Chat with us
44 HOURS Level 7 · Specialist program Enrolment open

44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry

Level 7 of the General Industry safety career ladder. Master OSHA 29 CFR 1910 — 100% online, at your own pace.

Aligned with OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Employer-verifiable credentials Open-book online exam
44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry
Certificate · Transcript · Wallet card Verifiable at amiosp.com
Duration
44hoursMinimum instructional hours
Structure
34 + 10hoursMandatory and elective
Completion
~1monthTypical, fully self-paced
Delivery
100%onlineMicrosoft Teams + LMS
Career level
7of 9Specialist on the career ladder
LEVEL 7 PROGRAM 44-Hr OSH Specialist
Program overview

What is the 44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry?

The 44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry program from the American Institute of Safety Professionals is a specialist-level certification that develops the technical depth, analytical competency, and programme-development skills that organisations require from their subject-matter safety experts. Where supervisors enforce daily compliance and trainers build worker competency, the safety specialist provides the technical foundation that both depend on: conducting detailed hazard assessments, interpreting OSHA regulatory requirements, developing written safety programmes (lockout/tagout procedures, hazard communication programmes, respiratory protection programmes, confined space entry programmes), analysing exposure monitoring data, and providing the expert-level technical guidance that management, supervisors, and safety committees rely on to make informed decisions about hazard controls and compliance investments. The specialist role fills a critical gap in most organisations’ safety structures. Many companies have supervisors who can enforce rules and trainers who can deliver courses, but lack a dedicated technical resource who can write the written programmes that OSHA requires (29 CFR 1910.147 requires written energy-control procedures, 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires a written hazard communication programme, 29 CFR 1910.134 requires a written respiratory protection programme, 29 CFR 1910.146 requires a written confined space entry programme), who can conduct the hazard assessments that determine which controls are needed, who can interpret new OSHA rulemaking and determine its impact on the organisation, and who can serve as the technical contact during OSHA inspections and third-party audits. The 44 Hour OSH Specialist programme builds these competencies systematically. The programme delivers 34 hours of mandatory core modules covering advanced hazard assessment methodologies, OSHA written programme development for every major 29 CFR 1910 standard that requires one, industrial hygiene principles, quantitative risk assessment, incident investigation at the specialist level, and safety programme auditing. An additional 10 hours of specialised modules cover process safety management awareness, environmental compliance, ergonomic assessment, and advanced regulatory interpretation. 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 credentials are employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications. The OSH Specialist is positioned in the career ladder between the 36 Hour OSH Supervisor and the 48 Hour OSH Manager, representing the transition from operational enforcement to technical expertise.

Learning outcomes

What you'll be able to do
  1. 01 Conduct advanced workplace hazard assessments using Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), and semi-quantitative risk assessment methodologies to produce detailed hazard registers that prioritise controls based on risk severity and regulatory requirements.
  2. 02 Develop written safety programmes that meet specific OSHA documentation requirements, including written lockout/tagout energy-control procedures (29 CFR 1910.147), written hazard communication programmes (29 CFR 1910.1200), written respiratory protection programmes (29 CFR 1910.134), written confined space entry programmes (29 CFR 1910.146), and written emergency action plans (29 CFR 1910.38).
  3. 03 Interpret OSHA 29 CFR 1910 standards at the regulatory-text level, applying specific standard requirements to workplace conditions, determining compliance versus non-compliance, and advising management on the controls required to achieve and maintain compliance.
  4. 04 Evaluate industrial hygiene monitoring data including personal exposure measurements, area sampling results, and real-time instrument readings against OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs), ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs), and short-term exposure limits (STELs) to determine the adequacy of existing exposure controls.
  5. 05 Conduct specialist-level incident investigations using advanced root-cause analysis methodologies (Ishikawa diagrams, fault tree analysis, barrier analysis, change analysis) to identify systemic organisational failures beyond the immediate cause, producing investigation reports with evidence-based corrective action recommendations.
  6. 06 Perform safety programme audits against OSHA regulatory requirements and management system standards (ANSI/ASSP Z10 and ISO 45001), identifying programme gaps, documenting non-conformances, and developing corrective action plans with implementation timelines.
  7. 07 Apply the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE) to specific workplace hazards, selecting the most effective control strategy based on hazard severity, feasibility, cost, and regulatory requirements.
  8. 08 Serve as the organisation’s technical safety resource during OSHA inspections, third-party audits, and insurance surveys, providing regulatory interpretation, compliance documentation, and technical responses to inspector questions.
WHO IT'S FOR

Who should take this program?

