OSHA Schedules Public Hearings on Deregulatory Proposals
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has scheduled several informal public hearings on more than 20 deregulatory rulemaking proposals that OSHA released last summer, along with a recent proposal addressing compliance deadlines under OSHA’s Walking-Working Surfaces standard. Together, these proposals reach standards that touch employers across a wide range of industries. Stakeholders who want to shape the outcome have a narrow window to act. These virtual hearings kick off beginning Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. EST.
The proposals fit under the administration’s Executive Order 14192 on “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation” and the U.S. Department of Labor’s related deregulatory initiative. OSHA describes its overarching goal as modernizing workplace safety standards, reducing compliance burdens, and increasing flexibility across industries.
Hot Off the Press: What Employers Should Know About OSHA’s Updated National Emphasis Program for Heat Illness
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for heat, removing a specific inspection-growth target that had been part of the initiative when the Program first launched back in 2022. In OSHA’s April 10, 2026 news release, it announced that the revised directive took effect immediately and will remain in place for five years. OSHA made a few changes to the Program, including removing outdated background information, updating Program links, and reorganizing appendices addressing heat program evaluation and citation guidance.
OSHA Updates Site-Specific Targeting Program Based on Injury/Illness Rates: What Employers Should Know
On May 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an updated directive to its Site-Specific Targeting (SST) inspection program. This program is OSHA’s primary mechanism for scheduling planned inspections at non-construction establishments with 20 or more employees.
