Understanding SafePath Training
What Is SafePath?
SafePath is Tellus's training management module. It helps companies create, deliver, track, and prove that their employees have been trained on workplace safety topics — particularly chemical hazards, but also broader EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) topics like fall protection, lockout/tagout, fire safety, and more.
In simple terms: SafePath is how you make sure every worker knows what chemicals they handle, what the dangers are, and how to protect themselves — and how you prove it when OSHA asks.
Why Training Matters
The Legal Requirement
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires every employer to train employees on the hazardous chemicals in their workplace. This is not optional. The training must cover:
- What hazardous chemicals are in the work area
- How to read and understand container labels
- How to read and understand Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- How to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemicals (visual appearance, odor, monitoring equipment)
- What protective measures are available (engineering controls, work practices, PPE)
- What to do in an emergency (spills, exposures, fires)
Beyond HazCom, many other OSHA standards have their own training requirements — forklift operation, respiratory protection, fall protection, confined space entry, and dozens more.
The Real-World Consequence
Training violations are among OSHA's most frequently cited deficiencies. During an inspection, OSHA inspectors don't just review your training binder — they walk the floor and ask workers directly:
- "Do you know what chemicals you work with?"
- "Where is the Safety Data Sheet for this product?"
- "What would you do if this chemical spilled?"
- "When were you last trained on chemical hazards?"
If workers can't answer these questions, your company is in violation — regardless of what your written plan says. Training isn't paperwork. It's whether the people on the floor actually know what to do.
The Financial Impact
- OSHA fines: Up to $16,131 per serious violation, $161,323 per willful violation
- Training citation frequency: HazCom training is consistently in OSHA's Top 10 most-cited violations year after year
- Worker's compensation: Untrained workers are more likely to be injured, driving up insurance costs
- Liability exposure: In lawsuits following workplace injuries, the first question attorneys ask is "Was this employee trained?"
Who Needs SafePath?
SafePath serves three distinct user types:
1. Safety Managers and EHS Coordinators
You manage training for 10-500+ employees across one or more sites. You need to:
- Assign required training by job role
- Track who has completed training and who is overdue
- Manage annual retraining schedules
- Generate audit-ready records for OSHA compliance
- See a dashboard showing overall training status
2. Independent EHS Trainers and Consultants
You serve multiple client companies, managing their training programs. You need to:
- Create a library of OSHA-aligned courses you can reuse across clients
- Assign training across multiple companies from one login
- Track completion and certification status per client
- Generate compliance reports when a client is inspected
- Scale your business without drowning in spreadsheets
3. Employees (Learners)
You are assigned training by your employer. You need to:
- See what training is assigned to you and when it's due
- Take training courses (watch videos, read materials, take quizzes)
- Receive a completion certificate when you pass
- Access your training history and certificates at any time
What SafePath Covers
16 Course Categories
SafePath comes with 16 pre-configured course categories aligned with OSHA standards:
| Category | OSHA Standard | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Hazard Communication (HazCom/GHS) | 29 CFR 1910.1200 | Required for any workplace with hazardous chemicals |
| Fall Protection | 29 CFR 1926.501 | #1 most-cited OSHA violation year after year |
| Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) | 29 CFR 1910.147 | Prevents injuries from unexpected machine startup |
| Respiratory Protection | 29 CFR 1910.134 | Required when workers wear respirators |
| Confined Space Entry | 29 CFR 1910.146 | Prevents fatalities in tanks, silos, and enclosed areas |
| Electrical Safety | NFPA 70E | Prevents electrocution and arc flash injuries |
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | 29 CFR 1910.132 | Workers must know how to use and maintain PPE |
| Bloodborne Pathogens | 29 CFR 1910.1030 | Required for anyone who may contact blood or body fluids |
| Fire Safety / Emergency Action | 29 CFR 1910.38-39 | Required emergency preparedness training |
| Forklift / Powered Industrial Trucks | 29 CFR 1910.178 | Certification required for all forklift operators |
| Excavation / Trenching | 29 CFR 1926.650 | Prevents cave-in fatalities on construction sites |
| Scaffold Safety | 29 CFR 1926.451 | Required for anyone working on or near scaffolds |
| General Safety Orientation | Multiple | New-hire safety introduction |
| Machine Guarding | 29 CFR 1910.212 | Prevents amputations and crush injuries |
| Hearing Conservation | 29 CFR 1910.95 | Required when noise levels exceed 85 dBA |
| HAZWOPER | 29 CFR 1910.120 | Required for hazardous waste operations and emergency response |
You can also create custom categories for industry-specific or company-specific training needs.
