What Employers Should Expect from OSHA in 2026

OSHA’s regulatory agenda for 2026 signals significant changes for employers across multiple industries. While some standards are still in development, the direction is clear: organizations should begin planning now to strengthen safety programs, prevention controls, and documentation practices. Below is an overview of the most impactful anticipated updates — and what employers can do to prepare.

Federal Heat Illness Prevention Standard

One of the most anticipated developments is the creation of a federal heat injury and illness prevention rule. OSHA has confirmed that rulemaking for “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” is underway.

Employers across all industries should expect requirements such as:

Access to shade, rest, and hydration for workers exposed to heat.
Acclimatization programs for new or returning employees.
Monitoring and response procedures for signs of heat stress.

Recommended preparation: Review current heat-stress protocols, identify responsible personnel, and evaluate whether policies address both outdoor and indoor heat exposure.

Expanded Injury and Illness Recordkeeping

Recordkeeping and reporting will remain a major OSHA priority in 2026, especially in high-hazard industries.

Employers should be prepared for:

More detailed reporting of incidents and illnesses.
Greater transparency and public availability of company injury data.
Heightened enforcement and targeted inspections.

Recommended preparation: Verify compliance with current OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301 if they apply to your industry and ensure internal reporting procedures are accurate, timely, and consistent.

Updated Hazard Communication and Chemical Safety Requirements

OSHA has already aligned portions of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) Revision 7, and additional phases are expected by 2026.

Employers should expect:

Updated requirements for labeling and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Revised training expectations to ensure employee understanding of chemical hazards

Recommended preparation: Audit chemical safety programs, verify that SDSs align with GHS Rev. 7, and update employee training.

Workplace Violence Prevention

Workplace violence prevention — particularly for healthcare— continues to move toward formal regulation.

Recommended preparation: Incorporate workplace-violence language into safety plans and evaluate whether workers who operate alone or in remote environments face elevated risks.

The Lone-Worker Consideration

As OSHA focuses more on hazards such as heat, chemicals, and workplace violence, lone workers without direct supervision or immediate access to assistance — may face elevated risk.

Although no single federal OSHA standard exclusively governs lone work, several regulations apply, including the General Duty Clause (OSH Act section 5(a)(1)).

Employers should identify risky lone-worker scenarios, establish monitoring or check-in procedures, and document how these employees will receive timely assistance during emergencies.

Steps to get ahead of the 2026 OSHA Standards

Update your safety program’s policies, documentation practices and training.
Support lone workers with scheduled check-ins or monitoring as appropriate.
Create heat-hazard response protocols.
Confirm chemical-safety documentation and labeling is current.
Review controls for hazards such as heat, falls, and chemical exposure.
Confirm training, recordkeeping, and incident-reporting systems are accurate and complete.

OSHA’s upcoming standards should not be viewed as a distant concern. With new regulatory emphasis on heat illness prevention, stronger recordkeeping, updated chemical standards, and ongoing attention to workplace violence and lone-worker safety, proactive preparation will be key to maintaining compliance.

Organizations that plan, train, and document now will be better positioned to protect their employees — and avoid costly enforcement outcomes — once final rules take effect.