Montana OSHA Training Online

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.

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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