OSHA Pennsylvania Online Training
After the establishment of OSHA, the United States – including Pennsylvania – went from very few government rules that protected workers, to a country with regulations in place that keep all U.S. workers safe from jobsite hazards.
Unfortunately, with all the good that OSHA regulations bring to the Pennsylvania workforce, the variety of standards can be confusing. To help you better understand OSHA standards in Pennsylvania, below we’ll look at OSHA Pennsylvania training recommendations, the best places to receive your OSHA training, and why training is essential for all workers in Pennsylvania.
OSHA Pennsylvania Training Requirements
Unlike some states, Pennsylvania has no official OSHA-approved "state plan" for occupational health and safety. As a result, most private-sector Pennsylvanians fall under federal OSHA control.
Public workers (Commonwealth, county, and municipal employees) aren't covered by federal OSHA, but they derive some protections from Pennsylvania's General Safety Law (Act 174).
OSHA requires specific training on certain topics. For example, in Pennsylvania, OSHA doesn’t require it’s 10-hour or 30-hour “Outreach” course, but they do recommend Outreach training as a general orientation to safety.
Even though Pennsylvania doesn’t require Outreach training, a lot of Pennsylvania employers will, so it’s a good idea to get ahead and take an OSHA 10-hour course if you’re an entry-level worker, or a OSHA 30-hour course if you’re a supervisor.
OSHA Training Requirements for Philadelphia Construction
One group of workers in Pennsylvania are required to take OSHA Outreach training: Philadelphia construction workers and contractors.
According to Philadelphia Code, Title 4, Subcode A, Section A-1001.4, you need to complete OSHA 10-hour Construction Training if you are a:
- Worker directly performing permitted construction or demolition activities
- State-registered Home Improvement Contractor
- Employee of a licensed contractor (including plumbing, electrical, fire-suppression and warm-air)
All licensed contractors need to employ at least one supervisory worker who has completed OSHA 30-hour Construction Training within the last 5 years. This rule does NOT apply to plumbing, electrical, fire suppression and warm air apparatus contractors.
Teams working on the construction or demolition of a major building need continuous oversite by a site safety manager who has completed OSHA 30 Construction.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OSHA 10-HOUR AND 30-HOUR COURSES
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.
Pennsylvania Worker & Community Right to Know (RTK) Act
While OSHA has standards relating to hazardous communication that apply to private-sector workers, Pennsylvania has its own law: The Pennsylvania Worker and Community Right to Know Act (Act 159 of 1984). It ensures that employees are trained on the specific chemical hazards they face at work.
It also establishes reporting requirements to ensure that communities get information on chemical hazards that are nearby. Even if your workforce is covered by OSHA, you need to comply with these provisions of RTK.
Benefits of OSHA Pennsylvania Training for Workers
OSHA’s number one goal is to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities; they’re able to do this by increasing employee awareness through their training programs. Besides the accident-prevention tips training provides, when employers in Pennsylvania invest in OSHA training programs, they have the opportunity to:
- Steer clear of penalties from OSHA inspections
- Lessen workers’ compensation costs
- Expand productivity and financial performance
While it’s easy to say that training and injury awareness will keep workers safe, it’s even more compelling to look at the statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other Pennsylvania agencies. Not only do these statistics tell an important story about training courses preventing fatalities, accidents, and fines, but they also show the stark reality of workplaces without OSHA training.
Fatal Occupational Injuries in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania experienced 172 fatal occupational injuries in Pennsylvania in 2017, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationally, they recorded a total of 5,147 fatal occupational injuries.
Of the 172 fatalities:
- 61 were the result of transportation incidents
- 19 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
- 34 were the result of contact with objects and equipment
- 27 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
- 26 were the result of exposure to harmful substances or environments
- 5 were the result of fires and explosions
Trade, transportation, and utilities had the highest number of fatal work injuries. The industry with the second highest was construction.
Fatal Occupational Injuries in Pennsylvania Metropolitan Areas
Of all the fatalities in Pennsylvania, 28 occurred in Pittsburgh.
Another 45 fatalities occurred in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, which crosses state lines (including Philadelphia, PA; Camden, NJ; Wilmington, DE/MD/NJ). Of the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., Philadelphia had the lowest number of fatalities occupational injuries or illnesses.
