OSHA Virginia Online Training

To help clarify OSHA standards in Virginia, we’ve put together this resource for you. It covers many different things you need to know, such as:

• Federal and state OSHA standards and where they differ
• OSHA training requirements for entry-level and supervisory employees
• Specific workplace accident and injury statistics for Virginia
• Advantages OSHA safety training provides for employees and employers
• Where you can get OSHA 10 and 30 training

Occupational Safety and Health Jurisdiction in Virginia

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.

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

The state plan adopted the majority of OSHA standards, but in the following areas, Virginia has unique standards and legislation:

General Industry

• Reverse Signal Operation Safety Requirements for Vehicles, Machinery, and Equipment for General Industry
• Telecommunications, General Approach Distance for Electrical Hazards
• Confined Spaces in the Telecommunications Industry
• Tree Trimming Operations
• Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act

Construction

• Medical Services and First Aid
• Sanitation
• Steel Erection
• Reverse Signal Operation Safety Requirements for Vehicles, Machinery, and Equipment for the Construction Industry
• Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act

Agriculture

• Field Sanitation

The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program is responsible for enforcement of the state plan. It's housed under the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI).

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

• Federal employment
• The U.S. Postal Service plus private contractor-operated facilities engaged by USPS
• Private-sector maritime operations (ie, shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring)
• Employment at federal military facilities and other locations with exclusive federal jurisdiction
• Employment at the US Department of Energy's Southeastern Power Administration Kerr-Philpott System
• 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 Virginia Training Requirements

Since Virginia adopted most federal standards, Virginians 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 Virginia adopted its own particular version.

VOSH makes it fairly easy to see where standards differ by listing out the unique standards on its website. Employers regulated by VOSH just need to make sure any training on the unique Virginia standards uses state requirements, rather than federal.

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.