20 Pre-Configured Certification Types
SafePath tracks certifications that employees earn — both from SafePath training and from external providers:
| Certification | Default Validity | Retraining Frequency | OSHA Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSHA 10-Hour (General Industry) | No expiration | Every 5 years recommended | 29 CFR 1910 |
| OSHA 30-Hour (General Industry) | No expiration | Every 5 years recommended | 29 CFR 1910 |
| OSHA 10-Hour (Construction) | No expiration | Every 5 years recommended | 29 CFR 1926 |
| OSHA 30-Hour (Construction) | No expiration | Every 5 years recommended | 29 CFR 1926 |
| Forklift Operator | 3 years | Every 3 years | 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Respiratory Fit Test | 1 year | Annual | 29 CFR 1910.134 |
| CPR / First Aid | 2 years | Every 2 years | Recommended |
| Bloodborne Pathogens | 1 year | Annual | 29 CFR 1910.1030 |
| Fall Protection Competent Person | 1 year | Annual refresher | 29 CFR 1926.503 |
| Confined Space Entrant/Attendant | 1 year | Annual refresher | 29 CFR 1910.146 |
| HAZWOPER 40-Hour | 1 year | Annual 8-hour refresher | 29 CFR 1910.120 |
| Crane Operator (NCCCO) | 5 years | Per NCCCO requirements | 29 CFR 1926.1427 |
| Rigging & Signal Person | 1 year | Annual refresher | 29 CFR 1926.1404 |
| Scaffold Competent Person | 1 year | Annual refresher | 29 CFR 1926.454 |
| Excavation Competent Person | 1 year | Annual refresher | 29 CFR 1926.651 |
| Fire Extinguisher Training | 1 year | Annual | 29 CFR 1910.157 |
| HazCom / GHS Training | 1 year | Annual refresher | 29 CFR 1910.1200 |
| Lockout/Tagout Authorized | 1 year | Annual refresher | 29 CFR 1910.147 |
| Electrical Safety (NFPA 70E) | 1 year | Annual refresher | NFPA 70E |
| Hearing Conservation | 1 year | Annual | 29 CFR 1910.95 |
You can also create custom certification types for company-specific or industry-specific credentials.
How SafePath Works
Creating a Course
A course in SafePath consists of three parts:
1. Lessons (The Content)
Lessons are the educational content that employees consume. SafePath supports five content types:
| Content Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Video | HTML5 video with progress tracking — employees must watch a minimum percentage (default 80%) before the quiz unlocks | Demonstrations, walkthroughs, safety procedures |
| Embedded document viewer with page tracking | Reference materials, regulatory documents, manufacturer guides | |
| Slides | Step-through presentations with text, images, and navigation | Structured lessons with visual content |
| Text | Rich HTML content with embedded images | Quick information, procedures, checklists |
| External Link | Links to OSHA.gov, YouTube, manufacturer sites, etc. | Official regulatory resources, third-party content |
Each lesson tracks completion individually. For video lessons, the system records the last playback position so employees can resume where they left off.
Play-and-Lock: The quiz only becomes available after all lessons meet their completion threshold. This prevents employees from skipping straight to the quiz without reviewing the training material.
2. Quizzes (The Assessment)
Every course can include a quiz to verify that employees understood the material. Quiz features include:
- Question types: Multiple choice (single or multiple correct answers), true/false, and matching (term-to-definition pairs)
- Passing score: Configurable from 50% to 100% (default is 80%)
- Retake attempts: Up to 3 attempts allowed (configurable per course)
- Cooldown period: Optional waiting time between retake attempts
- Server-side scoring: Correct answers are never sent to the employee's browser — all scoring happens on the server to prevent cheating
- Immediate feedback: After submission, employees see which questions they got right or wrong, with optional per-question explanations
3. E-Signature (The Acknowledgment)
After passing the quiz, employees must sign an electronic acknowledgment — a typed signature confirming they received and understood the training. This creates an OSHA-defensible record that includes:
- The employee's typed signature
- A hash of their IP address
- The exact date and time
- The course name, version, and quiz score
This acknowledgment cannot be modified after submission.
