How to Become an Authorized Trainer

Effective October 1, 2012, to become an authorized disaster site worker Outreach trainer, you must meet separate prerequisites for experience and training. You may not substitute one prerequisite to fulfill the other. OSHA does not issue waivers for either the experience or training prerequisites. The prerequisites are as follows:

Experience.
1. Be a current OSHA authorized Construction or General Industry Outreach trainer.
2. Have a minimum of three years' experience as an occupational safety and health trainer.
3. One of the following:
  1. Have completed a 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training course within the past five (5) years, or the 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training course within the past 12 months.
  2. Possess journey-level credentials in a building trade union.
Training. Complete OSHA course #5600 Disaster Site Worker Trainer Course.

Obtain guidance on whether you meet these prerequisites from the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center where you want to take the training. OTI Education Centers conduct this training.

If you have fulfilled the prerequisites, you must complete OSHA course #5600, Disaster Site Worker Trainer Course. Special emphasis is placed on those topics that are required to conduct the 7.5- or 15-hour Disaster Site Worker course. Course participants are briefed on effective instructional approaches and the effective use of visual aids and handouts. Persons successfully completing this course will receive an "Authorized Disaster Site Worker Trainer Card."

Disaster site worker trainers are authorized for four years. Before the expiration of their authorization status, authorized trainers must take OSHA course #5602 Update for Disaster Site Worker Trainer Course to renew their authorization for another four years. If your card expires, you will have to retake the OSHA #5600 Disaster Site Worker Trainer Course.

Authorized trainers may receive OSHA course completion cards for their students.