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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Introduction to OSHA: General Industry and Construction

Introduction to OSHA: General Industry and Construction

22 minutesEN / ES / MLCCSafety TrainingOccupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 USC 651); 29 CFR 1910; 29 CFR 1926
Quick Answer

Introduction to OSHA: General Industry and Construction is a 22-minute online course that provides a foundational overview of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the OSH Act of 1970, and the responsibilities it places on both employers and employees. It is designed for all workers in private-sector general industry and construction and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created OSHA with a single mission: to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for American workers. Since its founding, workplace fatalities have dropped from approximately 38 deaths per day in 1970 to 14 per day in 2024 - but with 5,070 workers still killed on the job in 2024 and 2.5 million injuries and illnesses reported, the need for fundamental OSHA knowledge remains critical. Every employer covered by the OSH Act must understand their legal obligations, and every employee must know their rights - including the right to a safe workplace, the right to report hazards, and protection from retaliation.

This course gives your employees the foundation they need to understand how OSHA operates and why it matters to their daily work. Your team will learn about the OSH Act's requirements for employers, including the General Duty Clause, OSHA's inspection process, how citations and penalties work, and the specific rights that protect workers who raise safety concerns. The training covers both general industry (29 CFR 1910) and construction (29 CFR 1926) frameworks, making it suitable for multi-industry employers.

What You'll Learn

  • The purpose and mission of OSHA under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
  • Employer responsibilities including the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1))
  • Employee rights under the OSH Act including the right to report hazards without retaliation
  • How OSHA inspections work - from opening conference to citation issuance
  • Types of OSHA violations and current penalty amounts
  • Overview of general industry standards (29 CFR 1910) and construction standards (29 CFR 1926)
  • OSHA recordkeeping requirements and how to report serious incidents

Who Needs This Training

  • New employees in any private-sector industry who need a foundational understanding of OSHA
  • Supervisors and managers responsible for ensuring OSHA compliance on their teams
  • Safety committee members who need to understand OSHA's regulatory framework
  • HR professionals who manage safety training programs and OSHA recordkeeping
  • Small business owners learning their obligations under the OSH Act for the first time
  • Workers transitioning between general industry and construction roles

Regulatory Background

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 USC 651 et seq.) requires every employer in the private sector to comply with OSHA standards and provide a workplace free from recognized serious hazards. OSHA issues standards under two primary frameworks: 29 CFR 1910 for general industry and 29 CFR 1926 for construction. In fiscal year 2024, OSHA's Top 10 most-cited standards generated thousands of citations, led by fall protection (1926.501), hazard communication (1910.1200), and control of hazardous energy (1910.147). Current penalties stand at up to $16,550 for serious violations and $165,514 for willful or repeated violations. OSHA investigated 826 worker fatalities in FY 2024 and employers in the construction industry alone incurred over $119 million in penalties. Understanding OSHA fundamentals is not optional - it is the baseline for every compliant workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

The General Duty Clause is Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act of 1970. It requires each employer to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. This clause applies even when no specific OSHA standard covers a particular hazard - such as heat exposure, cold stress, or workplace violence. OSHA can issue citations under the General Duty Clause for any recognized hazard the employer has failed to address.
As of January 2025, OSHA penalties are: up to $16,550 per serious violation, up to $16,550 per day for failure to abate a cited hazard, and up to $165,514 per willful or repeated violation. Penalty amounts are adjusted annually for inflation. OSHA also has the authority to refer cases for criminal prosecution when willful violations result in a worker's death.
Employees have the right to a safe workplace, the right to report hazards to OSHA, the right to request an OSHA inspection, the right to participate in an OSHA inspection, the right to access their OSHA injury and illness records, and the right to be free from retaliation for exercising any of these rights. Section 11(c) of the OSH Act specifically prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who file complaints or report safety concerns.
No. This is a 22-minute awareness course that provides a foundational overview of OSHA. OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour courses are separate programs authorized by OSHA's Outreach Training Program, which cover specific hazard topics in much greater depth and result in a Department of Labor card upon completion. This course is appropriate as an introduction or orientation supplement but does not substitute for OSHA Outreach training.
This course covers both general industry (29 CFR 1910) and construction (29 CFR 1926) frameworks. It explains how OSHA's regulatory structure differs between these two sectors and helps employees understand which standards apply to their work. This makes it suitable for employers with operations spanning multiple industry classifications.

Part of These Training Packages

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10 courses covering OSHA's most-cited construction violations

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This course provides the regulatory foundation that pairs naturally with topic-specific safety training. Employers often follow this with PPE: Are You Covered and Hazard Communication: GHS Safety Data Sheets to build a complete orientation program. For a turnkey solution, the New Hire Safety Orientation bundle combines OSHA fundamentals with the most commonly required first-day safety topics.

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$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95
Language

This course is available in English, Spanish, and Multi-Language CC at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$24.95
per person