Course Lifecycle
Courses follow a controlled status flow to prevent accidental changes to active training:
DRAFT (create and edit freely)
│
▼
PUBLISHED (available for assignment — editing locked)
│
▼
ARCHIVED (no longer assignable, but records preserved)
Versioning: If you need to update a published course, you create a new version. Employees who were assigned the old version stay on the old version — they don't suddenly get different content mid-training. New assignments use the new version.
Starter Templates
SafePath includes pre-built course templates to help you get started immediately:
| Template | Duration | Lessons | Quiz Questions | OSHA Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Safety Orientation | 45 min | 5 text lessons | 3 (MCQ, T/F) | General |
| Hazard Communication (HazCom/GHS) | 60 min | 5 text lessons | 3 (MCQ, T/F) | 29 CFR 1910.1200 |
| Fall Protection | 45 min | 4 text lessons | 3 (MCQ, T/F) | 29 CFR 1926.501 |
| Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) | 45 min | 4 text lessons | 3 (MCQ, T/F) | 29 CFR 1910.147 |
| Fire Safety & Emergency Action | 30 min | 3 text lessons | 3 (MCQ, T/F) | 29 CFR 1910.38 |
These templates are starting points — you can customize the content, add your own lessons (including videos and PDFs), and adjust quiz questions to match your specific workplace.
Assigning Training
How Assignments Work
Once a course is published, you assign it to employees. Assignments include:
- Who: Individual employees, entire sites, specific roles, or departments
- When: A due date (required) — OSHA expects training before or at the time of initial assignment and whenever new hazards are introduced
- Priority: Normal or Urgent — urgent assignments appear with visual emphasis
- Notes: Optional instructions for the assignee
Bulk assignment: You can assign a course to dozens or hundreds of employees in a single action — essential for annual retraining or new-hire orientation.
Assignment Status Tracking
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Assigned but employee hasn't started yet |
| In Progress | Employee has started but not finished |
| Completed | Training finished successfully (passed quiz + signed) |
| Overdue | Due date has passed without completion |
| Expired | The assignment window has closed |
Overdue assignments are automatically flagged by a daily background job. Managers see overdue counts prominently on their dashboard.
Reminder System
SafePath sends automated reminders on a schedule:
| Reminder | When | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment notification | When training is assigned | Email (+ in-app for Standard+) |
| First reminder | 3 days after assignment | |
| Second reminder | 7 days after assignment | Email (+ in-app for Standard+) |
| Final reminder | 1 day before due date | Email (+ in-app for Standard+) |
| Overdue alert | After due date passes | Email + manager notification |
Auto-Assignment Rules (Standard+ Tier)
For companies on Standard or Pro plans, SafePath can automatically assign training based on triggers:
| Trigger | What Happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| New Hire | Auto-assign courses when employee joins | "All new warehouse workers get Forklift Safety within 14 days" |
| Role Change | Auto-assign when employee changes roles | "Employee promoted to supervisor gets LOTO Authorized training" |
| Site Transfer | Auto-assign site-specific training | "Employee transferred to Plant B gets site-specific HazCom" |
| Certification Expiring | Auto-assign refresher course before expiration | "Forklift cert expiring in 60 days → assign recertification course" |
| Chemical Added | Auto-assign HazCom retraining when new chemical arrives on site | "New carcinogen added → assign updated HazCom training to affected site" |
Each rule is configurable with filters (which roles, which sites, how many days until due date) and can be toggled on or off.