Prerequisite: Completion of the 30 Hour or 36 Hour General Industry programme, or equivalent safety knowledge, is recommended. The 44 Hour programme assumes foundational knowledge of 29 CFR 1910 standards and builds technical depth on that foundation.

  • Safety officers and coordinators seeking to advance from enforcement-level to specialist-level technical competency
  • EHS professionals who need to develop written safety programmes (LOTO, HazCom, respiratory, confined space) for their facility
  • Safety professionals transitioning from supervisory roles into dedicated technical safety specialist positions
  • Industrial hygienists and occupational health professionals who want to add safety programme development to their technical skill set
  • Engineers (mechanical, electrical, chemical, industrial) transitioning into safety specialist roles who need OSHA regulatory expertise
  • Safety consultants expanding their service offerings to include written programme development, hazard assessment, and compliance auditing
  • Professionals preparing for BCSP certifications (ASP, CSP) who want structured OSHA regulatory and technical training as a foundation

Entry requirements

1 Completion of the 30 Hour or 36 Hour General Industry programme is recommended
2 2 or more years of practical safety experience is recommended for candidates without prior programme-level training
3 No formal academic degree is required, though engineering or science backgrounds provide a strong technical foundation
4 No prior specialist certification is required
5 All instruction is delivered in English; professional proficiency in English is required
Curriculum

What will you study?

13 modules in two parts: 9 core modules and 4 elective modules.

How your 44 hours are split
34 hrs9 core modules
10 hrs4 elective

Core modules

9 modules · 34 hours
01

Core module 1 Advanced OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Regulatory Interpretation

5 hrs

Reading and interpreting OSHA standards at the regulatory-text level.

  • Applicability determinations. Performance versus specification standards. Letters of interpretation
  • their precedent value. New rulemaking tracking
  • impact assessment. Federal versus state-plan state variations. Multi-employer worksite compliance determination
02

Core module 2 Federal versus state-plan state variations. Multi-employer worksite compliance determination. Advanced Hazard Assessment Methodologies

4 hrs

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) development for complex tasks.

  • Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA). Semi-quantitative risk assessment
  • including probability and severity scales
  • risk matrix design
  • and ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) determination. Hazard register development
  • prioritisation
  • maintenance. Application of the hierarchy of controls to assessment outputs
03

Core module 3 Hazard register development, prioritisation, and maintenance. Application of the hierarchy of controls to assessment outputs. Written Safety Programme Development

6 hrs
  • Developing the written programmes OSHA requires
  • standard by standard: lockout/tagout energy-control procedures (29 CFR 1910.147)
  • hazard communication programmes (29 CFR 1910.1200)
  • respiratory protection programmes (29 CFR 1910.134)
  • confined space entry programmes (29 CFR 1910.146)
  • emergency action plans (29 CFR 1910.38)
  • and fire prevention plans (29 CFR 1910.39). Topics include machine-specific procedures
  • authorised employee lists
04

Core module 4 Industrial Hygiene for Safety Specialists

4 hrs

Chemical hazard assessment, exposure routes, toxicology fundamentals, and dose-response relationships.

  • Interpretation of personal and area exposure monitoring data
  • including TWA
  • STEL
  • and ceiling limits. OSHA PELs versus ACGIH TLVs. Physical hazard evaluation including noise exposure
  • hearing conservation (29 CFR 1910.95)
  • heat stress assessment (WBGT)
  • radiation awareness
  • biological hazard evaluation
05

Core module 5 Specialist-Level Incident Investigation

4 hrs

Advanced root-cause analysis methodologies including Ishikawa (fishbone) diagrams, fault tree analysis, barrier analysis, change analysis, and the Swiss cheese model.

