OSHA Defense
Free and Paid Training and Education for Construction Professionals
Maximizing your workers’ talent is integral to a strong, skilled workforce. As a contractor, you understand that dependability is one of the most valuable qualities in a construction professional. With a labor shortage forever looming in the back of your mind, you need to focus on quality, not quantity. To achieve this goal, you must instill the importance of training and education in your workers. Not only can this help you achieve improved productivity and increased profit, it can help you avoid costly workers’ compensation claims or citations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Keep realistic expectations and remember that training and education aren’t a cure-all to your legal woes, and accidents aren’t uncommon on the project site. When you need an experienced lawyer who is well-versed in construction law, consult an Orlando construction law attorney from Cotney Attorneys & Consultants.
Here are some training and education options designed to help your workers refresh their skills.
Free Online Courses
Your employees could spend an entire year studying construction skills online and only scratch the surface of what is available. Blogs, video tutorials, FAQs, subreddits … the sheer volume of knowledge available on the internet is staggering. Since many of your workers are likely taking the initiative to improve their skills through this channel, you should take the time to teach them the best practices for finding credible sources.
Paid Online Courses
Alternatively, you could pay for online training courses in various construction skills. These courses tend to be supported by notable leaders in the industry and allow workers to develop the skills they believe to be the most valuable for their future. Whether it’s instruction in introductory plumbing, carpentry, masonry, electrical, or something else entirely, paid online courses can improve your workers’ training and sometimes reward them with certifications for different skills.
OSHA’s Free and Paid Courses
OSHA hosts a variety of free instructional videos, handouts, and other resources on their website. These videos are presented in both English and Spanish and teach workers about falls, sprains, accidents, and common construction-related incidents. Although short, these videos are very informative. In addition, OSHA offers a 10-hour and 30-hour safety course designed to cover information on basic safety and hazard training. Those who pass can procure an OSHA card.
Free University Training Courses
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers a free course in project management with a focus on infrastructure projects. It covers everything from project finance to project evaluation and project organization. In addition, the University of Cape Town offers an introductory course designed to build skills in project planning. Like the MIT course, this course is completely free.
If you would like to speak with an attorney from our Orlando construction law firm, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.