Taking Training (The Learner Experience)
Here's what employees see when they're assigned training:
Step 1: My Trainings Dashboard
Employees log in and see their personal training dashboard showing:
- Pending assignments with due dates
- In Progress trainings they've started
- Overdue assignments (highlighted in red)
- Completed trainings with certificates available for download
- Upcoming certifications approaching expiration
Step 2: Start the Course
Clicking an assignment opens the course player:
- A lesson sidebar on the left shows all lessons with completion checkmarks
- The main content area displays the current lesson
- A progress bar at the top shows overall course progress
Step 3: Complete All Lessons
The employee works through each lesson:
- Video lessons: Must watch at least 80% (can pause, resume, replay)
- PDF lessons: Must view the document (page progress tracked)
- Slides: Must step through all slides
- Text: Must scroll through the content
- External links: Must visit the linked resource
Each lesson shows a green checkmark when its completion threshold is met.
Step 4: Take the Quiz
Once all lessons are complete, the quiz unlocks. The employee:
- Reads each question and selects their answer(s)
- Submits the quiz
- Sees immediate results — correct/incorrect per question, overall score, pass/fail
- If failed and retakes remain, can try again (up to the configured maximum)
Step 5: Sign and Complete
After passing the quiz, the employee:
- Types their name as an electronic signature
- Confirms their acknowledgment of the training content
- Receives a completion confirmation with their score and certificate
Step 6: Download Certificate
A PDF certificate is automatically generated containing:
- Employee name
- Course title and OSHA standard reference
- Completion date and time
- Quiz score
- Signature line
- Company and site information
Certificates can be downloaded at any time from the employee's training history.
Classroom and In-Person Training
Not all training happens on a screen. SafePath also supports recording in-person training sessions:
Recording a Classroom Session
A trainer or coordinator can create a session record with:
- Course reference — which course was taught (for content documentation)
- Instructor name — who delivered the training
- Date, time, and location — when and where it happened
- Site — which site the training covers
Recording Attendance
After the session, the trainer submits attendance:
- List of employees who attended
- Pass/fail and optional score for each attendee
- Batch submission creates completion records for all attendees at once
Classroom sessions generate the same completion records and certificates as online training, ensuring consistent audit documentation regardless of delivery method.
Certification Tracking
What Certifications Track
Certifications represent verified competencies that employees hold — whether earned through SafePath courses or obtained externally (OSHA cards, third-party training providers, equipment manufacturer certifications).
Each certification record includes:
- Employee — who holds the certification
- Type — what certification it is (from the 20 pre-configured types or custom)
- Issue date — when it was earned
- Expiration date — when it expires (auto-calculated from the type's default validity)
- Source — Internal (from SafePath training) or External (logged manually)
- Status — Active, Expiring Soon (within 60 days), Expired, or Revoked
- Evidence — Optional uploaded document (scan of OSHA card, certificate PDF, etc.)
How Expiration Works
For certification types with a defined validity period:
- Issue date + validity = expiration date (calculated automatically)
- 60 days before expiration: Status changes to "Expiring Soon"
- On expiration date: Status changes to "Expired"
- Standard+ tier: Auto-assignment rule can trigger refresher training before expiration
- Dashboard alerts: Expiration counts shown prominently (30, 60, 90 days out)
Example: A forklift operator certification has a 3-year validity. An employee certified on January 15, 2024 will expire on January 15, 2027. At 60 days out (November 16, 2026), the status changes to "Expiring Soon" and the manager is alerted. A Standard+ company with an auto-assignment rule will automatically assign the forklift recertification course with a due date of January 14, 2027.
Internal vs. External Certifications
| Aspect | Internal | External |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Earned by completing a SafePath course | Earned elsewhere (OSHA training center, equipment dealer, etc.) |
| Creation | Automatic upon training completion | Manual entry by admin or coordinator |
| Evidence | Quiz score, e-signature, completion record | Uploaded scan or document (PDF, PNG, JPG) |
| Expiration tracking | Automatic | Automatic (based on type's validity period) |
| Linkage | Linked to SafePath training result | Standalone record |
Training Matrix
What Is a Training Matrix?
