Communicating Safety: Why a Professional Writer Embraced OSHA 10 + 30 Training
For the team of writers, designers, and social media managers at Vesta Construction Websites, safety isn’t just something they write about online. Understanding safety and OSHA requirements is an important part of communicating a client’s safety mission through their website and social media presence. For writer Sara Volk, having a working knowledge of safety requirements went a few steps further.
Before joining Vesta, Sara’s background primarily lay in real estate and car sales. Sara’s career trajectory has shifted several times when moving around the world with her military pilot husband. As a military spouse, Sara has been exposed to the safety-focused environment that comes along with military life.
When she joined the writing team at Vesta Construction Websites, Sara was able to draw on her strong communication skills, sales skills, and safety consciousness, however, she lacked hands-on experience in the construction industry.
Recognizing the importance of safety in the construction field, Sara sought out opportunities to enhance her knowledge and credibility.
When having a conversation with Dominic Pope, the safety director at Gaines and Company Site Development, a Vesta client, Sara asked for recommendations on which OSHA training course he would recommend. “Dominic said to me ‘why don’t I sign you up on the Gaines list to take the OSHA 10 course, and while I’m at it I’ll put you on the list for OSHA 30’,” said Sara. Through the sponsorship of Gaines and Company, Sara has now completed both her OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 training courses.
OSHA 10 & 30: TRAINING THAT TRULY MATTERS
OSHA 10 is a 10-hour outreach training program designed for entry-level workers, covering topics including hazardous material safety, PPE, hazard recognition, and emergency procedures on the worksite. OSHA 30 is more in-depth and is designed for supervisors and workers with some safety responsibilities. OSHA 30 training gets into the nitty gritty of OSHA standards and regulations, hazard assessment, incident investigation, and safety program development and investigation. While typically these courses are designed for hands-on workers, Sara found the training extremely valuable for her work with clients in the construction, oil, and gas industries.
“Our clients really value and appreciate that I’ve had these trainings. It helps me have more credibility in the room with the client, and helped me understand which questions to ask,” says Sara, who has been a writer for Vesta for over three years.
While doing the trainings through online learning presented some initial challenges, Sara found the interactive format and diverse learning resources to be highly effective. She appreciated the ability to access course materials at her own pace and revisit information as needed.
“A lot of people (in my class) have already been in the construction industry, so they’re more familiar with the machinery, electrical components, and lingo of a job site, but all of my experience is less hands on. Taking OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 trainings gave me a ton of information so I know where to find things in the future, have a better grasp of what to look out for, and know what the right questions are to ask my clients,” says Sara.
OSHA 30: SAFETY FIRST, CAREER GAINS SECOND
In today’s dynamic job market, continuous learning is essential for career advancement. This is especially true for military spouses like Sara, who often face the challenge of relocating and adapting to new work environments.
“I am always looking for new learning opportunities,” Sara said when discussing why she chose to pursue OSHA training. “I really value how our clients handle safety. Every single one puts a really heavy focus on it and they don’t cut corners. That’s how I knew doing these trainings would be so helpful for me when working with my clients.”
For Sara, OSHA 10 and 30 training has been a transformative experience. It has not only empowered her with valuable knowledge and skills, but has also instilled in her a heightened sense of safety awareness. As she continues her career at Vesta, Sara remains committed to upholding each client’s high standards of safety and contributing to a positive and productive work environment for all.
“While I’ve seen many other military spouses really struggle with finding a place living overseas, trying to figure out a language, culture, and community while also dealing with job loss and career loss, I have a job that I enjoy, I’m good at, has to do with my degree, and I get a lot of fulfillment out of with Vesta,”
Vesta Construction Websites, veteran & military spouse friendly, offers web design, digital marketing, and social media management services exclusively for the oil and gas, electric power, renewable construction industries, and site development.
