EM 385-1-1 Training on USACE Safety & Health Requirements for Contractors

EM 385-1-1 is a set of health and safety requirements that apply to work performed by contractors, employees, military personnel, and others on construction projects, environmental cleanup projects, and other projects under contract with the US Department of Defense (DOD) and supervised by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  

To work on any project under contract with the US Department of Defense, you will likely need training on the EM 385-1-1 safety and health requirements implemented by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 

EM 385-1-1 training is mandatory for: 

• Project managers, safety managers, foremen, and others with overall responsibility for employee health and safety and compliance with relevant standards (40 hours)
• Managers, supervisors, and team leaders on sites subject to EM 385-1-1 requirements (24 hours) 
• Non supervisor employees at construction or general industry sites subject to EM 385-1-1 requirements (16 hours)

EM 385-1-1 training provided for employees must cover health and safety requirements relevant to the worker’s level of responsibility.

Training on EM 385-1-1 is mandatory for employees performing work contracted by the US Department of Defense, including for: 

• Non supervisor employees
• Managers and supervisors 
• Site leaders and EH&S professionals with overall responsibility for site health and safety, and regulatory compliance

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a federal agency that provides engineering services. Though it is officially part of the US Army, most of its employees are civilians.

No. Not all government contracts require compliance with EM 385-1-1. 

The safety and health requirements in EM 385-1-1 apply to work performed under contract with the US Department of Defense (DOD) and overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers, including construction projects, environmental cleanup projects, and others. 

Government contract projects subject to EM 385-1-1 requirements include: 

• Construction on military installations
• Service/maintenance of military equipment or on military installations
• Environmental projects/hazardous substance cleanup at sites designated for remediation by the Department of Defense

The 40-hour EM 385-1-1 course provides comprehensive training in the USACE safety and health requirements for construction and general industry workplaces operating under contract with the US Department of Defense. 

40-hour EM 385-1-1 training is appropriate for professionals with overall responsibility for employees’ health and safety, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including the Site Safety and Health Officer or SSHO. Job titles for employees with this level of responsibility may include project manager, safety manager, facilities manager, foreman, and others.

The 24-hour EM 385-1-1 course provides training on USACE safety and health requirements for construction and general industry workplaces operating under contract with the US Department of Defense.

24-hour EM 385 training is intended for employees in manager, supervisor, and team lead job roles on projects contracted with the US Department of Defense and overseen by USACE. For Collateral Duty Safety Officers (CDSOs), certification maintenance requirements include 24 hours of training on relevant topics once every three years.

The 16-hour EM 385-1-1 course provides training on USACE safety and health requirements in EM 385-1-1 (as revised in 2024) for construction and general industry workplaces operating under contract with the US Department of Defense.

16-hour EM 385 training is intended to satisfy the basic requirement for training on these USACE rules for non-supervisor employees such as general laborers, equipment operators, and others.