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130 HOURS Level 4 · Specialist program Enrolment open

130 Hour Specialist for Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist

Level 4 of the Construction safety career ladder. Master OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — 100% online, at your own pace.

Aligned with OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Employer-verifiable credentials Open-book online exam
130 Hour Specialist for Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist
Certificate · Transcript · Wallet card Verifiable at amiosp.com
Duration
130hoursMinimum instructional hours
Modules
17modules10 core · 7 specialised
Completion
~1monthTypical, fully self-paced
Delivery
100%onlineMicrosoft Teams + LMS
Career level
4of 7Specialist on the career ladder
LEVEL 4 PROGRAM 130-Hr Construction Safety Specialist
Program overview

What is the 130 Hour Specialist for Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist?

The 130 Hour Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist program from the American Institute of Safety Professionals is a specialist-level certification that develops the advanced technical competencies required to serve as the subject-matter construction safety expert on major construction projects. At 130 instructional hours, this is the deepest construction-specific technical programme in the American Institute of Safety Professionals catalogue and the credential that construction employers, general contractors, and EPC firms look for when they need a safety professional who can develop site-specific safety plans, conduct detailed construction hazard assessments, engineer fall protection solutions, analyse excavation protective systems, review crane lift plans, interpret every subpart of 29 CFR 1926, and serve as the project’s technical safety resource for every trade and activity from demolition through finishing. Construction safety specialisation requires technical depth that general industry safety does not. A construction safety specialist must understand soil mechanics to evaluate excavation protective systems. They must understand structural loading to assess scaffold capacity and fall protection anchorage. They must understand crane engineering to review lift plans and rigging calculations. They must understand construction health hazards respirable crystalline silica (29 CFR 1926.1153), lead in construction (29 CFR 1926.62), and asbestos (29 CFR 1926.1101) at the exposure-assessment level. They must understand demolition engineering, steel erection sequences, concrete placement operations, and the unique hazards of each construction phase. The 130 Hour programme develops all of these competencies systematically. The programme delivers 95 hours of mandatory core modules covering comprehensive 29 CFR 1926 regulatory mastery across all construction subparts, advanced construction hazard assessment and risk management, site-specific safety plan (SSSP) development, fall protection engineering and programme design, scaffolding analysis and programme development, excavation engineering and protective system evaluation, crane and rigging safety analysis, construction health hazard assessment, incident investigation for construction, and construction safety auditing. An additional 35 hours of specialised modules cover demolition engineering, steel erection safety, concrete and masonry operations, confined space entry in construction (Subpart AA), traffic management and work zone safety, and construction environmental compliance. All training is delivered 100 percent online through Microsoft Teams and the American Institute of Safety Professionals Learning Management System (LMS). Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, professional wallet card, and official transcript, all employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

Learning outcomes

What you'll be able to do
  1. 01 Demonstrate comprehensive mastery of OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Construction Standards across all applicable subparts, interpreting regulatory requirements at the standard-text level and advising project teams on compliance strategies for complex, multi-trade construction operations.
  2. 02 Develop comprehensive Site-Specific Safety Plans (SSSPs) for construction projects of any size and complexity, integrating project hazard analysis, phase-specific safety requirements, emergency response plans, training matrices, and the activity-specific procedures that general contractor and owner specifications require.
  3. 03 Conduct advanced construction hazard assessments using Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA), Preliminary Hazard Analysis, and semi-quantitative risk assessment methodologies to produce project hazard registers that prioritise controls by risk severity and construction phase.
  4. 04 Engineer fall protection solutions per 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, including anchorage design evaluation, fall distance calculations, personal fall arrest system selection and configuration, horizontal lifeline analysis awareness, leading-edge fall protection planning, and rescue planning for suspended workers.
  5. 05 Evaluate excavation protective systems per 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P at the engineering level, including soil classification (Type A, B, and C) through visual and manual testing, sloping and benching calculations, shoring system analysis, trench box selection and configuration, and competent person inspection criteria.
  6. 06 Review crane lift plans per 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, including load chart verification, ground bearing capacity assessment, outrigger configuration, swing radius hazard evaluation, critical lift planning, and rigging analysis such as sling capacity, hitch factor, and wire rope D/d ratio assessment.
  7. 07 Assess construction health hazards at the exposure-assessment level, including respirable crystalline silica exposure control per 29 CFR 1926.1153, lead in construction per 29 CFR 1926.62, asbestos per 29 CFR 1926.1101, occupational noise exposure, and heat illness prevention.
  8. 08 Conduct specialist-level construction incident investigations using root-cause analysis methodologies including Ishikawa analysis, fault tree analysis, and barrier analysis applied to construction-specific events such as fall fatalities, struck-by incidents, trench collapses, crane overturns, and electrocutions.
WHO IT'S FOR

Who should take this program?