A training matrix is a grid showing which training is required for each job role at your company. It's a critical compliance document that OSHA inspectors review to verify that:
- You've identified what training each role needs
- Employees in each role have actually completed their required training
- No one has fallen through the cracks
How SafePath Builds It
SafePath automatically constructs the training matrix from your course assignments:
| HazCom | Forklift | Fall Prot. | LOTO | Fire Safety |
─────────────────┼────────┼──────────┼────────────┼──────┼─────────────┤
Warehouse Worker | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Overdue | ✅ | ✅ |
Forklift Operator| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Office Staff | ✅ | — | — | — | ✅ |
Maintenance Tech | ✅ | ⚠️ Due | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Supervisor | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Each cell shows one of:
- Green check — Training completed and current
- Yellow warning — Training due or overdue
- Red alert — Required training not yet assigned
- Dash — Training not required for this role
Compliance Percentage
The matrix calculates an overall compliance percentage for each employee, role, site, and the company as a whole:
Site Compliance = (Completed required trainings / Total required trainings) × 100%
A site at 100% means every employee has completed every training required for their role. Anything less means there are gaps that need attention.
Export
The training matrix can be exported as CSV or PDF for:
- OSHA inspector review
- Internal compliance audits
- Client reports (for EHS consultants)
- Insurance documentation
Dashboard and Reporting
Employee Dashboard ("My Trainings")
Every employee sees their personal training status:
| Widget | Shows |
|---|---|
| Pending Assignments | Courses assigned but not started, with due dates |
| In Progress | Courses started but not completed, with progress percentage |
| Overdue | Assignments past their due date (highlighted) |
| Completed | Finished trainings with scores and certificate download links |
| Certifications | Active certifications with expiration dates |
Manager / Admin Dashboard
Managers and administrators see a company-wide or site-wide view:
| Widget | Shows |
|---|---|
| Site Compliance Overview | Completion percentage per site with color-coded status |
| Overdue Training Count | Number of overdue assignments, broken down by site and priority |
| Certification Expirations | Certs expiring in 30, 60, and 90 days |
| Course Effectiveness | Average scores and pass rates per course |
| Team Status | Per-employee completion status with filters |
| Trend Charts | 30-day and 90-day completion rate trends |
Available Reports
SafePath generates several compliance reports:
| Report | What It Shows | Export Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Completion Report | Training completion by site, role, and course — completion rates, overdue counts, average scores | CSV, PDF, XLSX |
| Individual Transcript | Complete training history for a single employee — every course, score, date, certificate | CSV, PDF |
| Certification Status | All certifications by status (active, expiring, expired) — employee, type, dates | CSV, PDF, XLSX |
| Training Matrix | Roles-by-courses grid with completion status for every employee | CSV, PDF |
| OSHA Audit Package | Complete compliance bundle — all training records, acknowledgments, certificates for a site | ZIP (PDF + CSV) |
The OSHA Audit Package is particularly valuable — it generates a single downloadable file containing everything an OSHA inspector would ask for, ready to print or share electronically.
Integration with Other Tellus Modules
SafePath works even better when combined with other Tellus modules:
ChemIQ (Chemical Inventory) Integration
When your company uses ChemIQ to manage its chemical inventory, SafePath gains access to your actual chemical data:
- Auto-generated HazCom courses (Standard+ tier): When a HazCom plan is approved, SafePath can auto-generate a training course based on the specific chemicals at your site — including their hazard classes, GHS pictograms, and protective measures pulled from Safety Data Sheets
- Chemical-change retraining (Pro tier): When a new chemical is added to a site's inventory, SafePath can automatically assign updated HazCom training to affected employees
- SDS-linked content: Training lessons can reference specific SDS sections for chemicals in the workplace
HazCom Plan Builder Integration
The Plan Builder's Section 5 (Employee Training) describes your training program. SafePath is how you execute that program:
- The plan says "employees receive HazCom training before initial assignment" — SafePath delivers and documents that training
- The plan says "refresher training is conducted annually" — SafePath's auto-assignment rules handle the scheduling
- The plan says "training records are maintained" — SafePath's audit trail and certificates serve as those records