Construction-Related Fatal Occupational Injuries
In 2017, there were 31 fatal occupational injuries within the construction industry. Specifically, they occurred in the following sectors:
- 4 in construction of buildings
- 5 in heavy and civil engineering construction
- 3 in utility system construction
- 2 highway, street, and bridge construction
- 8 foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors, including
- 4 roofing contractors
- 1 siding contractor
- 4 building equipment contractors, including
- 3 electrical contractors or other wiring installation contractors
- 1 plumbing, heating, and/or air-conditioning contractor
- 6 building finishing contractors, including
- 1 drywall and insulation contractor
- 1 flooring contractor
- 1 tile and terrazzo contractor
- 3 site preparation contractors
- 1 other specialty trade contractors
Of the 35 fatalities in construction and extraction occupations:
- 1 construction manager
- 4 first-line supervisors of construction and extraction workers
- 23 construction trades workers, including:
- 1 floor sander/finisher
- 6 construction laborers
- 3 construction equipment operators
- 1 drywall and ceiling tile installer
- 3 roofers
- 3 highway maintenance workers
- 1 helper, construction trades
- 1 construction/building inspector
- 1 septic tank servicer/sewer pipe cleaner
2019 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in Pennsylvania
Not only are workers in Pennsylvania at risk for injuries and accidents without OSHA training, but Pennsylvania businesses can also take advantage of OSHA training to help reduce their risk of penalties from 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 |
| PA | 1396882.015 | Vyacheslav Leshko | PHILADELPHIA | 10/04/2019 | $143,208.00 |
| PA | 1349432.015 | Mady Makadji | PHILADELPHIA | 03/26/2019 | $51,468.00 |
| PA | 1375350.015 | Indian Valley Country Club | TELFORD | 03/19/2019 | $44,288.00 |
| PA | 1347967.015 | Petrongolo Contractors, Inc. | PHILADELPHIA | 03/18/2019 | $46,410.00 |
| PA | 1383540.015 | United Parcel Service, Inc. | READING | 06/25/2019 | $58,344.00 |
| PA | 1367347.015 | MW Logistics Services, LLC | WASHINGTON | 06/06/2019 | $47,360.00 |
| PA | 1358452.015 | Arley Wholesale, Inc. | MORRISVILLE | 04/24/2019 | $91,494.00 |
| PA | 1374890.015 | ATI Powder Metals | OAKDALE | 04/19/2019 | $53,040.00 |
| PA | 1391899.015 | Alan Kunsman Roofing and Siding, Inc. | READING | 04/18/2019 | $43,760.00 |
| PA | 1351717.015 | Brutus Construction, Inc. | SOUDERTON | 03/28/2019 | $181,699.00 |
| PA | 1350357.015 | Leonel Rivera | CENTER VALLEY | 03/27/2019 | $186,701.00 |
| PA | 1352060.015 | Leonel Rivera | COLLEGEVILLE | 03/27/2019 | $210,033.00 |
| PA | 1355200.015 | Leonel Rivera | ROYERSFORD | 03/27/2019 | $207,116.00 |
| PA | 1364478.015 | Sosa Construction, LLC | HATFIELD | 03/13/2019 | $40,840.00 |
| PA | 1395757.015 | Keystone Food Products, Inc. | EASTON | 06/17/2019 | $145,858.00 |
| PA | 1405243.015 | Jose Garcia | WASHINGTON | 06/19/2019 | $67,722.00 |
| PA | 1375949.015 | Scot Christopher Rule LLC | EASTON | 07/18/2019 | $102,512.00 |
| PA | 1388500.015 | Minnotte Manufacturing Corporation | TRAFFORD | 07/26/2019 | $60,996.00 |
| PA | 1399800.015 | The J.M. Smucker Company | BLOOMSBURG | 08/30/2019 | $56,830.00 |
| PA | 1421626.015 | AVI Foodsystems, Inc. | CALIFORNIA | 09/11/2019 | $51,145.00 |
Federal OSHA Offices in Pennsylvania
Because Pennsylvania employers and workers fall under federal OSHA jurisdiction, there are six local area offices to serve Pennsylvanians throughout the state:
- Allentown
- Erie
- Harrisburg
- Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh
- Wilkes-Barre
If you need to contact a local Pennsylvania OSHA office for any reason, you can find their contact information on OSHA’s website.
Additional Pennsylvania Resources for Safety Information
Aside from the resources named above, you can get additional information or safety resources from the Pennsylvania agency and association websites below.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (DLI): The DLI administers unemployment benefits, oversees the workers' compensation system, and provides vocational rehabilitation and job seeking services, among other things.
Pennsylvania Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety (BOIS): Located under DLI, BOIS administers and enforces Commonwealth safety laws that impact Pennsylvania's public sector, laws related to asbestos and lead occupations, and more.
Health & Safety Division: Nested under the DLI's Workers' Compensation Services, the Health & Safety Division provides resources for workplace safety and offers opportunities to lower workers' compensation premiums.
Pennsylvania Training for Health and Safety (PATHS): PATHS provides no-fee, state-wide access to cost-effective safety and health resources. That includes training recommendations.
Enroll Now in Pennsylvania OSHA Training Courses
Now that you understand how fundamental OSHA Pennsylvania training is to the occupational safety and well-being of workers, supervisors, and employers, it's time to find an accepted OSHA training provider.
That's us! We have over 20 years of experience delivering OSHA-authorized training, from federally mandated standard-specific courses to Outreach packages like OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry.
Our training is online, which allows Pennsylvania workers to study a little at a time from anywhere they have access to a device with internet access. You can work at your own pace and get the training you need to stay safe and compliant!
