OSHA 40 vs HAZWOPER 40 vs NYC SST 40-hour: Which Safety Training Do You Need? (2024)

If you think you need something called "OSHA 40" training, you may be looking for a few different things – none of which are actually called OSHA 40.

Maybe you're looking for a DOL card and got confused about the number (it's OSHA 30). Maybe you're looking for hazardous waste training, and you searched "OSHA" instead of "HAZWOPER" (an easy mistake). Maybe you work in NYC construction and you're looking for the city-specific version of OSHA training called the New York City Department of Buildings Site Safety Training or NYC DOB SST (...oof, you could be forgiven for misremembering that).

It's a confusing mishmash of letters and numbers, we'll give you that. But that's what we're here for – we'll help you figure out what you're looking for and give you links to the courses you need!

What is OSHA 40 Training?

OSHA 40 doesn't actually exist.

OSHA plus an hour number is the naming convention for OSHA Outreach courses that provide basic safety awareness. There are two levels of OSHA Outreach courses, but the longest one is 30 hours – called OSHA 30. There is no 40-hour OSHA training in this series.

So, in some cases, "OSHA 40" is a matter of mistaking the length of the course. But there are two 40-hour safety courses that may be confused as "OSHA 40."

There's a 40-hour HAZWOPER course called HAZWOPER 40. Sometimes people think of this as OSHA 40 because the HAZWOPER standard is written and enforced by OSHA. That's why it's not completely inaccurate to call HAZWOPER 40 something like "the 40-hour OSHA/HAZWOPER course."

The other option is an NYC SST 40 card. A few years ago, New York City transitioned from requiring OSHA 30 to requiring their own, even longer safety program. Since OSHA 30 was familiar already, people in New York construction may mistakenly think of their SST certification as "OSHA 40 NYC."

Are OSHA 40 and OSHA 30 the Same?

As we said, "OSHA 40 vs OSHA 30" is a misnomer. It's really "HAZWOPER 40 vs OSHA 30."

But what is OSHA 30 and who needs it?

OSHA 30 is the more advanced OSHA Outreach course. Proof of completion for OSHA Outreach is sometimes called an OSHA card or a DOL card because the Department of Labor issues a durable plastic wallet card.

Outreach courses provide industry-specific occupational safety awareness training. There are Construction-specific courses, Maritime-specific courses, and another category called General Industry that serves everything from manufacturing to hospitality.

Within each "industry," there are two levels of training: 10-hour (OSHA 10) and 30-hour (OSHA 30). OSHA 10 is for non-supervisory workers and OSHA 30 is for supervisors – it covers everything from OSHA 10, plus extra information needed for managing others.

OSHA doesn't require Outreach training, but certain states, counties, cities, or employers will make DOL cards mandatory for certain roles.

As an OSHA-authorized training provider, we have online OSHA Outreach courses for your convenience – 10 and 30, Construction and General Industry, English and Spanish.

What is HAZWOPER 40 Training?

HAZWOPER is an acronym that stands for HAZardous Waste OPerations and Emergency Response.

HAZWOPER is an OSHA standard to protect workers who clean up, treat, store, and dispose of hazardous waste. Some type of HAZWOPER training is mandatory for three specific categories of workers:

• Operators at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites (like Superfund)
• Workers at Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities
• Emergency responders who may encounter hazardous spills or accidents

It's optional but beneficial for any worker that may face hazardous conditions such as:

• High concentrations of toxic substances
• Oxygen-deficient atmospheres
• Flammable or explosive hazards
• IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health) environments

To stay compliant with HAZWOPER training requirements, you need an initial training – either HAZWOPER 24 or HAZWOPER 40, depending on your role – followed by an 8-hour refresher once a year.

Supervisors are required to take the same HAZWOPER training as their supervisees.

Who Needs HAZWOPER 40 Training?

According to §1910.120(e)(3)(i), "general site workers (such as equipment operators, general laborers and supervisory personnel) engaged in hazardous substance removal or other activities which expose or potentially expose workers to hazardous substances and health hazards shall receive a minimum of 40 hours of instruction off the site, and a minimum of three days actual field experience under the direct supervision of a trained, experienced supervisor."

But what does that really mean?

Your level of risk and exposure determines whether you need a 24-hour initial training or a 40-hour initial training.

You need HAZWOPER 40 if your job will involve:

• Regularly working with or cleaning up hazardous materials
• Hazardous substance storage and treatment
• Exposure at or above Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
• Environments where you need respirators and other PPE more than 30 days a year
• Supervise employees who do any of the above

You can take HAZWOPER 24 if your hazardous material exposure fails to meet these conditions.

As an OSHA-authorized provider, we offer all types of HAZWOPER training. Our courses are online and self-paced for your convenience.

What is OSHA NYC SST 40-hour Training?

New York City (NYC) Site Safety Training (SST) has been mandatory for construction workers in the city for several years. The minimum required training is 40 hours long.

NYC SST 40-hour training may also be mistaken for "OSHA 40" – first, because "OSHA" is synonymous with job safety training, especially in the construction industry. It doesn't help that at one point, an OSHA 30 card can be used to partially fulfill the requirements for an NYC SST 40 card. Given all that, it's no surprise that folks think of it as "OSHA 40 NYC."

Who Needs OSHA NYC SST 40-hour Training?

The first question is "who needs an SST card in NYC, regardless of the type?"

If you ask the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) that regulates the Site Safety Training program, the answer is "workers on job sites that require a Construction Superintendent, a Site Safety Coordinator, or a Site Safety Manager."

In a practical sense, that means NYC DOB SST cards are mandatory for most construction jobs in the five boroughs. There's only one case where you don't need SST training: if you only do construction or minor alternations on 1-, 2-, or 3-family homes.

As with DOL cards, there are two levels of training for SST: 40-hour and 62-hour. SST 40 cards are for construction workers with no supervisory responsibilities. 62-hour SST training is required for supervisory roles, including Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator, Site Safety Manager, Concrete Safety Manager, competent persons, forepersons, and team leads.

As a DOB-approved training provider, we offer online SST packages so you can earn an SST 40 card, an SST 62 card, or level up from one to the other – all on your own time and at your own convenience.

Get started by enrolling today!