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.
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.
Benefits of OSHA Virginia Training for Workers
While the primary goal of OSHA safety training is to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities, employers can also benefit from OSHA training programs. They can avoid OSHA inspection penalties, lower workers’ compensation costs, and increase workplace productivity.
Although we’ve stated how training will keep workers safe, it’s another thing to actually see the statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other Virginia agencies – take a look at them below.
Fatal Occupational Injuries in Virginia
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 118 fatal occupational injuries in Virginia in 2017, while nationally there were 5,147 fatal occupational injuries.
Of the 118 fatalities:
- 41 were the result of transportation incidents
- 26 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
- 20 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
- 15 were the result of contact with objects and equipment
- 14 were the result of exposure to harmful substances or environments
The industries with the greatest number of fatalities were:
- 27 in construction
- 17 in government (10 local, 3 state, 4 federal)
- 17 in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting
- 14 in transportation and warehousing
2019 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in Virginia
No doubt you can see that workers, especially those in construction, are at a high risk for accidents and injuries. However, workers aren’t alone with these risks; without OSHA training, employers are at a risk for inspection enforcement penalties.
Although OSHA lists the top enforcement cases on their website, for your convenience here were the top enforcement cases for 2019 in Virginia.
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| State | Inspection Number | Employer | City | Issuance Date | Initial Penalty |
| VA | 1409078.015 | Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia, LLC | SALEM | 09/20/2019 | $41,976.00 |
| VA | 1382316.015 | Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia, LLC | SALEM | 05/09/2019 | $63,630.00 |
| VA | 1370522.015 | The Weston Company | WARRENTON | 04/26/2019 | $71,770.00 |
| VA | 1375318.015 | The Weston Company | WARRENTON | 04/26/2019 | $50,705.00 |
| VA | 1397104.015 | U-Haul | NORFOLK | 07/08/2019 | $46,640.00 |
| VA | 1376355.015 | County of Henrico Dept of Public Utilities | HENRICO | 08/02/2019 | $127,254.00 |
| VA | 1373262.015 | Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia, LLC | SALEM | 03/29/2019 | $51,255.00 |
| VA | 1374951.015 | TMP Associates, Inc. | VIRGINIA BEACH | 03/20/2019 | $148,930.00 |
| VA | 1375689.015 | Scott Gundlach | NORFOLK | 03/19/2019 | $58,505.00 |
| VA | 1374139.015 | Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | STAUNTON | 02/22/2019 | $48,010.00 |
| VA | 1344204.015 | Wolverine Advanced Materials, LLC | BLACKSBURG | 02/04/2019 | $174,284.00 |
| VA | 1356565.015 | Sterling Gutters, LLC | ARLINGTON | 01/31/2019 | $41,995.00 |
| VA | 1335570.015 | U.S. Postal Service | RICHMOND | 01/24/2019 | $68,196.00 |
| VA | 1335210.015 | T.D. Fraley & Sons, Inc. | SPRINGFIELD | 01/24/2019 | $528,692.00 |
| VA | 1335211.015 | PKC Construction, Inc. | SPRINGFIELD | 01/24/2019 | $381,762.00 |
| VA | 1351401.015 | Atlantic Caisson Corp. | RESTON | 01/11/2019 | $54,604.00 |
| VA | 1338257.015 | Carter Lumber | CHESAPEAKE | 01/04/2019 | $45,160.00 |
Federal and State OSHA Offices in Virginia
Since Virginia employers and workers are divided up into federal and state jurisdiction, there are separate local area offices for state and federal OSHA.
You need to contact the federal office in Norfolk if you're in a federal agency, a military facility, the U.S. Postal Service, or a private sector maritime employer.
The rest of the private sector and all of the public sector (including maritime work for state and local government) should contact a Virginia state plan office. There are eight state plan offices in Virginia:
- Richmond (headquarters)
- Abingdon
- Lynchburg
- Manassas
- Norfolk
- Richmond
- Roanoke
- Verona
You can find the most up-to-date contact information for either type of Virginia OSHA office on OSHA's website.
Additional Virginia Resources for Safety Information
In addition to the information we have provided, you can visit additional Virginia state agency websites for more safety resources.
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI): The DOLI’s mission is to make Virginia a safer place to work and live, and it accomplishes that mission through its apprenticeship programs, regulations for boiler and pressure vessels, and VOSH regulations.
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR): The DPOR issues professional credentials—licenses, certificates, or registrations—in addition to enforcing standards of professional conduct.
VOSH Safety Compliance Division: This division is responsible for enforcing safety laws and regulations, as well as conducting safety inspections.
Enroll Now in Virginia OSHA Training Courses
While you now understand how critical OSHA Virginia training is for the safety and well-being of workers, you still need to choose an OSHA training course.
Luckily, you don’t have to look too far! We have over 20 years of experience as an OSHA-authorized training provider, and 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.
Just select the appropriate training course and start learning today!
