Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Basics
Keep adding new skills with 10,000+ programs for $239 (usually $399). Save now.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Basics
This course is part of Workplace Conduct and Culture Specialization
Instructors: Kriti Kamra
Included with
Learn more
Ask Coursera
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Describe the purpose and scope of OSHA
Identify common workplace hazards addressed by current OSHA standards
Identify appropriate corrective actions for OSHA requirements, given a workplace scenario
Determine missing safety practices in a workplace scenario that might indicate OSHA non-compliance
Details to know
April 2026
9 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 4 modules in this course
Workplace safety is essential to every successful organization, and understanding OSHA standards is a critical first step in creating a safer work environment. This course provides practical, beginner-friendly training on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, helping learners build foundational workplace safety knowledge, and recognize common compliance expectations across industries.
You will learn the purpose of OSHA, employee rights and employer responsibilities, and how OSHA standards help prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. Through interactive activities, real-world scenarios, and guided assessments, you will explore workplace hazards, identify safety risks, connect hazards to corrective actions, and recognize indicators of OSHA non-compliance. Designed for beginners and frontline employees across industries, this course equips learners with the practical skills needed to identify unsafe conditions, understand workplace safety responsibilities, and contribute to a culture of compliance and prevention. By the end of the course, learners will be able to apply OSHA principles to identify hazards, evaluate corrective actions, and recognize when missing safety practices may indicate non-compliance. Enroll today to strengthen your workplace safety awareness and build foundational OSHA compliance knowledge.
This module introduces the fundamentals of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), helping you understand its purpose, scope, and role in workplace safety. You will explore employee rights, employer responsibilities, and how OSHA standards and enforcement work to prevent injuries and ensure compliance. By the end, you will have a strong foundation in OSHA regulations, preparing you to recognize workplace hazards and safety gaps in real-world scenarios.
What's included
1 video2 readings2 assignments2 plugins
1 videoβ’Total 4 minutes
- Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities Under OSHAβ’4 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 5 minutes
- Course Overviewβ’3 minutes
- Key Takeaways: OSHA Essentialsβ’2 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 25 minutes
- Graded Quiz: OSHA Essentialsβ’15 minutes
- Practice Quiz: OSHA's Purpose, Rights, and Enforcement β’10 minutes
2 pluginsβ’Total 10 minutes
- Activity: OSHAβs Purpose, Mission, and Legal Authorityβ’5 minutes
- Activity: OSHA Standards and Enforcement in Practiceβ’5 minutes
This module focuses on identifying common workplace hazards and understanding how OSHA standards address them. You will learn to recognize risks across different work environments, categorize hazards, and connect them to effective corrective actions for OSHA compliance. Through practical examples and interactive activities, you will build the skills to assess whether safety measures are adequate and take steps to reduce workplace risks.
What's included
3 assignments8 plugins
3 assignmentsβ’Total 35 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Workplace Hazards and Corrective Actionsβ’15 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Common Workplace Hazards β’10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Corrective Actions for OSHA Compliance β’10 minutes
8 pluginsβ’Total 46 minutes
- Activity: Overview of OSHA Hazard Categoriesβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Examples of Common Workplace Hazards by Categoryβ’7 minutes
- Activity: How to Observe Hazards in Your Work Areaβ’6 minutes
- Activity: Recognizing Hazards in Different Work Settingsβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Understanding Corrective Actions for OSHA Hazards β’5 minutes
- Activity: HazardβCorrective Action Walkthroughsβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Is This an Effective Corrective Action?β’5 minutes
- Activity: Key Takeaways: Workplace Hazards and Corrective Actionsβ’8 minutes
In this module, you will move from awareness to application by focusing on OSHA non-compliance indicators. You will learn how to spot missing safety practices, such as improper labeling, lack of PPE, or unsafe conditions, and analyze workplace scenarios to determine compliance gaps. By the end, you will be able to identify when OSHA requirements are not being met and understand what actions may be needed to improve safety.
What's included
1 reading3 assignments6 plugins
1 readingβ’Total 2 minutes
- Reading: Why Non-Compliance Happens: Common Causes and Red Flagsβ’2 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 35 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Identifying OSHA Non-Compliance Indicators and Missing Safety Practicesβ’15 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Introduction to OSHA Non-Compliance Indicatorsβ’10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Determining Missing Safety Practices in Workplace Scenariosβ’10 minutes
6 pluginsβ’Total 35 minutes
- Activity: Common Signs of OSHA Non-Complianceβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Non-Compliance Examples Across Work Settingsβ’7 minutes
- Activity: How to Analyze a Scenario for Missing Safety Practicesβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Scenario Breakdown Examplesβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Steps for Evaluating a Scenarioβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Key Takeaways: Identifying OSHA Non-Compliance Indicatorsβ’8 minutes
This module consolidates key learning from the course, reinforcing core concepts such as OSHA regulations, workplace hazards, corrective actions, and non-compliance indicators. You will review essential takeaways, access additional safety resources, and complete a final assessment to demonstrate your understanding. This ensures you are prepared to apply OSHA principles and contribute to a safer, more compliant workplace.
What's included
1 reading1 assignment2 plugins
1 readingβ’Total 2 minutes
- Course Summaryβ’2 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 24 minutes
- Final Quiz: Occupational Safety and Health Administrationβ’24 minutes
2 pluginsβ’Total 12 minutes
- Activity: Key Takeaways: OSHA and Inclusive Safetyβ’7 minutes
- Activity: OSHA Resourcesβ’5 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructors
Offered by
Explore more from Business Essentials
- Status: Preview
Course
- Status: Free TrialK
Khalifa University
Course
- Status: Free TrialI
Interplay Learning
Course
- Status: Free Trial
Course
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Frequently asked questions
This course is ideal for beginners, employees, and professionals across industries who want to build foundational knowledge of workplace safety, OSHA standards, and hazard recognition in everyday work environments.
No prior knowledge is required. This course is designed to provide beginner-friendly, practical instruction on OSHA basics, making it suitable for individuals who are new to workplace safety concepts as well as professionals seeking a refresher on OSHA fundamentals.
You will learn the purpose of OSHA, employee rights and employer responsibilities, common workplace hazards, corrective actions for OSHA compliance, and how to recognize workplace situations that may indicate OSHA non-compliance.
More questions
Financial aid available,
