OSHA Instruction: Initial Training Program for OSHA Compliance Personnel

OSHA's mission is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by promulgating and enforcing standards and regulations; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health as well as the development of comprehensive safety and health management systems. Effective and efficient use of resources requires careful, flexible planning. In this way, the overall goal of hazard abatement and employee protection is best served. This instruction provides National, Regional, and Area Office personnel with policy and guidelines for implementation of competency-based training programs for OSHA compliance personnel. This instruction provides guidance and direction to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) National, Regional, and Area Offices concerning OSHA's policies and procedures for training of Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs). It is essential that CSHOs have the requisite knowledge, skills, capability and varied professional backgrounds to accomplish OSHA's mission of promoting safe and healthful working conditions for America's working men and women. In this instruction, OSHA has provided detailed guidance for training required during the initial three-year period of a CSHO's career, including recommended training that assists the CSHO with preparation for professional certification exams. This instruction identifies training paths that provide assistance to the regions in managing their training programs.