Montana OSHA Training Online

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Prior to OSHA’s establishment, there was a lack of worker safety laws throughout the United States, including in Montana. Now with OSHA’s creation, there are plenty of workplace safety standards set in place to keep workers safe from jobsite hazards.

But because there are so many regulations, it can be confusing to know which ones apply to you. To help you get a better understanding of OSHA standards in Montana, we are reviewing OSHA training recommendations, the places you can get your OSHA Montana training, and why training is so important for Montanans in every industry—particularly in construction.

OSHA Montana Training Requirements

If you work in the private sector in Montana, you are under federal OSHA jurisdiction. Unlike other states, Montana has no federally recognized occupational health and safety regulatory program of its own (often called a "state plan"). State, county, and city employees are NOT covered by federal OSHA; instead, they fall under Montana law, which we'll discuss below.

OSHA requires that employers train workers on a list of specific safety standards, and Montana state law requires task-specific safety training, as well. Refresher training is required by both federal and state law in these cases —OSHA specifies frequency on a standard-by-standard basis, while Montana law recommends refresher training "at least annually."

Additionally, Montana state law requires an oral and written safety orientation for all employees before they begin regular duties. Their recommendations for this training include emergency procedures, fire safety, first aid, personal protective equipment, work site hazards, and accident/hazard reporting.

It's worth noting that those same topics are typically covered by OSHA's recommended (but not required) Outreach Training orientation courses. Outreach courses are outlined by OSHA and delivered through authorized third-party training providers. The 10-hour courses are intended for entry-level workers and the 30-hour courses are intended for supervisors.

OSHA Outreach courses can be an excellent option for employers with limited resources that don't support a 100% custom training program, which is why many Montana employers will require OSHA Outreach as a start to their safety training obligations.

Learn More About OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Courses for Montanans

We offer OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry to meet your OSHA training needs.

Not sure where to start? Read our guide.

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Montana's Employee and Community Hazardous Chemical Information Act (ECHCIA)

There is one other training provision you need to be aware of in Montana. Private sector employers are required to train employees according to OSHA hazard communication (HazCom) standards. But Montana has its own law regarding hazardous chemical communication, known as the Employee and Community Hazardous Chemical Information Act (ECHCIA), Montana Code Annotated (MCA) § 50-78. ECHCIA establishes training requirements for public sector employees (ie, state, county, and city employees not covered by OSHA).

Montana Safety Culture Act (MSCA)

The Montana Safety Culture Act (MSCA) was passed in 1993 to promote a culture of safety in all Montana workplaces. While parts of it were repealed in 2019, other provisions are still in effect.

The state training requirements mentioned above are part of the MSCA. They are part of the six requirements that all employers (private and public) must meet, with additional requirements that apply to employers with five or more employees.

Safety protections for public employees —workers employed by state, county, or city governments —are also part of the MSCA, laid out in MCA § 50-71-111-128.

Benefits of OSHA Montana Training for Workers

While OSHA’s main goal is to increase employee’s awareness and understanding of workplace and jobsite hazards, employers can also benefit from OSHA training. With OSHA training, employers can avoid penalties from failed OSHA inspections, lower their worker compensation costs, and increase work productivity and financial performance.

While we can easily say that OSHA training and awareness keeps workers safe, it’s another thing entirely to see the statistics for yourself. Following this section, take a look at these Montana workplace injury statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other Montana agencies.

Fatal Occupational Injuries in Montana

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 32 fatal occupational injuries in Montana in 2017, while 5,147 fatal occupational injuries occurred nationally.

Of the 32 fatalities:

  • 12 were the result of transportation incidents
  • 5 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
  • 7 were the result of contact with objects and equipment
  • 5 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
  • 2 were the result of fires and explosions

The 32 fatalities were distributed across the following industries:

  • 16 in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting
  • 6 in construction
  • 4 in transportation and warehousing
  • 2 in local government and 1 in unspecified government
  • 1 in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

2019 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in Montana

As you can clearly see, workers in Montana, especially those in construction are at major risk for injury and fatalities, and safety training works to prevent these accidents. However, employees aren’t alone – Montana businesses can also benefit from OSHA training and use it to reduce their risk of enforcement penalties from failed OSHA inspections.

Currently, OSHA lists the top enforcement cases by state on its website, but here are the top cases for 2019.

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State Inspection Number Employer City Issuance Date Initial Penalty
MT 1356616.015 Nelcon, Inc. LAUREL 04/17/2019 $225,425.00

Federal OSHA Offices in Montana

Montana employers and workers under federal OSHA jurisdiction can turn to the local area office that OSHA maintains in Billings.

You can find the contact information for the Montana area office on OSHA’s website.

Additional Montana Resources for Safety Information

The following Montana state agency and association websites can provide you with more information on safety resources, including site-specific advice.

Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI): The DLI manages labor and industry enforcement matters like unemployment insurance, professional licensing, registered apprenticeships, wage claims, building codes, and more. They also handle workers' compensation claims, which are obviously very closely tied to workplace safety issues.

Montana Safety and Health Bureau: This DLI bureau provides state-level occupational safety and health resources. They enforce safety and health in the public sector. They offer on-site consultation services at no charge for small private and public entities that need a hazard assessment and technical assistance. They also recognize outstanding workplace safety and health through the SHARP program.

SafeMT.com: This site provides resources for safety in Montana workplaces, including templates for creating a workplace safety program, Grab N Go kits for managing workplace incidents, safety videos, posters, and workshops, and more.

Montana Safety Services Council (MSSC): The MSSC is a not-for-profit educational association serving over 130 businesses in manufacturing, construction, medical, retail, wholesale, transportation, and refining. In addition to Montana, they also serve businesses in Wyoming. They provide safety consultation, assessment, and auditing services. They can also help you develop a safety program.

Enroll Now in Montana OSHA Training Courses

Now that you understand the importance of OSHA Montana training in contributing to the safety and health of Montana workers, the next step is determining which OSHA training course is right for you.

Lucky for you, the search stops now! With our 20 years of experience as an OSHA-authorized training provider, we offer OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry to satisfy your OSHA training needs.

The best part of selecting us as your OSHA training provider is that you can take all your training online and at your own pace.

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