Safety and health (S&H) training is an essential element of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA’s) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). All employees, including contractors, are required to have S&H training. They must understand the hazards in the workplace, know how to prevent mishaps, and be aware of their S&H responsibilities.

Please see the following SMCX-developed presentation for more information on Safety & Health Training:

Effective site-specific S&H training programs ensure the worksite:

• Identifies and meets the training needs of employees at all levels, including OSHA and Department of Defense-required trainings
• Develops a S&H training schedule
• Determines training frequencies
• Uses qualified persons to develop and deliver S&H training content
• Provides refresher S&H training at intervals appropriate to assigned roles and tasking
• Measures the effectiveness of training in terms of comprehension, retention, and application of the training provided
• Documents the completion of all S&H training
• Reviews and updates training content when previous training is deemed ineffective or changes in the workplace occur
• Assigns responsibility for S&H programs and processes
• Provides S&H training and information to new employees
• Delivers key S&H information to on-site visitors

All levels of the workforce must understand:

• S&H leadership responsibilities for managers and supervisors
• S&H rights and responsibilities of employees
• Basic S&H policies and rules
• Fundamental concepts of VPP
• Existing hazards at the worksite
• Potential hazardous conditions
• Safe work practices and procedures
• Hazard reporting procedures
• Requirements, limitations, maintenance, use, and storage of personal protective equipment
• Signs and symptoms of workplace-related illness
• Emergency procedures and assigned roles and responsibilities