Contributed by Info Guru Lindsay Shugerman

The right employee safety training program is critical for every business. But it can be hard to know where to find the safety training resources you need. If you’re new to safety training, it can be hard to know where to start, and which sources can you trust.

That’s why I’ve assembled my top ten recommendations for trusted, realistic safety training materials for all kinds of industries and all sizes of businesses. By picking a few from each resource, you can create a safety program that works for you and your company.

10. Your industrial and business supply company

Sometimes the best place to start looking for training materials is the place where you already buy your company’s lab supplies, tools, signage and other B2B supplies.

A company that understand what your business needs to run might also understand what your business needs to stay safe and in compliance with OSHA and state safety regulations.

9. Your local college or university

Many state and private universities offer in-person or online continuing education classes on industrial and employee safety. Others may provide printed or electronic materials you can use as a part of an in-house safety program. Contact their Continuing Ed, Industrial Engineering, Science and Industrial Psychology programs to see if the materials and classes you need are available right there in your town.

8. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control)

Most people know that the CDC is a resource for information about infectious diseases. But did you know that they also offer excellent training information on cold weather work environment hazards, working in extreme heat, and other environmental hazards that could impact your worker safety?

7. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

If you need training materials for employees who may come in contact with radioactive materials, or may have to participate in the transportation of hazards materials, NOAA safety training resources may be the right place to start. You and your employees will learn how to select and use the right protective clothing, when to use placards on vehicles and other basics of hazardous exposure safety.

6. Your local fire department

When it comes to fire safety, your city’s fire department might be the only training resource you need. Many municipalities offer free or low-cost fire prevention and fire safety training programs for businesses in the community, and may even provide a preventative walk-through to help you identify potential hazards. They can also help you select the right tools for dealing with fires until help arrives.

5. FEMA

When it comes to emergency preparedness training, FEMA is an excellent resource for training information. Start with their plan for business preparedness and employee training, then download their training resources to build a custom program for your employees, business and even employee families. Once your plan is in place, make sure you have the right emergency preparedness and response supplies on-hand, then train employees so they know how and when to use them.

4. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

If blood-borne pathogens or biohazards are of concern in your workplace, the training programs provided by the NIH might be the perfect resource. Their safety training materials will teach your staff how to protect themselves and others from risks associated with bio-samples and biological materials spills, as well as during laboratory proceedures.

3. Your own onsite training library

Building up a training library of quality safety training DVDs is one of the best resources you can create for ongoing employee safety. Not only can you train new employees as they arrive, you can also offer review and retraining opportunities to existing employees as jobs change or older training is forgotten.

2. Red Cross

Prevention is certainly the first line of safety training, but your employees also need to know what to do when someone is injured, sick or suffers a heart attack or other life-threatening event. That’s where the Red Cross training programs come in.

They can train your staff on CPR, emergency first aid, and other life-saving techniques that could make the difference between a workplace injury and a workplace fatality.

1. OSHA

When it comes to employee and workplace safety training materials, OSHA remains one of the very best resources for all kinds of industries and work sites. From introductory and refresher mini-courses to full 30 hour outreach classes, OSHA training ensures that everyone from management to the newest employees understands critical safety and compliance procedures.