- When an OSHA inspector reviews the plan and asks "show me the training records," you open SafePath
AdminHQ Integration
SafePath uses company and site data from AdminHQ:
- Sites: Training is scoped to sites — each site can have different required training
- Roles: Training requirements are mapped to job roles
- Users: Employee records include role, site, and language preference
- Coordinator: The Program Coordinator named in the HazCom plan is the same person who manages SafePath training
Subscription Tiers
SafePath features vary by subscription tier:
Starter Tier
Everything you need for basic training management:
- Create courses with video, PDF, slides, text, and external links
- Quiz builder with multiple question types
- Manual assignment to individuals, sites, or roles
- Completion records with e-signatures
- Certificate generation and download
- Certification tracking (internal and external)
- Basic dashboard (employee and admin views)
- English and Spanish language support
- In-person (classroom) training recording
- CSV export for reports
Standard Tier
Everything in Starter, plus automation and intelligence:
- Auto-assignment rules (new hire, role change, site transfer, cert expiring)
- Automated email and in-app reminders
- Certification expiration alerts
- Auto-generated HazCom courses from approved plans
- Full training matrix with export
- Full compliance reports with multi-format export
- Admin dashboard with trend analytics
- OSHA audit package generation
Pro Tier
Everything in Standard, plus enterprise features:
- Multi-company management (consultant portal)
- Chemical-change triggered retraining
- Company branding on certificates
- Webhook and LMS API for external integrations
- SSO for employee access
- Custom report builder
- Cross-client course sharing
- Scheduled report delivery
OSHA Inspection Readiness
A well-maintained SafePath instance demonstrates compliance during OSHA inspections:
| What OSHA Checks | How SafePath Addresses It |
|---|---|
| Have employees been trained on HazCom? | Completion records with dates, scores, and e-signatures |
| Was training provided before initial assignment? | Assignment and completion timestamps prove timing |
| Does training cover required topics? | Course content with lesson outlines mapped to OSHA requirements |
| Are training records maintained? | Immutable audit trail — every action logged with timestamp and user |
| Is refresher training conducted? | Auto-assignment rules ensure annual (or custom frequency) retraining |
| Can you show training records for a specific employee? | Individual transcript report with full history |
| What training is required for each role? | Training matrix showing requirements vs. completion by role |
| Are workers certified for equipment they operate? | Certification tracking with expiration dates and evidence |
| How do you handle new chemical hazards? | Auto-retraining triggers when chemicals are added (Standard+) |
| Can I see an audit trail of the training program? | Complete, append-only audit log exportable as CSV |
Business-Specific Guidance
Manufacturing Facilities
Key training needs:
- HazCom/GHS for all workers handling chemicals
- Machine guarding for production floor employees
- LOTO for maintenance and machine operators
- Forklift certification for material handlers
- Respiratory protection if applicable
- HAZWOPER if handling hazardous waste
Recommended SafePath setup:
- Create courses for each OSHA standard relevant to your operations
- Set up auto-assignment rules by role (all new production workers get HazCom + Machine Guarding within 7 days)
- Track forklift certifications with 3-year expiration alerts
- Generate OSHA audit package quarterly as a readiness check
Construction Companies
Key training needs:
- OSHA 10/30-Hour certification
- Fall protection for anyone working above 6 feet
- Scaffold competent person for scaffold users
- Excavation competent person for trenching operations
- Crane operator certification (NCCCO)
- Site-specific orientation for each project site
Recommended SafePath setup:
- Use external certification logging for OSHA cards earned off-platform
- Create site-specific orientation courses for each active project
- Set up expiration tracking for fall protection and scaffold certifications (annual renewal)
- Use classroom session recording for toolbox talks
Healthcare Facilities
Key training needs:
- Bloodborne pathogens (annual, mandatory for all clinical staff)
- HazCom for cleaning and disinfecting chemicals
- Fire safety and emergency action
- Patient handling ergonomics
- Hazardous drug handling (USP 800 compliance)
Recommended SafePath setup:
- Assign bloodborne pathogens training with annual auto-renewal
- Create department-specific chemical training (pharmacy, housekeeping, lab)
- Track CPR/First Aid certifications with 2-year expiration
- Use multi-language support for diverse staff (EN/ES)
Warehousing and Distribution
Key training needs:
- Forklift operator certification (new + recertification every 3 years)
- HazCom for chemicals stored and handled
