The Best Safety Training Courses for Spanish-Speaking Workers
Written by Michael Purser | Edited by Joey Rosenberg
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States. With so many Spanish-speaking professionals working on jobsites across the country, it makes sense for employers to invest in high-quality safety training in Spanish.
Staying on top of federal safety compliance education can be tough, especially once you add another language into the mix.
This article will help you identify and purchase the most impactful OSHA safety training programs available in Spanish.
Why Choose Courses in Spanish?
Employers are responsible for providing safety awareness materials and training to their employees. According to OSHA, that instruction must be provided in a manner that employees can understand.
If you employ workers who primarily speak Spanish, you may need to provide lessons in both English and Spanish. While you could employ a safety training translator, there are other ways to ensure every worker gets a complete workplace safety education.
Multilingual Online Training
Online training makes it easy to keep employees up to date on safety procedures and federal regulations. An online learning management system (LMS) allows managers to track employee progress, assign new training and check for current safety certifications.
Online programs also allow workers to study independently from anywhere at any time in their native languages. English-speaking workers can select English lessons while their Spanish-speaking counterparts work on a Spanish-language version of the same course.
High-quality multilingual training doesn’t just include simple course translations. For instance, our Outreach Training courses all feature full Spanish-language narration, video examples and interactive simulations. The Spanish version of each course is just as comprehensive and easy to use as the equivalent English program.
Top Safety and Security Training Options for Spanish Speakers
Where should you start when building a Spanish-language safety program? Here are a few crucial courses that can serve as a solid foundation for your workforce.
OSHA Outreach Training
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) offers a general safety awareness system designed to teach generalized hazard mitigation skills to employees across nearly any industry. Called the Outreach Training Program, this educational system is required to earn DOL-issued OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 cards.
OSHA Education Center provides OSHA-authorized online Outreach Training through our partnership with the University of South Florida. Students who complete our online OSHA training in English or Spanish will receive an official DOL card after finishing the program.
Lessons are broadly applicable across roles and industries, making this the perfect place to start your Spanish safety and security training. Completing one of these courses will make any employee a better, safer worker.
OSHA 10
The 10-hour version of the program is designed for entry-level workers and individual contributors. OSHA 10 training focuses on the role of OSHA in the workplace, workers’ rights on the job and the most common hazards facing the average employee.
The 10-Hour Outreach Training for General Industry course is a good choice for those working in warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, sanitation and most other sectors. Modules include lessons about electrical hazards, bloodborne pathogens, personal protective equipment (PPE) and more.
Spanish speakers working in construction, demolition, building development or renovations should instead complete the OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Training for Construction course. This program focuses on the hazards most common to construction sites, including fall hazards, struck-by hazards, electrical hazards and more. Special attention is given to PPE, power tools and materials handling.
OSHA 30
By contrast, the 30-hour version of each program is designed for supervisors, managers and safety professionals. The additional hours of instruction provide a more comprehensive look into major hazards and how to prevent them.
A deeper understanding of best practices allows your employees to protect others, not just themselves. We offer full Spanish-language versions of OSHA 30-Hour Outreach Training for Construction course and OSHA 30-Hour Outreach Training for General Industry course.
Investing in managers and supervisors who are fully trained in Spanish can pay dividends through major reductions in workplace accidents, workers’ compensation claims and lost productivity. These managers can do more than provide word-by-word explanations of English instruction. They can help build a safety culture among their peers.
International Equivalents
The Outreach Training Program is only valid within the United States. However, equivalent training to both the 10-hour and the 30-hour courses is available in English and Spanish for workers outside of OSHA’s jurisdiction.
Completing an international course does not award an official DOL OSHA training card. But the lessons contain the same safety protocols, hazard awareness instruction and other tips.
NYC Site Safety Training (SST)
Under New York City Local Law 196, employees on almost all building sites in the five boroughs must obtain an SST card before starting work. That makes it a crucial choice for any Spanish-speaking construction worker in New York City.
The full site safety training program takes approximately 40 hours to complete. However, professionals who already hold a valid OSHA 30 card can complete a shorter 10-hour version of the program, instead.
Certain approved training options, like our 2-Hour Drug and Alcohol Awareness course, can be completed individually and applied toward an SST card.
Other Training Courses
While the courses above are incredibly important, they aren’t the only options for safety training courses in Spanish. OSHA Education Center offers many Spanish-language courses designed for specific job functions, workplace hazards and dangerous environments.
Examples include:
Permit-Required Confined Spaces for Construction: Confined spaces are inherently hazardous to workers. But some confined areas present additional risks like toxic gases, unsafe temperatures and potential collapses. Your workforce needs careful preparation to enter these confined spaces, no matter what language they speak.
Office Safety: Offices might not contain barrels of flammable chemicals or massive industrial machines, but that doesn’t make office safety any less important. Teach your staff about office hazards and emergency preparedness with this helpful course.
Workplace Violence: Aggressive or violent behavior can occur on any jobsite. Cultural differences and language barriers can exacerbate misunderstandings. A workplace violence prevention course can lower the risk of unacceptable behavior and physical altercations at work among all employees.
Check out our full course catalog to find topics your workers need to excel. You can even select the “Disponible en Español” button to see only the courses with Spanish instruction.
Compliance and Recordkeeping
OSHA asks employers to track specific details, from injury reports and exposure logs to training dates and certificate renewals.
The length of time employers must keep records varies. However, maintaining a record of training for the full length of a worker’s employment is a good start. Some details, like medical records of employee exposure to toxic substances, must be held for an additional 30 years after employment.
All that paperwork can pile up. Adding new reports, like Spanish safety training records, can complicate your workflow and disrupt your data retention. While you can keep track of your training records manually, there are easier ways to stay on top of your Spanish safety compliance records.
Business Solutions
OSHA Education Center offers a variety of solutions for businesses of all sizes. Our Safety Compliance Program, for instance, can help you assign, track, record and monitor training across your entire organization — including in Spanish.
See exactly which training programs your workers have completed and when they are up for renewal. Advanced tools give you real-time reporting on every facet of your workforce compliance, including progress tracking for training.
That’s not all, though. We also offer bulk discounts starting at just two courses, with even greater savings when you buy more. Whether you’re training a team of 10 or 10,000, you can buy all the programs you need in advance and distribute courses whenever needed.
Spanish Safety Training Made Easy
Start training your Spanish-speaking workers today. Sign your employees up for 10 hours of Outreach Training or get a custom quote for all your business needs. Start today!