Article ID: 98276272e40426c7cfcab3f18ed6f30a316a2e9ea6a25d6c59ca81039a25a4fa
Source ID: secondary:businessinsurance.com
Published At: -
Extraction Method: bs4_heuristic
URL: https://www.businessinsurance.com/osha-keeps-enforcement-focus-adds-outreach/
Body Text
OSHA keeps enforcement focus, adds outreach - Business Insurance Skip to content Register for free Search Search Log In Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers OSHA keeps enforcement focus, adds outreach by Louise Esola Workplace Safety Mar 25, 2026 The new head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has outlined a shift in the agency’s approach to workplace safety, emphasizing prevention, collaboration and expanded use of technology, while still emphasizing enforcement efforts. On Monday, during a first-ever virtual public session, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Keeling framed two newly launched initiatives — OSHA Cares and the Safety Champions Program — as complementary efforts to reposition the agency as both a regulator and a resource. “OSHA is an enforcement agency. We’re going to remain an enforcement agency,” Mr. Keeling said. But he added that the agency intends to “use all the clubs in the bag,” balancing enforcement with outreach, coordination and prevention. The discussion comes days after OSHA introduced OSHA Cares, an agencywide initiative focused on improving compliance assistance, communication and employer engagement. The program builds on the March 16 rollout of the Safety Champions Program, a voluntary, tiered system designed to help employers strengthen safety and health programs over time. During the session, Mr. Keeling said the initiatives reflect a deliberate effort to take a more “holistic” approach to workplace safety, rather than relying primarily on enforcement actions after incidents occur. A central goal is to actively collaborate with employers, workers, industry groups and state officials before injuries happen, moving from what he described as OSHA’s traditional role of arriving “after an event’s already occurred.” The OSHA Cares initiative is intended to support that shift by expanding access to compliance assistance specialists, improving training resources and providing more consistent feedback during inspections. It also seeks to formalize guidance that inspectors often provide informally, so employers leave interactions with actionable recommendations, not just citation outcomes, according to OSHA. The Safety Champions Program, meanwhile, targets employers that may lack the resources to participate in more intensive programs such as OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs. Mr. Keeling said it is particularly aimed at small and midsize businesses, which often face disproportionate safety challenges due to limited staffing and expertise. “Most small and medium-sized employers want to do the right thing,” he said, noting that the issue hindering compliance is often a lack of resources rather than a lack of commitment. The agency is also working to expand its reach geographically and demographically, including into rural and underserved areas. Efforts include collaborating with small business groups, labor organizations and community-based networks, as well as increased use of digital platforms and social media. Early adoption of the new approach is gaining traction among state-run OSHA plans, with about a dozen states already moving to align with elements of OSHA Cares and the Safety Champions framework, Mr. Keeling said. Technology — particularly artificial intelligence — is another key component of the agency’s strategy, he said, adding that OSHA is exploring AI-driven tools to improve data analysis, enhance inspections and generate more tailored risk assessments for employers. Predictive analytics could help the agency move beyond lagging indicators such as injury and fatality data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which can be up to two years old, and instead identify risks in real time, he said. The broader objective is to reposition OSHA as a leader in workplace safety rather than solely an enforcement body, Mr. Keeling said. “We want to be in the abatement business,” he said. “We want to be in the solutions business.” Enforcement will, however, remain a core function, particularly for what he described as “bad actors.” OSHA is considering additional measures to more effectively target employers that fail to comply with safety requirements. Related News Wage calculation limited, medical billing dispute revived: Ky. court March 24, 2026 Walmart worker who accepted comp benefits barred from suing employer March 24, 2026 Idaho bill would extend PTSD cover to coroners, death investigators March 24, 2026 Crawford names W. Bruce Swain president and CEO March 24, 2026 Berkshire unit to buy 2.5% stake in Tokio Marine March 24, 2026 Turkish reinsurer’s net profit surges 65% March 24, 2026 Starr acquires IQUW March 24, 2026 Marine insurers still have strong appetite for war risk cover: Lloyd’s March 24, 2026 14 die, 60 injured in car parts factory fire March 24, 2026 Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin-in Business Insurance is a singular, authoritative news and information source for executives focused upon risk management, risk transfer and risk financing. Never miss important news: Become a Business Insurance Online subscriber today Subscribe Now Information About Us Contact Advertise Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Copyright 2026. BUSINESS INSURANCE HOLDINGS Member, Beacon International Group, Ltd.
Metadata (JSON)
{
"score": 17.75
}