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OSHA 10 Construction Required Topics: What Employers Must Cover (and Why It Matters)
If you’re searching for OSHA 10 construction required topics, you likely need to confirm what the course must include, what’s “required” versus elective, and how OSHA 10 supports compliance for your construction workforce. This SwiftSDS guide breaks down the mandatory OSHA 10-Hour Construction curriculum, points you to the underlying OSHA standards, and highlights practical steps HR and operations teams can take to document training and reduce jobsite risk.
For broader context on construction safety training options and credentials, see our hub on health and safety construction courses.
What is the purpose of a regulation OSHA 10?
The keyword question—“what is the purpose of a regulation OSHA 10”—comes up often, but it’s important to clarify terminology:
- OSHA 10 is not itself a regulation. It’s an OSHA Outreach Training Program course (10-hour) designed to educate workers on hazard recognition, avoidance, and prevention.
- The purpose of OSHA-related regulations (issued under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) is to set enforceable safety and health requirements. In construction, many core requirements are found in 29 CFR Part 1926 (Construction Standards).
- OSHA 10’s purpose is to help employers and workers understand common hazards and OSHA’s expectations, which can support compliance efforts, reduce incidents, and strengthen safety culture.
For employers building a comprehensive compliance program beyond safety, our overview of broader employment law topics can help connect OSHA training to other federal labor law requirements.
OSHA 10 Construction required topics (the mandated curriculum)
OSHA Outreach courses are delivered by authorized trainers and follow OSHA’s published topic requirements. The OSHA 10-Hour Construction course is generally structured as:
- Mandatory (“required”) topics: Must be covered for a minimum amount of time.
- Elective topics: Trainers choose from OSHA-approved options to complete the full 10 hours.
Below are the standard required topic areas that HR and business owners should expect to see on a course outline and completion documentation.
Required Topic #1: Introduction to OSHA (minimum time required)
This section typically covers:
- OSHA’s mission and worker protections under the OSH Act
- Employer responsibilities and worker rights
- How to file a complaint and how inspections work
- Anti-retaliation basics (workers are protected when raising safety concerns)
To reinforce worker protections in your broader compliance communications, see 5 rights of workers.
Actionable employer tip: Keep a copy of the course agenda or completion record that shows “Introduction to OSHA” was included—especially helpful if your clients, GCs, or project owners audit training records.
Required Topic #2: Focus Four Hazards (construction)
OSHA’s “Focus Four” are the leading causes of fatalities in construction. In OSHA 10 Construction, these hazards are required and typically covered in separate blocks:
Falls (29 CFR 1926 Subpart M)
Covers common fall risks (ladders, scaffolds, roof edges, openings) and protective measures like guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, and safety nets.
Actionable employer tip: Tie OSHA 10 learning to your site-specific fall protection plan (e.g., how your company handles anchor points, rescue planning, and ladder inspections).
Struck-by hazards (e.g., 1926 Subpart O and jobsite traffic controls)
Includes vehicle/equipment movement, dropped objects, and material handling risks.
Actionable employer tip: Require high-visibility apparel and establish internal traffic control plans—especially where workers are near heavy equipment.
Caught-in/between hazards (e.g., trenching/excavation 1926 Subpart P; machinery guarding)
Addresses hazards such as trench collapses, pinch points, rotating equipment, and crushed-by incidents.
Actionable employer tip: Confirm competent-person coverage for excavations and document daily excavation inspections.
Electrocution hazards (29 CFR 1926 Subpart K)
Common themes include overhead power lines, temporary power, grounding, GFCI use, lockout/tagout concepts, and cord/tool inspection.
Actionable employer tip: Implement a routine for inspecting cords and temporary power setups, and document corrective actions.
For teams considering deeper safety roles, career pathways, or internal safety leadership, explore occupational and safety jobs.
What else is “required” in OSHA 10 construction?
OSHA Outreach rules typically require time allocations for the core modules above, and the remaining time is completed with elective topics selected by the trainer. While electives aren’t “required topics” in the same sense, employers should still pay attention—because electives can be tailored to your jobsite risks and compliance exposure.
Common OSHA 10 Construction elective topics (selected based on your work)
Electives often include subjects such as:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (see 29 CFR 1926 Subpart E)
- Scaffolds (29 CFR 1926 Subpart L)
- Excavations (29 CFR 1926 Subpart P)
- Stairways and ladders (29 CFR 1926 Subpart X)
- Tools—hand and power (29 CFR 1926 Subpart I / O concepts)
- Cranes, derricks, and rigging (29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC)
- Health hazards in construction (silica, noise, heat, respiratory protection—often tied to 29 CFR 1910 standards adopted/used as references depending on topic)
Actionable employer tip: Ask your trainer for the elective list used and match it to your hazard assessment. If your crews do scaffold work, excavation, or crane/rigging support, your electives should reflect that.
OSHA 10 training and your broader compliance obligations
OSHA 10 can be a strong baseline, but it does not replace required elements of an employer safety program, such as:
- Jobsite-specific orientation and hazard communication
- Competent person requirements (e.g., excavation)
- Equipment-specific training and manufacturer requirements
- Recordkeeping as applicable (e.g., OSHA 300 logs for covered employers)
Also remember: OSHA training is only one pillar of labor compliance. Wage/hour, leave, and anti-discrimination obligations still apply. For example, ensure your postings and policies align with federal wage requirements by maintaining access to the Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act notice where required.
If you operate across states, posting requirements and state-plan OSHA rules may differ. Start with Federal (United States) Posting Requirements, and then confirm any state-specific obligations—particularly in state-plan states like California (CA) Labor Law Posting Requirements.
Documentation checklist: How to prove OSHA 10 coverage during an audit
Whether you’re responding to a GC requirement, a client prequalification package, or internal compliance review, keep training documentation organized.
Recommended records to keep
- OSHA 10 completion cards (or proof of issuance)
- Course outline/agenda showing required modules and time allocations
- Trainer authorization information (authorized Outreach trainer)
- Attendance roster and training date(s)
- Your internal policy stating when OSHA 10 is required for roles/projects
Actionable employer tip: Tie the training record to the employee profile in your HRIS or safety management system and set renewal reminders if your clients require recency (even though OSHA cards do not “expire” federally, some project owners impose time limits).
Location-specific note: OSHA 10 requirements can be driven by owners, cities, or states
OSHA does not generally mandate “OSHA 10 for everyone,” but many jurisdictions and project owners do. If you work in multiple states, check posting and related compliance expectations on your state pages, such as Florida (FL) Labor Law Posting Requirements or Ohio (OH) Labor Law Posting Requirements.
(And if you’re hiring for specialized compliance roles or building internal capacity, our guide on how to become an OSHA inspector can help you understand what inspectors look for and how enforcement works.)
FAQ: OSHA 10 construction required topics
Is OSHA 10 Construction legally required by OSHA?
Not typically. OSHA 10 is a training program, not a federal regulation. However, project owners, general contractors, unions, and certain state/local rules may require it as a condition of site access or contract eligibility.
What are the “Focus Four” hazards in OSHA 10 Construction?
They are falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution—the hazard categories responsible for a significant share of construction fatalities and a core part of OSHA 10 required content.
Does OSHA 10 replace jobsite-specific safety training?
No. OSHA 10 is a baseline hazard-awareness course. Employers still need task- and site-specific instruction (and competent-person coverage where required under 29 CFR 1926, such as excavation safety).
SwiftSDS helps employers align training, postings, and workplace policies with federal labor law requirements. If you’re building a complete compliance program, use OSHA 10 as a foundation—but make sure your documentation, postings, and site-specific controls are equally strong.