  • Project safety managers and site safety specialists on major commercial, industrial, and infrastructure construction projects
  • Construction safety professionals seeking the deepest construction-specific technical qualification available
  • Safety consultants specialising in construction who serve GC, EPC, and owner clients on large-scale projects
  • Safety professionals preparing for or complementing BCSP certifications (CHST, OHST, ASP, CSP) with structured construction safety training
  • Construction safety officers on Gulf mega-projects (NEOM, Aramco, ADNOC, QatarEnergy) seeking an advanced OSHA-aligned construction credential
  • GC and EPC corporate safety professionals responsible for technical safety standards across multiple construction projects
  • Engineers (civil, structural, mechanical) transitioning into construction safety specialist roles

Entry requirements

1 Completion of the 30 Hour Construction programme or equivalent is strongly recommended
2 2 or more years of construction industry experience is recommended
3 No formal academic degree is required, though engineering backgrounds provide a strong technical foundation
4 All instruction is delivered in English; professional proficiency is required
Curriculum

What will you study?

17 modules in two parts: 10 core modules and 7 specialised modules.

How your 130 hours are split
95 hrs10 core modules
35 hrs7 specialised

Core modules

10 modules · 95 hours
01

Core module 1 Comprehensive OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Regulatory Mastery

15 hrs
  • Complete coverage of all construction subparts at specialist depth: C (General Provisions)
  • D (Occupational Health)
  • E (PPE)
  • F (Fire/Prevention)
  • G (Signs/Signals)
  • H (Materials Handling)
  • I (Tools)
  • J (Welding/Cutting)
02

Core module 2 Multi-employer citation policy. Letters of interpretation. State-plan variations. Advanced Construction Hazard Assessment and Risk Management

10 hrs

Job Hazard Analysis and Activity Hazard Analysis for construction activities.

  • Phase-specific hazard identification: demolition
  • excavation
  • foundation
  • structural
  • MEP
  • finishing. Semi-quantitative risk assessment. Project hazard registers. Hierarchy of controls applied to construction: elimination through design
  • substitution
  • engineering controls
03

Core module 3 Pre-task planning and daily hazard assessment processes. Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) Development

10 hrs

SSSP structure and content per GC and owner requirements.

  • Project description
  • scope. Hazard analysis by construction phase. Activity-specific safety procedures. Emergency response plan. Site logistics
  • traffic management plan. Training matrix. PPE requirements by trade
  • activity. Subcontractor safety requirements. Environmental compliance. Quality assurance for safety documentation
04

Core module 4 Subcontractor safety requirements. Environmental compliance. Quality assurance for safety documentation. Fall Protection Engineering and Programme Design

10 hrs

29 CFR 1926 Subpart M in depth.

  • Fall hazard survey methodology. Guardrail system design specifications. Safety net system requirements. Personal fall arrest system engineering: harness selection
  • lanyard selection
  • anchorage evaluation (5,000 lb requirement, qualified person anchorage design)
  • fall distance calculation (free fall + deceleration + harness stretch + safety margin)
  • self-retracting lifeline selection. Horizontal lifeline analysis awareness. Leading edge fall protection plans. Controlled access zones. Fall protection rescue planning: self-rescue
  • assisted rescue
  • mechanical rescue. Fall protection equipment inspection programmes
05

Core module 5 Fall protection rescue planning: self-rescue, assisted rescue, mechanical rescue. Fall protection equipment inspection programmes. Scaffolding Analysis and Programme Development

8 hrs

29 CFR 1926 Subpart L in depth.

  • Scaffold types: supported (frame, tube/coupler, system)
  • suspended
  • mast-climbing
  • mobile. Capacity analysis
  • load calculations. Foundation
  • base plate requirements. Erection sequences. Platform construction standards. Access requirements. Fall protection on scaffolds. Wind load considerations. Scaffold inspection programme development. Competent person
  • qualified person responsibilities
06

