OSHA Hawaii Online Training

While OSHA Hawaii regulations are extremely helpful for keeping you safe, they aren’t always easy to understand. That’s why we are discussing OSHA training regulations, including Hawaii state plan information, and how you can get your recommended courses.

Occupational Safety and Health Jurisdiction in Hawaii

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) allows states to assume their own occupational safety and health responsibilities as long as they're "at least as effective" as the federal program.

Hawaii has an official state plan that covers all state and local government workers in Hawaii, as well as most private sector workers. It adopted the majority of federal OSHA standards that are relevant for the people under their jurisdiction. However, they've made significant changes or additions in the following areas:

General Industry Standards:

• Noise Exposure
• Toxic Substances
• Industrial Lighting
• Worker Intoxication
• Safety and Health Program

Construction Standards:

• Signs, Signals, and Barricades
• Steel Erection
• Cranes and Derricks
• Worker Intoxication

The state plan is managed and enforced by the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) under the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. HIOSH inspects workplaces, issues citations when necessary, and offers consultation services to help employers proactively comply with HIOSH regulations.

Federal OSHA still performs those services for a fraction of Hawaiians. Specifically, federal jurisdiction applies to:

• Federal agencies and employees
• The U.S. Postal Service, alongside private facilities operated by contractors for mail delivery on behalf of the USPS
• Maritime workplaces EXCEPT marine construction work done on vessels or other floating facilities (which are covered by HIOSH)
• Contractors, subcontractors and private-sector employees working on land under exclusive federal jurisdiction, including national parks and military installations
• Any establishment that has refused entry and the state can't obtain a warrant to enforce their right of entry
• Working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers onboard aircraft in operation

OSHA Hawaii Training Requirements

Since Hawaii adopted the majority of applicable federal OSHA standards, federal training requirements are a good place to start.

OSHA Hawaii requires training on specific safety standards that apply to your job functions. The list of topics for those under HIOSH jurisdiction will largely be the same, but employers may need to supplement the federal list with state-specific topics or incorporate HIOSH-specific standards into training content.

Federal OSHA also has Outreach courses (sometimes referred to as "DOL cards") that cover common requirements for your industry. Even though OSHA doesn't require OSHA Outreach training, some employers might. In that case, you’ll either need an OSHA 10-Hour course for entry-level workers or an OSHA 30-Hour course for supervisors.

Benefits of OSHA Training for Workers in Hawaii

While the primary goal of OSHA safety training is improve worksite injury, accident, and fatality rates, employees aren’t the only ones to benefit from safety training. When Hawaii employers invest in OSHA training programs, they can:

• Avoid penalties from OSHA inspections
• Lower workers’ compensation costs
• Increase productivity and financial performance

If you’re not yet convinced of the life-saving benefits safety training can have, read the below statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other Hawaii labor agencies. These statistics prove the necessity of safety training in preventing fatalities, accidents, and fines.

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Fatal Occupational Injuries in Hawaii

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 25 fatal occupational injuries in Hawaii in 2017, while nationally there were 5,486 fatal occupational injuries.

Of the 25 fatalities:

• 14 were the result of transportation incidents
• 4 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
• 4 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals

The industries with the greatest number of fatalities were:

• 10 in transportation and warehousing
• 4 in educational and health services
• 4 in construction

2023 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in Hawaii

As you can see, workers in Hawaii, especially in construction, are at risk for injury and accidents. But workers aren’t the only ones who can benefit from safety training; employers can use training to reduce their risk of OSHA inspection enforcement penalties.

While OSHA lists the top enforcement cases by state on their website, to give you a quick idea of the high stakes of OSHA noncompliance, here were the top cases of 2023.

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