  • Investigation quality assurance
  • evidence collection standards
  • witness interview techniques
  • timeline reconstruction
  • corrective action development
  • effectiveness verification
06

Core module 6 Safety Programme Auditing and Compliance Assessment

4 hrs

Developing audit checklists from OSHA regulatory requirements.

  • Conducting compliance audits against 29 CFR 1910 standards. Documenting observations
  • non-conformances
  • and opportunities for improvement. Writing audit reports with risk-rated findings and corrective action recommendations. Audit follow-up
  • closure verification
  • introduction to ANSI/ASSP Z10
  • ISO 45001 management system auditing
07

Core module 7 Audit follow-up, closure verification, and introduction to ANSI/ASSP Z10 and ISO 45001 management system auditing. Machine Guarding and Equipment Safety Assessment

3 hrs

Advanced machine guarding assessment under 29 CFR 1910.212, .213, .215, .217, and .219.

  • Point-of-operation analysis
  • power transmission evaluation
  • safeguarding device selection
  • robot safety awareness (ANSI/RIA R15.06)
  • machine guarding programme documentation
08

Core module 8 Electrical Safety and Arc Flash Awareness

2 hrs

Electrical hazard assessment under 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S.

  • NFPA 70E awareness for arc flash risk. Approach boundaries
  • shock and arc flash PPE categories
  • the safety specialist’s role in supporting electrical safety programme development
09

Core module 9 Walking/Working Surfaces and Fall Protection Programme Development

2 hrs

Advanced application of 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D.

  • Fall hazard surveys
  • fall protection programme development
  • ladder inspection programmes
  • floor opening management
  • inspection
  • maintenance of fall protection equipment. Specialised /

Elective modules

4 modules · 10 hours
01

Elective module 1 Process Safety Management Awareness for General Industry

3 hrs

Overview of 29 CFR 1910.119 for facilities handling highly hazardous chemicals.

  • The 14 PSM elements
  • process hazard analysis methodologies (What-If, HAZOP, FMEA)
  • mechanical integrity programmes
  • management of change procedures
  • the safety specialist’s role in PSM compliance
02

Elective module 2 Ergonomic Assessment and Programme Development

2 hrs

Ergonomic risk factor identification and quantification using RULA, REBA, the NIOSH Lifting Equation, and Snook Tables.

  • Development of ergonomic improvement programmes
  • workstation design standards
  • manual material handling assessments
  • ROI-based reporting
03

Elective module 3 Environmental Compliance Awareness for Safety Specialists

2 hrs

Overview of the EPA regulatory framework, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and RCRA hazardous waste requirements.

  • Environmental permits
  • spill prevention and response
  • the interaction between OSHA
  • EPA compliance obligations
04

Elective module 4 Environmental permits, spill prevention and response, and the interaction between OSHA and EPA compliance obligations. Advanced Regulatory Interpretation and Rulemaking

3 hrs

Reading OSHA standards through preamble analysis, applicability sections, definitions, substantive requirements, and appendices.

  • Use of OSHA letters of interpretation as compliance guidance. Understanding the Federal Register rulemaking process
  • tracking proposed and final rules
  • and assessing organisational impacts
  • including state-plan adoption
  • regulatory variations
44 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 13 modules 9 core and 4 elective 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 — 44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry
Diploma certificate Sample · 3009
Wallet card · front — 44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry
Wallet card · front Sample
Wallet card · back — 44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry
Wallet card · back Sample
Career path

Where does this program sit in your career?

It is Level 7 of the Institute's General Industry safety career ladder. Each level builds on the one before, from worker awareness to organisation-wide safety leadership.

