OSHA Maryland Online Training

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To help you get a better understanding of OSHA standards in Maryland, we are going to review OSHA training recommendations, how you can get your OSHA Maryland training, and why training is so important for Marylanders in every industry.

Occupational Safety and Health Jurisdiction in Maryland

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.

Maryland has an official state plan that covers all state and local government workers in Maryland, as well as most private-sector workers.

It adopts all relevant federal OSHA standards by reference. In addition, Maryland adopted unique standards, including:

General Industry

• Prohibition on Smoking in an Indoor Place of Employment
• Standard for Confined Spaces
• Standard for Personnel Platforms Suspended from Cranes, Derricks and Hoists
• Tree Care and Removal
• Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde

Construction

• Fall Protection in Steel Erection
• Crane Safety
• Lead in Construction
• Excavations, Requirement for Protective Systems

Agriculture

• Standard for Field Sanitation

The Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) compliance unit enforces the standards with inspections, citations, and the investigation of complaints. It's housed under the Maryland Department of Labor.

A small number of Marylanders remain under federal OSHA jurisdiction, instead. Specifically:

• Federal employment
• The U.S. Postal Service plus private contractor-operated facilities engaged by USPS
• Maritime operations (ie, shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring)
• Private-sector employment on military bases
• Working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers onboard aircraft in operation
• Any hazard, industry, area, operation, or facility where the State Plan is unable to effectively exercise jurisdiction

OSHA Maryland Training Requirements

Since Maryland adopted most federal standards by reference, Marylanders will follow similar training requirements regardless of jurisdiction.

OSHA requires training on specific safety standards that apply to your job functions. The only time jurisdiction might impact training are the standards where Maryland adopted its own unique standard.

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 Maryland Training for Workers

OSHA’s primary goal with their training courses has always been to reduce workplace injuries and accidents, but they’re not the only ones that can benefit from OSHA training. When Maryland employers invest in training, they can avoid OSHA inspection penalties, lower workers’ compensation costs, and increase productivity and financial performance.

Although we can say OSHA training will keep workers safe, it’s another thing entirely to see the statistics that prove it. Take a look at workplace injury statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other Maryland agencies.

Fatal Occupational Injuries in Maryland

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 67 fatal occupational injuries in Maryland in 2017, while nationally there were 5,147 fatal occupational injuries.

Of the 67 fatalities:

• 29 were the result of transportation incidents
• 18 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
• 15 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
• 14 were the result of exposure to harmful substances or environments
• 10 were the result of contact with objects and equipment
• 1 was the result of fires and explosions

The industries with the greatest number of fatalities were:

• 25 in construction
• 16 in transportation and warehousing
• 11 in administrative and waste services

2019 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in Maryland

No doubt you now understand that workers in Maryland, especially those in construction, are at a high risk for injuries and accidents. However, workers aren’t the only ones who will experience loss with the lack of safety training. When Maryland businesses invest in OSHA training they can reduce their risk of enforcement penalties from an OSHA inspection.

While OSHA lists the top enforcement cases by state on its website, to give you a quick idea of the hefty fines you could face, here are the top cases for 2019.

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