing workplace safety regulations.
2. Site Safety Officer/Construction Safety Health Manager
- Monitoring and enforcing safety standards on job sites.
- Conducting audits, educating workers and ensuring regulatory compliance.
3. Safety Coordinator/Specialist
- Developing and implementing policies and programs for industries like construction, manufacturing and logistics.
- Conducting workplace assessments, education programs and accident investigations.
4. Compliance Officer
- Working for government agencies or private firms to ensure that workplaces comply with standards and other regulations.
- Conducting site inspections and audits.
5. Construction Project Manager
- Overseeing entire construction projects, managing teams, budgets, timelines and ensuring compliance throughout the project, including construction safety requirements.
6. Warehouse Manager
- Managing warehouse operations and implementing safe material handling practices, ensuring workers operate safely and maintaining compliance through standards monitoring.
7. Maintenance Supervisor
- Supervising maintenance teams in industries like manufacturing or facilities management, ensuring that regulations are followed during repair or service tasks.
8. Safety Trainer/Inspector
- Conducting educational programs for employees in various industries, educating them about workplace standards, hazards and best practices.
- Conducting inspections in various industries, identifying hazards and ensuring compliance with regulations and standards.
9. Manufacturing Supervisor
- Supervising manufacturing operations, emphasizing protocols to prevent workplace injuries and improve productivity.
10. Facilities Manager
- Managing the operation and maintenance of buildings and equipment, ensuring that facilities and protocols comply with federal and local regulations.
Get the Education You Need to Advance Your Career
The OSHA 30-Hour Training course includes comprehensive safety education, providing instruction in workplace hazards, safe standards and accident prevention. Many careers, including those in construction, manufacturing and healthcare feature jobs that require 30-hour certification, especially for managers or supervisors. So, if you don’t get the training you need, you might not be able to get the job you want.
Remember, however, that OSHA does not issue an OSHA certification. You can get the OSHA-authorized training employers require and achieve the career and job benefits of OSHA training at OSHA Education Center for:
- Construction
- General Industry
- General Industry — International (an equivalent knowledge program for non-U.S. jurisdictions)
Courses are also available in Spanish:
When you complete the coursework, you will receive a certificate of completion. An official OSHA 30 card will arrive in the mail from the DOL shortly thereafter.
Other certifications or courses may be necessary for specific jobs. For example, if you work with hazardous waste, HAZWOPER training is required to meet hazardous material exposures standards in 29 CFR 1910.120 and 1926.65 (general industry and construction, respectively).
Depending on the job, you may also need specialized training in certain areas such as:
- Fall prevention
- Forklift certification
- Excavation and trenching
- Aerial and scissor lifts
- Construction and scaffolding
- Cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators and conveyors
- Rigging and material handling
- Hazard Communication
- Lockout/Tagout
- Electrical Arc Flash
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70E) standards
For healthcare environments, you may also be required to take additional training such as:
OSHA Education Center offers OSHA 30 training, the courses we’ve listed here and more. In partnership with the University of South Florida, we are an authorized provider of online Outreach Training. We offer 100% online instruction designed to help you achieve your career goals on your terms.
You can complete all coursework online with 24/7 access to all materials. This lets you log on and off as often as needed while working from anywhere you have internet access. Get started today as you prepare to learn more, earn more and find the OSHA 30 job that’s right for you.