Core module 6 Wind load considerations. Scaffold inspection programme development. Competent person and qualified person responsibilities. Excavation Engineering and Protective System Evaluation

8 hrs

29 CFR 1926 Subpart P in depth.

  • Soil mechanics fundamentals: cohesion
  • grain size
  • unconfined compressive strength
  • plasticity. Soil classification: Type A
  • C by visual and manual tests (thumb penetration, pocket penetrometer, hand-squeeze, dry strength, thread). Sloping and benching requirements by soil type. Shoring systems: timber
  • hydraulic aluminium
  • pneumatic. Shield (trench box) systems: selection
  • placement
07

Core module 7 Engineered systems. Competent person daily inspection protocol. Water accumulation, surcharge loads, and adjacent structure protection. Crane and Rigging Safety Analysis

8 hrs

29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC in depth.

  • Crane types and configurations. Load chart interpretation: rated capacity
  • radius
  • boom length
  • counterweight. Ground conditions assessment and outrigger requirements. Swing radius hazard evaluation and barricading. Signal person qualifications and communication. Operator certification requirements. Assembly and disassembly protocols. Critical lift planning: lift plan development
  • lift director role
  • engineered lifts. Rigging analysis: sling types
  • rated capacity
  • hitch factors
08

Core module 8 Rigging analysis: sling types, rated capacity, hitch factors, D/d ratio, inspection criteria. Multi-crane picks awareness. Construction Health Hazard Assessment

8 hrs

Respirable crystalline silica: 29 CFR 1926.1153 Table 1 compliance (specified exposure control methods by task), alternative exposure control methods, exposure assessment, medical surveillance.

  • Lead in construction: 29 CFR 1926.62
  • action level
  • PEL
  • exposure assessment
  • medical surveillance
  • interim protection. Asbestos: 29 CFR 1926.1101
  • Class I-IV work
  • competent person requirements
09

Core module 9 risk factors, acclimatisation, work-rest cycles. Construction Incident Investigation

8 hrs
  • Advanced investigation for construction-specific incidents: fall from height
  • struck-by (crane load, falling materials, vehicles)
  • caught-in (trench collapse, unguarded equipment)
  • electrocution (overhead lines, temporary wiring). Root-cause analysis applied to construction: Ishikawa
  • fault tree
  • barrier analysis. Evidence preservation on active construction sites. Investigation coordination with OSHA
  • owner
  • insurer
10

Core module 10 Investigation coordination with OSHA, owner, insurer, and legal counsel. Report writing and corrective action management. Construction Safety Auditing

10 hrs

Developing construction-specific audit programmes.

  • Audit checklists by 29 CFR 1926 subpart. Conducting project safety audits: GC self-audit
  • subcontractor audits
  • owner audits. Non-conformance classification. Corrective action management. Pre-OSHA-inspection readiness audits. Owner
  • insurance survey preparation. Benchmarking project safety performance against industry rates

Specialised modules

7 modules · 35 hours
01

Specialised module 1 Demolition Safety Engineering

5 hrs

29 CFR 1926 Subpart T.

  • Engineering survey requirements. Utility disconnection verification. Structural stability assessment. Floor-by-floor removal procedures. Mechanical demolition methods. Debris management. Adjacent structure protection. Health hazards during demolition: asbestos
  • lead
  • silica
  • biological hazards
02

Specialised module 2 asbestos, lead, silica, biological hazards. Steel Erection Safety

5 hrs

29 CFR 1926 Subpart R.

  • Site layout and erection sequence. Column stability. Beam-to-column connections. Controlled decking zones. Fall protection during steel erection: connectors
  • deckers
  • work above 15/30 feet. Perimeter safety cables. Multiple-lift rigging procedures
03

Specialised module 3 Fall protection during steel erection: connectors, deckers, work above 15/30 feet. Perimeter safety cables. Multiple-lift rigging procedures. Concrete and Masonry Operations Safety

5 hrs

29 CFR 1926 Subpart Q.

  • Formwork and shoring: design
  • inspection
  • stripping sequences. Post-tensioning safety. Precast concrete erection: handling
  • connections
  • temporary bracing. Lift-slab operations. Masonry wall bracing: limited states during construction. Concrete pump
  • conveyor safety
04

Specialised module 4 limited states during construction. Concrete pump and conveyor safety. Confined Space Entry in Construction

5 hrs

29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA.

