OSHA 10
United StatesOSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Outreach Training
Issued by OSHA
Valid for 3–5 years (varies by jurisdiction and site policy)
What is OSHA 10?
The OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach Training is an entry-level safety awareness course developed by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It covers the most common hazards on construction sites — falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution (the OSHA Focus Four) — along with personal protective equipment, scaffolding, stairways, ladders, and the rights of workers under the OSH Act. Successful completion results in an OSHA 10 Department of Labor wallet card.
The OSHA 10 is typically required for entry-level construction workers, apprentices, and general labourers in states and on projects that mandate it. Several states (including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, Missouri, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and others) have laws requiring OSHA 10 for public-works construction. Many private general contractors require it regardless of state law as a condition of entering the site.
Why Expiration Tracking Matters
OSHA 10 cards do not carry a federally mandated expiry date. However, many jurisdictions, site owners, and general contractors require cards issued within the last 3 to 5 years, and some require annual refreshers. A worker who shows up with a 10-year-old card may be turned away at the gate even though the card is technically valid under OSHA rules. Tracking issuance date is therefore as important as tracking expiry for a credential that typically has a time-based site acceptance window.
State & Federal Requirements
Each U.S. state sets its own rules. States like New York require OSHA 10 for all workers on most public-works projects (Local Law 196 adds additional NYC requirements). Massachusetts and Connecticut have similar statutes. The OSHA Outreach Training Program itself is administered by OSHA-authorized trainers; always verify your trainer is authorized via OSHA's registry before enrolling.
Renewal Process
OSHA doesn't mandate renewal, but most GCs and state public-works rules expect a card issued within 3-5 years. Retaking the 10-hour course is the standard refresh. Some sites require the longer OSHA 30 course instead — check site requirements before enrolling. Lost cards can be replaced by the issuing trainer within 5 years of completion.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming an OSHA 10 card never expires and ignoring site-specific freshness requirements
- Taking a non-OSHA-authorized course by mistake — always verify the trainer is in the official OSHA registry
- Losing the physical card and not having a backup — WorkSitePass solves this by storing a digital copy
- Not checking whether the state or site requires OSHA 30 rather than OSHA 10
How WorkSitePass Helps You Manage OSHA 10
Upload your OSHA 10 card to WorkSitePass and set a custom expiry date aligned with your general contractor's freshness policy. You'll get alerts at 90, 30, and 7 days before the card is considered stale, so you can schedule a refresh before you get turned away at the gate.
Issuing Authority
Frequently Asked Questions
OSHA doesn't set a federal expiration date. In practice, most general contractors and state public-works rules require a card issued within the last 3 to 5 years; some require annual refreshers. Treat your card as time-sensitive even though the card itself is permanent.
No. Several states — including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, Missouri, and New Hampshire — have laws requiring OSHA 10 for public-works construction. Other states leave it to the general contractor's discretion. Many GCs require it regardless of state law.
Your OSHA-authorized trainer can issue a replacement within 5 years of course completion. After 5 years, you may need to retake the course. Storing a digital copy in WorkSitePass prevents this problem.
Start Tracking Your OSHA 10 Certificate Today
Upload your certificate, set the expiry date, and let WorkSitePass handle the rest. Never miss a renewal deadline again.