- Fire extinguisher training (annual)
- Ergonomics and material handling
- Dock safety
Recommended SafePath setup:
- Forklift certification tracking with auto-renewal assignment at 60 days before expiration
- Annual HazCom refresher for all warehouse staff
- Fire extinguisher training every 12 months
- Bulk assign orientation to all new hires on day one
Small Businesses (Under 50 Employees)
Keep it simple:
- Start with the Starter tier — it covers all OSHA requirements
- Use the pre-built templates (General Safety Orientation, HazCom/GHS)
- Assign training manually — with a small team, auto-assignment rules aren't necessary yet
- Track the 2-3 certifications most relevant to your business (e.g., forklift, fire extinguisher)
- Export the training matrix once a year for your compliance file
Quickstart Wizard
When you first enable SafePath, a guided wizard helps you set up in 5 steps:
| Step | What You Do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Create Your First Course | Choose a starter template or create a blank course | 5 minutes |
| 2. Publish a Course | Review content and make it available for assignment | 2 minutes |
| 3. Assign Training | Pick employees and set a due date | 3 minutes |
| 4. Import Certifications | Log any existing OSHA cards or certifications your employees already hold | 5 minutes |
| 5. Review the Matrix | See your training compliance status at a glance | 2 minutes |
Total time to first assigned training: under 15 minutes.
Audit Trail
SafePath maintains a complete, immutable audit trail of every action taken in the system. This is essential for regulatory compliance — it proves not just that training happened, but exactly when, how, and by whom.
What Gets Logged
| Event | Details Captured |
|---|---|
| Course created / published / archived | Course name, version, who published it |
| Lesson added / updated / deleted | Lesson type, content changes |
| Assignment created | Who was assigned, by whom, due date |
| Training started | Employee, timestamp, assignment ID |
| Lesson progress updated | Which lesson, percent complete, video position |
| Quiz submitted | Answers submitted, score, pass/fail |
| Training completed | Score, e-signature, IP hash, timestamp |
| Certificate issued | Certificate type, employee, expiration date |
| Certification logged | Internal or external, evidence uploaded |
Properties of Every Log Entry
- Append-only: Log entries can never be modified or deleted
- User identity: Who performed the action (name, email, user ID)
- Timestamp: Exact date and time (UTC)
- IP hash: SHA-256 hash of the user's IP address
- Entity reference: What was affected (course ID, assignment ID, etc.)
Export
The full audit trail can be exported as CSV for compliance archives, legal proceedings, or OSHA inspector review.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration — the federal agency that sets and enforces workplace safety standards |
| 29 CFR 1910 | The Code of Federal Regulations title containing OSHA's general industry standards |
| 29 CFR 1926 | The Code of Federal Regulations title containing OSHA's construction industry standards |
| HazCom | Hazard Communication — the OSHA standard (1910.1200) requiring training on chemical hazards |
| GHS | Globally Harmonized System — the international standard for chemical classification and labeling, adopted by OSHA |
| SDS | Safety Data Sheet — a 16-section document describing a chemical's hazards, handling, and emergency procedures |
| PEL | Permissible Exposure Limit — the maximum airborne concentration of a chemical allowed in the workplace |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment — safety gear (gloves, goggles, respirators, etc.) used to protect workers |
| LOTO | Lockout/Tagout — the procedure for ensuring machines are properly shut off and cannot restart during maintenance |
| HAZWOPER | Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response — OSHA standard for workers handling hazardous waste or responding to chemical spills |
| NCCCO | National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators — the industry body that certifies crane operators |
| FTE | Full-Time Equivalent — a measure of employee count used in regulatory thresholds |
| Training Matrix | A grid showing which training is required for each job role and whether employees are compliant |
| E-Signature | An electronic acknowledgment (typed name + IP + timestamp) that serves as a legally defensible record of consent |
| Competent Person | An OSHA-defined term for someone capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take corrective measures |
| Toolbox Talk | A short, informal safety meeting held at the worksite, typically at the start of a shift |
| Refresher Training | Training that is repeated at regular intervals (usually annually) to reinforce knowledge and address changes |
| Certification | A formal record that an employee has demonstrated competency in a specific skill or safety topic, often with a defined validity period |