  • Construction-specific confined spaces: manholes
  • vaults
  • tanks
  • excavations meeting confined space criteria
  • pipe installations
  • structural enclosures. Atmospheric hazards in construction confined spaces. Entry permit system for construction. Rescue planning: construction-specific challenges (access, ventilation, extraction). Coordination with other trades during entry
05

Specialised module 5 Coordination with other trades during entry. Work Zone Traffic Management and Mobile Plant Safety

5 hrs

MUTCD awareness for construction work zones.

  • Temporary traffic control plans. Flagging procedures and certifications. Internal site traffic management: haul roads
  • reversing protocols
  • blind spots
  • pedestrian segregation. Mobile plant selection and safety: excavators
  • loaders
  • dump trucks
  • paving equipment. Vehicle-pedestrian interface management
06

Specialised module 6 Mobile plant selection and safety: excavators, loaders, dump trucks, paving equipment. Vehicle-pedestrian interface management. Construction Environmental Compliance

5 hrs

Stormwater pollution prevention (SWPPP).

  • Erosion
  • sediment control. Hazardous materials
  • waste management on construction sites. Spill prevention
  • response. Dust control. Noise management. Environmental permit compliance. Wetland
  • waterway protection during construction. The intersection of OSHA
  • EPA on construction sites
07

Specialised module 7 Wetland and waterway protection during construction. The intersection of OSHA and EPA on construction sites. Legal Liability and Multi-Employer Worksite Compliance

5 hrs

OSHA multi-employer citation policy: creating, exposing, correcting, and controlling employers.

  • GC versus subcontractor liability.
  • Contractual indemnification and additional insured provisions.
  • Owner liability for construction safety.
  • OSHA enforcement trends in construction.
  • Citation defence strategies.
  • Criminal referral criteria for construction fatalities.
130 instructional hours in total · fully self-paced Download the program brochure

Standards and frameworks you'll work with

Official sources, linked for reference
How it works

How is the program assessed?

One online, open-book exam at the end of the program, taken through your assigned student portal. Score 70% or higher to pass — your result is emailed to you straight after the exam.

  1. 1
    Enrol and get access Join live sessions on Microsoft Teams and study in the Institute's learning portal (LMS).
  2. 2
    Study 17 modules 10 core and 7 specialised modules at your own pace — most learners finish within a month.
  3. 3
    Take the exam One online, open-book exam through your assigned student portal.
  4. 4
    Get your result Your result is emailed to you as soon as you finish. 70% or higher to pass.
  5. Get certified and verified Receive your certificate, transcript and wallet card, verifiable online.
70% to pass The pass mark for the final online exam
Open-book Use your course materials during the exam — it tests application, not memory
Up to 3 retakes Didn't pass? Take a month to review the materials, then retake up to three more times
WHAT YOU RECEIVE

Credentials employers can verify in seconds

How verification works
Diploma certificate — 130 Hour Specialist for Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist
Diploma certificate Sample · 3013
Wallet card · front — 130 Hour Specialist for Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist
Wallet card · front Sample
Wallet card · back — 130 Hour Specialist for Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist
Wallet card · back Sample
Career path

Where does this program sit in your career?

It is Level 4 of the Institute's Construction safety career ladder. Each level builds on the one before, from worker awareness to organisation-wide safety leadership.

Construction safety career ladder 7 levels
  1. 1 10-Hour Construction Safety and Health Worker awareness
  2. 2 30-Hour Construction Safety and Health Supervisory knowledge
  3. 3 47-Hour Construction Safety Trainer Training delivery
  4. 4 130-Hour Construction Safety Specialist Technical expertise YOU ARE HERE
  5. 5 145-Hour Construction Industry Safety Supervisor Daily enforcement
  6. 6 162-Hour Construction Safety and Health Manager Program leadership
  7. 7 192-Hour Construction Safety and Health Professional Organisation-wide safety leadership
What comes next International Diplomas Go further with a 480-hour International Diploma for multi-industry, diploma-level depth. Explore diplomas
Also consider CHSM · RSM · RSP Professional certifications for broader, multi-industry credentials. View certifications
Fees and enrolment

How much does the program cost?

