OSHA Training

Volunteer State OSHA Training Institute Education Center 

We are proud to be one of only 25 OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers in the nation.  

The Volunteer State OTI Education Center is a partnership between the University of Tennessee and Vol State Community College. As an OTI Education Center, we are authorized by OSHA to deliver high quality, nationally recognized training to public and private sector workers, supervisors and employers.  

Centers are selected based on organizational experience, staff experience, location and training facilities, marketing and recruitment, administrative capabilities, evaluation, and the ability to provide training throughout a given region. This program was created in 1992 to complement the OSHA Training Institute in Arlington Heights, Ill., which provides training and education to OSHA compliance officers. 

Our experienced instructors offer the following OSHA programs as open enrollment or on-site classes. 

>> View all OSHA Training Institute Education Center Courses.

CIS's Bryan Lane teaches an OSHA seminar in a classroom.

OSHA Training Courses

Successful completion of this course results in participants becoming OSHA-authorized trainers in OSHA’s Outreach Training Program for the Construction Industry. Authorized trainers can conduct both 10-hour and 30-hour construction industry classes which provide training to workers and employers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces, along with information regarding workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and how to file a workplace safety complaint. OSHA-authorized trainers are able to issue 10- and 30-hour course completion cards to participants. 

In this course, students develop a presentation, teach an assigned OSHA Construction Industry Outreach topic, and successfully pass a written exam. Participants are provided with a variety of training materials and resources. 

Prerequisites 

  • OSHA #510: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry. Please note: the 30-hour Construction OSHA outreach class is not considered equivalent to OSHA #510. Also, the 510 course must have been completed in the last seven years. If you completed the course longer than seven years ago, you will need to retake it to qualify.
  • Five years of construction industry safety experience. 

 

Requirements 

A completed and signed prerequisite verification form and a copy of the OSHA #510 certificate must be emailed to Bryan Lane (bryan.lane@tennessee.edu) to confirm eligibility for this class. If you have questions about your eligibility, please email Bryan. You must complete this form prior to the course date. 

2026 Courses 

  • March 2–March 5, Nashville
  • November 16-19, Knoxville


Registration

Successful completion of this course results in participants becoming OSHA-authorized trainers in OSHA’s Outreach Training Program. Authorized trainers can conduct both 10- and 30-hour general industry classes that provide training to workers and employers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces, along with information regarding workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and how to file a workplace safety complaint. OSHA-authorized trainers are able to issue 10- and 30-hour course completion cards to participants. 

In this course, students develop a presentation, teach an assigned OSHA General Industry Outreach topic, and successfully pass a written exam. Participants are provided with a variety of training materials and resources. 

Prerequisites

  • OSHA #511: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry. Please note: the 30-hour General Industry OSHA outreach class is not considered equivalent to OSHA #511. Also, the 511 course must have been completed in the last seven years. If you completed the course longer than seven years ago, you will need to retake it to qualify.) 
  • Five years of general industry safety experience. 

 

Requirements

A completed and signed prerequisite verification form and a copy of the OSHA #510 certificate must be emailed to Bryan Lane (bryan.lane@tennessee.edu) to confirm eligibility for this class. If you have questions about your eligibility, please email Bryan. You must complete this form prior to the course date. 

2026 Courses 

  • April 7–10, Nashville 
  • September 22–25, Jackson 
  • November 10–13, Knoxville


Registration

This course provides an update for currently authorized OSHA Construction Industry Outreach Trainers on topics such as OSHA construction industry standards, policies and regulations. Construction industry outreach trainers are required to attend this course once every four years to maintain trainer status. Participants are provided with a variety of training materials and resources. 

Prerequisites 

Trainers must submit a copy of their current trainer card via email to Bryan Lane  (bryan.lane@tennessee.edu) to confirm eligibility for this class. As of January 1, 2019, OSHA has eliminated the 90-day grace period after the expiration of the trainer card. Trainers must renew before their expiration date to take the OSHA #502 Update Class. After their expiration date, trainers must re-take the OSHA #500 Trainer Course.  

Previously authorized OSHA Outreach Trainers for the Construction Industry whose status has expired, and wish to renew in OSHA #500, must submit the same prerequisites as participants who want to become a new trainer.  

Please note: after the expiration date on the trainer card, instructors are no longer authorized to conduct 10-hour or 30-hour classes and cannot request student completion cards. 

2026 Courses

  • March 16–18, Virtual/Online 
  • October 19–21, Virtual/Online  


Registration

This course provides an update for currently authorized OSHA General Industry Outreach Trainers on topics such as OSHA general industry standards, policies and regulations. General industry outreach trainers are required to attend this course once every four years to maintain trainer status. Participants are provided with a variety of training materials and resources.

Prerequisites

Trainers must submit a copy of their current trainer card via email to Bryan Lane  (bryan.lane@tennessee.edu) to confirm eligibility for this class. As of January 1, 2019, OSHA has eliminated the 90-day grace period after the expiration of the trainer card. Trainers must renew before their expiration date to take the OSHA #503 Update Class. After their expiration date, trainers must retake the OSHA #501 Trainer Course.

Previously authorized OSHA Outreach Trainers for the Construction Industry whose status has expired, and wish to renew in OSHA #501, must now submit the same prerequisites as participants who want to become a new trainer.  

Please note: after the expiration date on the trainer card, instructors are no longer authorized to conduct 10- or 30-hour classes and cannot request student completion cards. 

