When it comes to workplace safety and compliance, OSHA is the primary source of guidance in the United States. But with so many pages, programs, and tools on osha.gov, it can be hard to know where to start. Whether you are building a safety program from scratch, refreshing annual training, or supporting supervisors and frontline workers, OSHA offers a range of free resources that can help shape your training strategy.
It is also important to understand that OSHA compliance is not achieved through training alone. While training is a core requirement under many OSHA standards, most standards also require employers to implement specific safety practices, maintain written programs, enforce policies, and, in some cases, provide hands-on instruction or demonstrations of competency. Online training can play a valuable role in supporting these requirements, but it should be part of a broader, well-rounded safety and health program.
Below is a practical guide to the most useful OSHA training resources for workplaces, with direct links to the pages that matter most.
Start with OSHA’s Training Hub
OSHA’s main training page is the best entry point for employers and trainers who want to understand OSHA’s approach to worker education and hazard awareness. It provides an overview of training expectations and links out to key programs and resources.
OSHA Training Overview:
https://www.osha.gov/training
This page is especially helpful for safety managers who want to confirm how OSHA views training as part of an overall safety and health program. It reinforces the idea that training is one component of compliance, alongside hazard controls, safe work practices, and ongoing supervision.
Understanding OSHA’s Training Requirements
OSHA standards often include specific training requirements, and OSHA also expects training to be provided in a way workers can understand. OSHA’s training compliance guidance helps employers understand where training is required under the standards and what OSHA looks for during inspections.
OSHA Training Compliance Guidance:
https://www.osha.gov/training/compliance
This is a valuable reference for:
- Compliance planning
- Auditing your training program
- Documenting training efforts in a way that aligns with OSHA expectations
It is also a helpful reminder that training alone does not fulfill all employer responsibilities. Many OSHA standards require additional actions, such as maintaining written programs (for example, hazard communication or respiratory protection), conducting workplace assessments, providing appropriate personal protective equipment, and ensuring employees can demonstrate safe work practices.
OSHA also has some small business QuickStart guides to help you review the hazards you most likely must train on. Those can be found here: https://www.osha.gov/complianceassistance/quickstarts
Safety and Health Topics by Hazard
OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics pages break down workplace hazards by category and link to relevant standards, guidance, and training materials. This is one of the most useful sections of the OSHA website for building topic-specific training programs.
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Index:
https://www.osha.gov/topics
If your training program covers areas like fall protection, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, bloodborne pathogens, or electrical safety, these topic pages provide authoritative background and regulatory context to support your courses. They also highlight additional compliance requirements beyond training, such as engineering controls, written procedures, equipment requirements, and inspection practices.
Industry-Specific Training Guidance
OSHA also organizes compliance assistance resources by industry, which can be helpful for tailoring training programs to the realities of specific work environments.
OSHA Industry Resources:
https://www.osha.gov/complianceassistance/industry
This is particularly useful for employers in sectors such as construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and warehousing who want training content that reflects real-world risks in their industry. These pages often reference industry-specific hazards and compliance considerations that should be addressed not just through training, but through job planning, equipment selection, and site-specific safety policies.
Free Training and Reference Materials
OSHA maintains a library of free training and reference materials that employers can use to support internal training efforts. This includes publications, fact sheets, and educational tools that can be used in safety meetings or as supplemental resources alongside formal training programs.
OSHA Training Materials Library:
https://www.osha.gov/training/library/materials
These materials can be helpful for:
- Toolbox talks
- Safety stand-downs
- Reinforcing key messages after formal training
They are particularly effective when used to reinforce policies and procedures that are already in place, such as safe operating procedures, emergency response plans, and company-specific safety rules.
Interactive Training Tools: eTools and Expert Advisors
OSHA’s online tools are designed to make complex safety topics more approachable. The eTools and Expert Advisors provide interactive, scenario-based guidance on common hazards and compliance topics.
OSHA Apps and eTools:
https://www.osha.gov/apps-and-etools
Examples include tools for topics such as hospitals, machine guarding, scaffolding, and electrical safety. These can be useful for supervisors and safety coordinators who want quick, topic-specific guidance to support training discussions, job hazard analyses, and safety planning conversations.
Bringing OSHA Resources into Your Training Program
OSHA’s resources are designed to inform and guide, but most employers still need structured, consistent training solutions to reach their workforce at scale. Online training can be an efficient way to deliver foundational knowledge, reinforce key safety concepts, and maintain training records. However, many OSHA standards also require additional elements such as:
- Written safety programs and policies
- Site-specific hazard assessments
- Hands-on or task-based training
- Demonstrations of competency
- Ongoing supervision and enforcement
A strong approach is to:
- Use OSHA’s pages to understand requirements and best practices
- Reference OSHA topic pages when planning or updating your training curriculum
- Pair regulatory guidance with engaging, role-specific training content for your workforce
- Ensure training is supported by written plans, workplace procedures, and real-world safety practices
By grounding your training strategy in OSHA’s official resources and supporting it with practical implementation in the workplace, you create a stronger foundation for compliance, risk reduction, and a safer workplace overall.
OSHA training resources and third-party training programs, including online courses available through Mastery.com, are intended to support workplace safety initiatives. Employers are responsible for ensuring full compliance with all applicable OSHA standards, including required written programs, workplace controls, policies, and any hands-on or site-specific training obligations.