EM 385-1-1 TRAINING & CERTIFICATION ONLINE

What Does "EM" Mean?

The EM in EM 385 is an abbreviation for ‘Engineers Manual.’

What is EM 385-1-1 Training?

If you are a contractor working on military projects, you must familiarize yourself with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Safety and Health Requirements Manual EM 385-1-1. The EM 385 manual is designed to guide the development, management, and implementation of a safety and occupational health (SOH) program.  

The manual also reviews your responsibilities for maintaining your safety, stressing that you must: 

• Comply with applicable SOH requirements 
• Wear prescribed SOH equipment 
• Report unsafe conditions or activities
• Prevent avoidable mishaps
• Work in a safe manner

Is EM-385-1-1 Mandatory?

The EM-385-1-1 requirements are mandatory for anyone working in or with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and anyone working on a federally funded construction project. Both military and civilian personnel on these projects, including private contractors, need initial and refresher training on EM 385-1-1 standards.

Which EM-385-1-1 Course Do I Need?

Site Safety Health Officers (SSHOs) working on sites regulated by EM 385-1-1 need the 40-hour EM 385 course. 

If you’re a supervisor, crew leader, or manager working on these sites, you need the 24-hour EM 385 course instead.  

If you’re a non-supervisory employee, then the 16-hour EM 385 course is sufficient. 

For your annual refresher training, you’ll need to complete the 8-hour course.

Can I Take EM-385-1-1 Training Online?

Yes! USACE Safety & Health regulations allow you to take training online as long as the course meets the requirements laid out in EM 385-1-1. Ours do!

Is Your EM-385-1-1 Certification Legitimate?

Absolutely – we’ve been helping people get their “EM 385 certification” (as completion of the required training is often called) for many years. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) doesn’t have a list of approved training providers like OSHA, so you have to be careful when picking your course. Our EM 385 courses meet all the requirements for EM 385 compliance training.

Do the EM-385-1-1 Standards Have Anything to do With OSHA?

While some EM 385-1-1 requirements are similar to OSHA requirements, EM 385-1-1 standards are more strict and rigorous than OSHA’s in areas like site inspections, safety management, employee training, and more. If you’re working with USACE or on a construction project with federal funding, you’re probably required to follow the standards of EM 385-1-1 instead of OSHA.

EM 385-1-1 Manual Versus OSHA Construction Standards

While you might be familiar with OSHA’s construction safety requirements described in CFR 1926, the rules laid out in the EM 385 manual are generally much stricter—even if they are similar.

One of the most noticeable differences is the requirement in the manual for a written Accident Prevention Plan (APP), which like the name suggests, is a written plan that details how you will prevent accidents from happening on specific construction projects. Also different from OSHA is the requirement that you identify company officials responsible for safety with the APP so that if anything does happen, Department of Defense Personnel know who to contact.

OSHAcampus® has all the online safety training courses you need to meet your compliance requirements and get to work fast!

EM 385-1-1 Training Requirements

The EM 385 manual also has more rigorous training requirements than OSHA. Contractors working on a construction site for the military need to be aware of additional hazards they might face and how to protect valuable information and equipment.

Similar to OSHA, the training depends on your level of responsibility:

• Site Safety Health Officers (SSHO) are required to complete the initial 40-Hour training and then an 8-Hour refresher course each year following.
• Managers and supervisors who lead teams should take the 24-Hour training
• Workers and contractors must complete an introductory 16-Hour training course

Explore our online EM 385-1-1 training courses to find the right one to meet your compliance needs.