2026 Courses

  • March 31–April 2, Virtual/Online 
  • November 2–4, Virtual/Online 


Registration

This course covers OSHA policies, procedures and standards, as well as construction industry safety and health principles. A copy of the 29 CFR 1926 Construction Industry Standards is included in the registration fee. Participants must successfully pass a written exam at the end of the course. 

For those interested in becoming authorized to teach OSHA 10- and 30-hour construction classes, the OSHA #510 course meets one of two prerequisites for the OSHA #500 Trainer Course for the Construction Industry.  

Please note: the 30-hour Construction Industry OSHA outreach class is not considered equivalent to OSHA #510. 

2026 Courses   

  • February 9–12, Nashville 
  • October 26–29, Knoxville 
  • Price: $845 


Registration

This course covers OSHA policies, procedures and standards, as well as general industry safety and health principles. A copy of the 29 CFR 1910 General Industry Standards is included in the registration fee. Participants must successfully pass a written exam at the end of the course. 

For those interested in becoming authorized to teach OSHA 10- and 30-hour General Industry classes, the OSHA #511 course meets one of two prerequisites for the OSHA #501 Trainer Course for General Industry.  

Please note: the 30-hour General Industry OSHA outreach class is not considered equivalent to OSHA #511. 

2026 Courses

  • March 10–13, Nashville 
  • June 23–26, Jackson 
  • August 11–14, Knoxville


Registration

This course covers the role and responsibility of the employer to develop and implement an energy control program, or lock-out/tag-out (LOTO), for the protection of workers while performing servicing and maintenance activities on machinery and equipment.

Course topics include:

  • Types of hazardous energy
  • Detecting hazardous conditions
  • Implementing control measures as they relate to the control of hazardous energy
  • Developing and implementing energy control programs, including written isolation procedures, training of authorized and affected employees
  • Periodic inspection of energy control procedures using the OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy Standard.


Upon course completion, students have the ability to explain the importance of energy control programs, procedures, training, audits and methods of controlling hazardous energy.

Schedule Training

Email us at healthsafety@tennessee.edu to schedule training.

OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.146(g) requires an employer to train employees who enter, attend to or supervise confined spaces. In this introductory course, learn to identify confined spaces, the major confined space hazards, principles of ventilation, entry permitting and the requirements of a permit-required confined space program.

Schedule Training

Email us at healthsafety@tennessee.edu to schedule training.

This course covers the responsibilities of the excavation competent person as spelled out in OSHA 29 CFR 1926.650. Students learn the OSHA-accepted soils classification methods, types of testing required, how to select protective systems and the elements of an excavation safety program.

Schedule Training

Email us at healthsafety@tennessee.edu to register for training.

This course covers the effective implementation of a company's safety and health management system. The course addresses the four core elements of an effective safety and health management system and those central issues that are critical to each element's proper management.

This course is an interactive training session focusing on class discussion and workshops. Upon course completion, students have the ability to evaluate, develop and implement an effective safety and health management system for their company.

Registration

This course is an introduction to basic accident investigation procedures and describes accident analysis techniques. Course topics include:

  • Reasons for conducting accident investigations
  • Employer responsibilities related to workplace accident investigations
  • Afour-step accident investigation procedure.


Target audiences include employers, managers, employees or employee representatives involved in conducting accident and/or near-miss investigations. Upon course completion, students have the basic skills necessary to conduct an effective accident investigation at the workplace.

Registration

This course is designed to assist employers in identifying and fulfilling their responsibilities for posting certain records, maintaining records of illnesses and injuries, and reporting specific cases to OSHA. Participants who successfully complete this course can identify OSHA requirements and complete OSHA's forms 300, 300A and 301. 

2026 Courses  

  • January 21, Virtual/Online 
  • Price: $150 


Registration

This course provides instruction on a variety of construction safety and health hazards. It's particularly useful for those who are just entering the safety field and want a better understanding of what is required and where to start. Students who complete this training receive an OSHA 10-Hour Construction card. 

Course subject matter includes: 

  • An introduction to OSHA 
  • OSHAct/General Duty Clause
  • Inspections, citations and penalties
  • Focus Four Hazards
  • Health hazards in construction
  • PPE
  • Ladders
  • Materials handling 

 

Schedule Training

These classes can be conducted at your facility. Please contact Bryan Lane for additional information. 

This course provides instruction on a variety of general industry safety and health hazards. It's particularly useful for those who are just entering the safety field and would like a better understanding of what is required and where to start. Students who complete this will receive an OSHA 10-Hour General Industry card. 

Course subject matter includes: 

  • An introduction to OSHA 
  • OSHAct/General Duty Clause 
  • Inspections, citations and penalties 
  • Walking and working surfaces 
  • Means of egress and fire protection 
  • Electrical 

 

Schedule Training

These classes can be conducted at your facility. Please contact Bryan Lane for additional information. 

This course covers more subjects and details than OSHA 10-Hour. This 30-hour training is appropriate for safety managers, maintenance personnel and safety committees, among others. Students who complete the course will receive an OSHA 30-Hour card. 

Course topics include: 

  • Intro to OSHA 
  • Electrical 
  • Safety and health management programs 
  • Machine guarding 
  • Permit-required confined spaces 
  • Lockout/tagout 

 

Registration

Certificate Program

OSHA Safety and Health Fundamentals

OSHA's Safety and Health Fundamentals Certificate program support's OSHA's mission by training public and private sector employees in occupational safety and health to reduce incident rates for workers. Certificates options include construction, maritime and general industry training.

Participants choose from topics such as occupational safety and health standards, safety and health management, incident investigation, fall hazard awareness and recordkeeping. Courses are available at OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers nationwide. Email healthsafety@tennessee.edu with questions.

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