Digital

PDF credentials, delivered online
$217.99$237.99
  • Online modules and learning resources
  • Open-book online exam
  • Certificate, transcript and wallet card (PDF)
  • Online verification record
Enroll — $217.99
Includes printed certificate

Complete

Hard-bound certificate plus PDF
$271.99$291.99
  • Everything in Digital
  • Hard-bound printed certificate
  • Shipped to your address (courier extra)
Enroll — $271.99

Enrolling a team?

Talk to an advisor about enrolling several people. Talk to an advisor
Secure checkout Open enrolment, self-paced Replies within 24 hours Fee questions: accounts@amiosp.com Fees and VAT may apply. Courier charges for hard copies are quoted separately.
Why choose us

Why study with us?

A complete construction safety education from the American Institute of Safety Professionals — online, self-paced and built for working professionals.

A focused construction program 130 instructional hours across 17 modules.
Standards you can apply at work OSHA 29 CFR 1926, taught so you can use it on the job.
Fast and flexible Fully online and self-paced. Most learners finish within one month.
Fair, open-book assessment One online exam with a 70% pass mark, and up to three retakes if you need them.
Employer-verifiable credentials Certificate, transcript and wallet card, verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.
A clear path forward Level 4 of a seven-level career ladder, with a direct route to International Diplomas.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Still deciding? Speak to an advisor about your experience and goals. We reply within 24 hours. +1 689 286 3561 info@amiosp.com Contact an advisor

What is the 130 Hour Specialist for Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist?

The 130 Hour Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist program from the American Institute of Safety Professionals is a specialist-level certification that develops the advanced technical competencies required to serve as the subject-matter construction safety expert on major construction projects. At 130 instructional hours, this is the deepest construction-specific technical programme in the American Institute of Safety Professionals catalogue and the credential that construction employers, general contractors, and EPC firms look for when they need a safety professional who can develop site-specific safety plans, conduct detailed construction hazard assessments, engineer fall protection solutions, analyse excavation protective systems, review crane lift plans, interpret every subpart of 29 CFR 1926, and serve as the project’s technical safety resource for every trade and activity from demolition through finishing. Construction safety specialisation requires technical depth that general industry safety does not. A construction safety specialist must understand soil mechanics to evaluate excavation protective systems. They must understand structural loading to assess scaffold capacity and fall protection anchorage. They must understand crane engineering to review lift plans and rigging calculations. They must understand construction health hazards respirable crystalline silica (29 CFR 1926.1153), lead in construction (29 CFR 1926.62), and asbestos (29 CFR 1926.1101) at the exposure-assessment level. They must understand demolition engineering, steel erection sequences, concrete placement operations, and the unique hazards of each construction phase. The 130 Hour programme develops all of these competencies systematically. The programme delivers 95 hours of mandatory core modules covering comprehensive 29 CFR 1926 regulatory mastery across all construction subparts, advanced construction hazard assessment and risk management, site-specific safety plan (SSSP) development, fall protection engineering and programme design, scaffolding analysis and programme development, excavation engineering and protective system evaluation, crane and rigging safety analysis, construction health hazard assessment, incident investigation for construction, and construction safety auditing. An additional 35 hours of specialised modules cover demolition engineering, steel erection safety, concrete and masonry operations, confined space entry in construction (Subpart AA), traffic management and work zone safety, and construction environmental compliance. All training is delivered 100 percent online through Microsoft Teams and the American Institute of Safety Professionals Learning Management System (LMS). Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, professional wallet card, and official transcript, all employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

How long does it take?

The program is designed to offer flexible online learning with a minimum instructional contact time of 130 hours. Most learners successfully complete the course within one month, allowing them to progress at their own pace while balancing professional commitments.

How is it assessed?

Candidates can take this exam through an assigned portal from the American Institute of Safety Professionals. A passing score is 70% or higher, and exam results are provided right after by email to the address provided. The exam is open-book, allowing candidates to validate their answers. Any candidates who do not pass have 1 month after their exam to go through the training materials and can take the exam 3 additional times.

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