Take the Construction course if your work involves building, altering, repairing, painting, or demolishing structures (OSHA 29 CFR 1926). Take General Industry if you work in a fixed workplace like a warehouse, factory, hospital, store, or office (29 CFR 1910). Maintenance work generally falls under General Industry, while construction, alteration, and major repair work falls under Construction.
Key takeaways
- Construction = 29 CFR 1926. General Industry = 29 CFR 1910.
- The card names the industry, and the two aren't interchangeable.
- Ask what the job site, contract, or employer requires before booking.
- Facility maintenance staff usually need General Industry; contractors doing renovations need Construction.
- Some workers who move between both benefit from taking both courses.
Two sets of OSHA rules
OSHA standards are split by industry. The two you'll hear about most:
- 29 CFR 1926 (Construction): rules for construction, alteration, repair, painting, decorating, and demolition work.
- 29 CFR 1910 (General Industry): rules for most other workplaces, including manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, retail, and services.
Outreach courses are built around these standards, which is why OSHA 10 and 30 come in separate Construction and General Industry versions.
Quick decision guide
| Your job | Usually take |
|---|---|
| Carpenter, laborer, roofer, ironworker, mason | Construction |
| Electrician, plumber, HVAC on construction projects | Construction |
| Painter or drywall installer on job sites | Construction |
| Excavation, paving, or demolition crew | Construction |
| Warehouse or distribution center worker | General Industry |
| Manufacturing or production worker | General Industry |
| Facility or building maintenance technician | General Industry |
| Hospital, hotel, or retail staff | General Industry |
| Forklift operator in a plant | General Industry |
| Foreman or superintendent on construction sites | Construction (OSHA 30) |
| Plant safety coordinator or supervisor | General Industry (OSHA 30) |
What each course focuses on
Construction
- The Focus Four: falls, struck-by, caught-in or between, electrocution
- Scaffolds, ladders, and stairways
- Excavation and trenching
- Cranes, rigging, and heavy equipment (more in OSHA 30)
- Health hazards like silica, noise, and lead
General Industry
- Walking-working surfaces and fall protection
- Emergency action plans, fire prevention, and exit routes
- Electrical safety
- Hazard communication and chemical safety
- Machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and powered industrial trucks (forklifts)
The maintenance gray area
This trips up a lot of facility teams. OSHA generally looks at the nature of the work:
- Maintenance: keeping a building or equipment in its existing condition, such as replacing a motor with the same model or patching a roof. This is generally General Industry.
- Construction: building, altering, or significantly upgrading, such as adding a mezzanine, re-wiring a production line, or remodeling an office. This is generally Construction.
If your maintenance staff regularly do both, it often makes sense to train them in General Industry and give the leads Construction OSHA 30, or vice versa. I'm happy to help you think it through when you request training.
Before you book: ask these three questions
- What does the requirement say? If a contract, site policy, or state law requires a card, it will usually specify the industry.
- Where does most of your work happen? A construction project or a fixed facility?
- What's your role? Workers take OSHA 10; supervisors take OSHA 30. See OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a General Industry OSHA 10 card on a construction site?
Usually not. Construction sites and contracts that require OSHA 10 almost always mean the Construction version. Check the specific requirement, but plan on Construction for construction work.
Is maintenance construction or general industry?
OSHA generally treats routine maintenance (keeping equipment and facilities in their existing condition) as general industry, and construction, alteration, or major repair work as construction. The line can be blurry, so for mixed roles talk to a trainer about your actual tasks.
Which course is harder?
Neither is harder. They cover different standards. Construction spends more time on falls, scaffolds, trenching, and the Focus Four. General Industry spends more time on machine guarding, lockout/tagout, forklifts, and hazard communication.
I'm an electrician. Which do I take?
If you mostly work on construction projects (new builds, renovations), take Construction. If you're an in-house electrician maintaining a plant or building, General Industry is usually the better fit.