Let’s face it, fall protection training is very important in a variety of professions, whether you’re training to become a builder, or you just want to work in logistics at a factory. Large shelves and the ability to use a forklift to access taller areas in a warehouse will already require at least some minimal fall protection training, and when you work in construction, you simply can’t go without that part of safety training.
Now, OSHA has been regulating safety standards for more than half a century. So, if you want to be recognized as someone whoa actually has good fall protection training, you will definitely have to consider an OSHA fall protection training course.
Safety Concerns: Fall Protection vs. OSHA Fall Protection
It’s no secret that OSHA recommends and offers special courses that provide health and safety training and also cover fall protection and fall arrest training. So, with an OSHA-approved course, you really can’t go wrong. However, some of these courses are somewhat expensive, and a lot of people would prefer to cut some corners, save some cash and choose a non-OSHA compliant course. But is that a practical choice?
The difficulty with courses that are not regulated or approved by OSHA is that you don’t really know what to expect. It’s possible that they will give you practical information that you can use, but it’s equally possible that you’ll come out of the course without knowledge of some very important points that could end up making a huge difference – sometimes even life and death.
Another issue is that, if you choose a course that isn’t OSHA-compliant, any inspection at your job could spell trouble. Your employer might have hired you anyway, and agreed to pay you less, but they are actually taking a huge risk with that. Depending on where your job is located and what the local laws and health & safety regulations have to say about the matter, there could be legal issues, your boss could lose his/her license, and you could end up losing your job.
As such, in all practical terms, it’s better to select an OSHA-certified course rather than risking it with a fall protection class that is not regulated. In the longer run, and especially if you plan to build a career out of your current profession, it really doesn’t make any sense to take any unnecessary risks.
Getting a Better Job
Something that not many people know is that an OSHA-approved course could actually help you find a better job. Employers will be pleased to see that you have an OSHA Card or that you completed a fall protection class that is OSHA-approved.
As a result, you will be in a better position to compete with unqualified workers as well as qualified workers that don’t have proper health and safety training. Safety is extremely important when it comes to construction work and any similar professions in the contracting and roofing industries. When you comply with OSHA standards, your paycheck goes up and you will have a whole new avenue full of great jobs lining up for you to choose from.
