OSHA District of Columbia Online Training
OSHA standards can be confusing; they vary by jurisdiction, industry, and economic sector. To help you better understand OSHA compliance in Washington, DC, we'll review OSHA's training recommendations below, as well as how to get OSHA training and why it's important for District residents in every industry (but especially in construction).
Occupational Safety and Health in Washington, DC
Some states and territories in the U.S. have their own officially recognized occupational health and safety program, generally called a "state plan." The District of Columbia doesn't have a "state plan" for its jurisdiction.
Instead, the District falls under federal OSHA jurisdiction, which applies to most of the private sector, as well as the federal government.
The "public sector," meaning local or state governments and their workers, are not covered by federal OSHA. In Washington, DC, these workers get some protections from the District of Columbia Office of Risk Management (DCORM).
DCORM assists in safety program development based on OSHA standards and industry safety practices. They conduct annual agency site safety inspections and investigate occupational accidents, illnesses, injuries, and fatalities.
OSHA Training Requirements in the District of Columbia
For DC businesses and workers under federal jurisdiction, OSHA requires training on specific safety standards based on employees' job activities.
DCORM recommends meeting the training requirements of federal standards.
OSHA also recommends Outreach training courses, which are 10- or 30-hour safety orientations tailored to your industry. These courses aren't required by OSHA itself, but some individual employers may require an OSHA 10-hour "DOL card" for entry-level workers or an OSHA 30-hour card for supervisors.
Learn More About OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Courses for District Residents
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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Benefits of OSHA Training for Workers in Washington, DC
OSHA safety training increases employee awareness of workplace hazards so that they have the knowledge and skills to prevent fatalities and accidents. That's the reason that employers in the District of Columbia can see the following benefits when they invest in OSHA training programs:
- A reduced likelihood of penalties from OSHA inspections
- Lower workers’ compensation costs
- Increased productivity and financial performance
Let's take look at the statistics from OSHA and the Department of Labor to learn more about the role of safety training in preventing fatalities, accidents, and fines.
Fatal Occupational Injuries in Washington, DC
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 15 fatal occupational injuries in the District of Columbia in 2022, while nationally there were 5,486 fatal occupational injuries.
Of the 15 fatalities:
- 7 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
- 3 were the result of exposure to harmful substances or environments
The construction industry accounted for almost half of the fatalities.
2022 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in the District of Columbia
As you can see, workers in Washington, DC, are at risk for injury and accidents that can be reduced with proper safety and health training. But Washington, DC, businesses can also use OSHA training to help reduce their risk of enforcement penalties levied after an OSHA inspection.
Federal OSHA lists the top enforcement cases by state on its website. To give you an idea of the size of the fines you risk, here are the top cases for 2022.
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| State | Inspection Number | Employer | City | Issuance Date | Initial Penalty |
| DC | 1599608.015 | Walgreens Company | WASHINGTON | 11/28/2022 | $79,761.00 |
| DC | 1595834.015 | Oscar Cruz | WASHINGTON | 11/08/2022 | $41,479.00 |
| DC | 1573479.015 | U.S. Postal Service/Brentwood JCTM | WASHINGTON | 07/13/2022 | $88,876.00 |
Federal OSHA Offices in Washington, DC
Most DC employers and workers fall under federal OSHA jurisdiction, so OSHA has a Baltimore-Washington DC area office in Linthicum, MD, to serve the private sector and all federal employees.
District employers and workers (those employed by the District government) should contact the DC Office of Risk Management (DCORM) office instead.
Enroll Now in DC OSHA Training Courses
OSHA training is vital to the well-being of workers, supervisors, employers, and the economy. Now that you understand why, it's time to choose the OSHA training that's right for you.
With over 20 years of experience as an OSHA-authorized training provider, we offer a full suite of required OSHA safety topics, as well as OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry.
And as an online training provider, we offer self-paced learning that allows workers to complete their OSHA requirements at their own convenience, in a comfortable environment. Register today to get started!