General Industry safety career ladder 9 levels
  1. 1 10-Hour General Industry Safety and Health Worker awareness
  2. 2 30-Hour General Industry Safety and Health Supervisory knowledge
  3. 3 32-Hour Safety Committee Member Committee participation
  4. 4 36-Hour Safety Committee Chair Committee leadership
  5. 5 36-Hour OSH Trainer Training delivery
  6. 6 36-Hour OSH Supervisor Daily enforcement
  7. 7 44-Hour OSH Specialist for General Industry Technical expertise YOU ARE HERE
  8. 8 48-Hour OSH Manager Program leadership
  9. 9 132-Hour OSH 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
$118.99$128.99
  • Online modules and learning resources
  • Open-book online exam
  • Certificate, transcript and wallet card (PDF)
  • Online verification record
Enroll — $118.99
Includes printed certificate

Complete

Hard-bound certificate plus PDF
$171.99$181.99
  • Everything in Digital
  • Hard-bound printed certificate
  • Shipped to your address (courier extra)
Enroll — $171.99

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

A focused general industry program 44 instructional hours across 13 modules.
Systems and leadership, not just rules ISO 45001, ANSI/ASSP Z10, audit governance, culture and board-level communication.
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 7 of a nine-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. +1 609 650 7180 info@amiosp.com Contact an advisor

What is the 44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry?

The 44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry program from the American Institute of Safety Professionals is a specialist-level certification that develops the technical depth, analytical competency, and programme-development skills that organisations require from their subject-matter safety experts. Where supervisors enforce daily compliance and trainers build worker competency, the safety specialist provides the technical foundation that both depend on: conducting detailed hazard assessments, interpreting OSHA regulatory requirements, developing written safety programmes (lockout/tagout procedures, hazard communication programmes, respiratory protection programmes, confined space entry programmes), analysing exposure monitoring data, and providing the expert-level technical guidance that management, supervisors, and safety committees rely on to make informed decisions about hazard controls and compliance investments. The specialist role fills a critical gap in most organisations’ safety structures. Many companies have supervisors who can enforce rules and trainers who can deliver courses, but lack a dedicated technical resource who can write the written programmes that OSHA requires (29 CFR 1910.147 requires written energy-control procedures, 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires a written hazard communication programme, 29 CFR 1910.134 requires a written respiratory protection programme, 29 CFR 1910.146 requires a written confined space entry programme), who can conduct the hazard assessments that determine which controls are needed, who can interpret new OSHA rulemaking and determine its impact on the organisation, and who can serve as the technical contact during OSHA inspections and third-party audits. The 44 Hour OSH Specialist programme builds these competencies systematically. The programme delivers 34 hours of mandatory core modules covering advanced hazard assessment methodologies, OSHA written programme development for every major 29 CFR 1910 standard that requires one, industrial hygiene principles, quantitative risk assessment, incident investigation at the specialist level, and safety programme auditing. An additional 10 hours of specialised modules cover process safety management awareness, environmental compliance, ergonomic assessment, and advanced regulatory interpretation. 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 credentials are employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications. The OSH Specialist is positioned in the career ladder between the 36 Hour OSH Supervisor and the 48 Hour OSH Manager, representing the transition from operational enforcement to technical expertise.

Who is this for?

Prerequisite: Completion of the 30 Hour or 36 Hour General Industry programme, or equivalent safety knowledge, is recommended. The 44 Hour programme assumes foundational knowledge of 29 CFR 1910 standards and builds technical depth on that foundation.

How long does it take?

The program is designed to offer flexible online learning with a minimum instructional contact time of 44 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.

Related programs

View all programs
PROGRAM
General industry · Level 6

36-Hour Occupational Safety and Health Supervisor for General Industry

Daily enforcement for general industry safety.
From $108.99USD
PROGRAM
General industry · Level 8

48-Hour Occupational Safety and Health Manager for General Industry

Program leadership for general industry safety.
From $118.99USD
PROGRAM
Construction

130-Hour Construction Industry Safety and Health Specialist

The specialist-level program for construction safety.
From $217.99USD

Ready to start the 44 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for General Industry?

Enrol today and start Unit 1 straight away — at your pace, from anywhere.

Download brochure
$171.99 Buy now