Are employees’ OSHA certifications fake?
February 4, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, OSHA news, criminal charges
An investigation has turned up a scam in which an OSHA certified trainer sold dozens of fake cards crediting workers with participating in required 30-hour safety training.
After an investigation by New York City’s School Construction Authority, Larry Fontanez admitted selling between 50 and 60 fake OSHA 30 cards last summer, according to the New York Daily News.
An investigator posed as a worker looking for fake cards. He found them, complete with Fontanez’s signature, for $250 — half of the $500 for a 30-hour training course.
The card was purchased without the employee ever taking any classes.
Fontanez faces eight counts of criminal possession of a forged document. OSHA has suspended his license.
Tags: 30-hour safety course, certification, OSHA
Loading ...
February 10th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
The story headline is suggesting that OSHA 10 or 30 hour cards are certifications and/or that Outreach Trainers are certified OSHA trainers. Neither the trainer, the students, nor the curriculum is certified or approved. The trainer is authorized and the students receive course completion cards.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I’m not suprised that there are a few rotten apples out there among all the good OSHA trainers. What I recommend is that people take their course on the internet at a website that is approved by OSHA to give the OSHA 10 and 30 hour training courses, like http://www.osha10hourtraining.com . The cousre requires the student to be logged in and answer questions as they proceed, so you know the student is present, and guaranteed to see ALL of the course content. So no cheating is possible by the student, and you know the card they get is legitimate.
June 15th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Our experience is that on-line courses are not what they’re cracked up to me. Nothing replaces real classroom interaction and hands on experience. We’ve had to retrain people joining us with “on-line” certifications.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:27 am
Those OSHA cards don’t really prove anything. Some special interest group probably came up with the idea to make money.
March 16th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
The OSHA Outreach program is a great program. With any program there needs to be quality measures in place. OSHA is doing just that, they are checking up on thier outreach instructors. The content of a 10 hour is designed as an introduction to safety. Some people forget if they have matching socks on… so I am sure some people who have the completion cards forget everything or disregard thier safety. An outreach course is a great tool when complemented by a supportive safety culture.
I have been an outreach trainer since 1997 and I have seen the benefits of the program. Just like school, you have some good teachers and some not so good teachers, but the content is what is important.
I am glad that they are investigating the fraud, becasue it helps the legit trainers.
I have seen people give out a 10 hour cards in the past that were not an OSHA 10 hour card. If you are using a different program you need to be sure that the client understands that it is not an OSHA Outreach 10 hour card. In the scenario above the OSHA completion card is required.
It is important that contractors are educated also, so they know if they are getting fake cards, if they are purchasing fake cards, or not attending a course, they should also be held responsible for violating the requirements.
The OSHA Outreach Trraining Institute has taken new steps with instructors and tracking card numbers, the changes are a good thing.