SST vs OSHA 10: What’s the Difference — and Do You Need Both?
This is one of the most common questions we get, and it matters. Construction workers show up to a NYC DOB site with an OSHA 10 card and get told they can’t work. Why? Because OSHA 10 and the NYC SST card are two different credentials from two different authorities — and in New York City, you likely need both.
OSHA 10: What It Is
The OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety course is a federal program run by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It covers general construction safety: fall protection, electrical hazards, struck-by hazards, caught-in/between hazards.
OSHA 10 is recognized nationally and is often required by general contractors, unions, and federal job sites. It’s a baseline credential.
Key point: OSHA 10 is federally administered. The NYC DOB does not issue it, does not track it, and does not accept it as a substitute for SST training.
SST Card: What It Is
The Site Safety Training (SST) card is a New York City credential created under Local Law 196 of 2017. It is administered and enforced by the NYC Department of Buildings.
SST training covers NYC-specific requirements: local construction codes, DOB regulations, site safety plans, scaffold safety under NYC rules.
Key point: On NYC DOB-covered construction sites, the SST card is legally required. No SST card means you cannot legally be on that site.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | OSHA 10 | NYC SST Card |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing Authority | U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) | NYC Department of Buildings |
| Scope | National | NYC only — Local Law 196 sites |
| Required on NYC Sites? | Often required by GC/union — not by NYC law | YES — legally required by NYC DOB |
| Hours | 10 hours | 10 hrs (worker) / 32 hrs (supervisor) |
| Expiration | Does not expire | 5 years from completion |
| Content | General construction hazards | NYC building codes, DOB site safety |
| Interchangeable? | No | No |
Do You Need Both?
On most major NYC construction sites: yes, you need both.
- OSHA 10 = the national baseline your GC wants to see
- SST card = the NYC legal requirement that gets you on the site
You can have OSHA 10 without an SST card. On a covered NYC site, that means you still can’t legally work there.
The Most Common Misconception
Every week, workers show up to NYC job sites believing their OSHA 10 covers the SST requirement. It does not. A DOB inspector checking SST compliance is not going to accept an OSHA 10 card as a substitute — because legally, it isn’t one.
What SST.NYC’s 10-Hour Course Covers
- NYC construction site safety regulations
- Fall protection (NYC standards and OSHA alignment)
- Scaffold safety under NYC DOB rules
- Struck-by and caught-in hazard recognition
- Site safety plans and documentation
- Your rights and responsibilities under Local Law 196
- Emergency procedures and site communication
Frequently Asked Questions
My employer gave me an OSHA 10 card. Do I still need SST?
Yes, if you work on NYC DOB-covered sites. They are separate requirements.
Does SST training count toward OSHA 10?
No. Separate programs, separate issuing bodies.
I work in NJ but occasionally on NYC sites. Do I need SST?
If you work on a covered NYC DOB-permitted site, yes. The requirement is site-specific, not residency-based.
Do supervisors need OSHA 30 instead of SST?
Supervisors need the 32-Hour SST Supervisor course under Local Law 196. OSHA 30 is a separate requirement some GCs/unions also require.
Get Your NYC SST Card
DOB-approved online training. Self-paced. English and Spanish. Your OSHA card is a start — now get the NYC credential that gets you on the site.