Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health David Keeling has been meeting with industry leaders and employers across the country with a clear message: OSHA cannot achieve its mission alone. Protecting workers and ensuring they return home safely at the end of each day depends on strong partnerships with employers, industry groups, labor organizations, and safety professionals who share that commitment.

Addressing manufacturers and suppliers at the National Forklift Safety Day event in Washington, D.C., on June 9, Keeling explained that they are uniquely positioned to help shape the future of occupational safety. Through innovation, operator training new technologies, and collaboration across industry, they can help build workplaces where workers can thrive and businesses succeed.

Later that day, speaking at the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Legislative Conference, Keeling emphasized how working with trade associations can help OSHA reach employers and workers in small businesses and ensure that our resources and guidance gets into the hands of the people who need them most.

On June 17, Keeling delivered a keynote address at the American Society of Safety Professionals Conference in Anaheim, California, where he reinforced the value of collaboration. By working together, supporting one another, and keeping worker safety at the center of everything we do, OSHA can continue to lead the way in advancing occupational safety and health. But everyone has a role to play in making a difference in the lives of workers and their families.

OSHA personnel attended the Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 1-5, joining more than 19,000 students, educators, industry leaders, labor organizations, and government partners committed to preparing the next generation of skilled workers. As the nation's largest gathering of technical education students, the conference celebrated the skilled trades and the accomplishments of future leaders of America's workforce.

OSHA representatives staffed an exhibit booth and participated in three judging panels to support the Occupational Health and Safety Competition, engaging with more than 6,000 students and emphasizing the message that safe work habits learned early can help make strong safety cultures the standard in workplaces of the future.

Thirty years of commitment to workplace safety is an achievement worth celebrating. On June 3, OSHA Regional Administrator Rich Mendelson spoke at the Tropicana Brands facility in Jersey City, New Jersey, to recognize the site's 30 years of participation in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs.

"Safety and health are fundamental rights for every employee," Mendelson said. "At OSHA, we want all employers to embrace safety and health so their employees can go home safe at the end of their shift. Your accomplishment shows that a comprehensive safety and health program is essential in all workplaces, and that an effective safety program can be implemented even in challenging circumstances.

Interested in strengthening safety and health at your workplace? Visit our Safety Champions webpage to learn how we can help you get started or improve your pathway to safety and health success.

If you missed meeting OSHA Assistant Secretary David Keeling at one of the events he attended this month, there are more opportunities to meet OSHA staff at upcoming conferences around the country. Most recently, the presenter of our Minute with Marlis video series connected with attendees at the American Industrial Hygienist Association conference in New Orleans June 1-3, where she answered questions and shared information about career opportunities at OSHA.

Here are some upcoming events where OSHA will be attending. If you are at any of these too, please stop by and say hello!

• June 25-July 10: The Great American State Fair on The Mall in Washington, D.C.
• July 22-24: Associated General Contractors Construction Safety & Health Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• August 30-Septemer 2: The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association Safety+ Symposium in Nashville, Tennessee.
• September 11-17: National Safety Council Safety Congress and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Visit our trenching and excavations webpage to learn how to protect workers from these and other hazards.

An Idaho rebar manufacturer reached out to the state’s On-Site Consultation Program for assistance in improving workplace safety. Through this collaboration the company enhanced machine guarding with the addition of no-touch tools and improved its safety training and education programs. Those efforts helped build a stronger safety culture and led to the company being accepted into our Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), reserved for small business employers who have used On-Site Consultation Program services and operate exemplary safety and health programs. Their SHARP status was followed by increased profits, significantly reduced recordable incident rates, and a strong reputation with customers as a valuable partner committed to safe work practices.

I was a conductor for a railroad, and my employer suspended me after I reported working on trains without air conditioning during the summer in Texas and sought medical treatment for severe dehydration, explained a worker to an OSHA whistleblower investigator. OSHA found the employer violated the Federal Railroad Safety Act. As a result, the employee returned to work after nearly three months and recovered lost pay and damages.

This case is a reminder that workplace safety is a shared responsibility – both employers and workers play a crucial role, and it's essential for everyone to speak up when safety concerns arise.

Learn more about 50 years of whistleblower protections on our website. If you have a concern that you have been retaliated against by your employer for legally protected actions, you may file a complaint.

In March 2020, Whitney Gardener suffered a fatal injury in a fall from a sanitation truck. Her mother Peggy shares how she received the news and what her daughter's loss means to her.

Worker fatalities are not statistics. They are family members and friends, neighbors and coworkers who leave behind loved ones and communities to deal with their loss and a lifetime of unrealized opportunities.

If you have lost a loved one to a workplace injury or illness and have questions about OSHA's investigation, or any other concerns, please visit our website or contact National Family Liaison Tonya Ford.

As we approach the celebration of the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding, we continue to feature important events in OSHA's history that have shaped worker safety in America.

During OSHA's fourth decade in the 2000s, the agency responded to some of the nation's most unprecedented challenges. Dedicated OSHA staff worked alongside federal, state, and local partners to help protect the safety and health of the recovery workers following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. The decade also saw important advances in worker protection, including new standards to protect construction workers in steel erection and prevent exposure to hexavalent chromium.

Explore OSHA's 50th Anniversary webpage to learn more about how the agency has helped shape workplace safety and visit the OSHA Freedom 250 webpage to see how that work continues today.

❓ How do I get an OSHA card, and is it required by OSHA to perform certain jobs?

🗣️ OSHA-authorized trainers issue student course completion cards to individuals who successfully complete an OSHA Outreach Training Program class. The Outreach Training Program offers 10-hour or 30-hour classes for Construction, General industry, Maritime, and a 15-hour class for Disaster Site Worker. To obtain an OSHA card, an individual must attend and successfully complete the entire class, including all requisite topics and the minimum number of contact hours.

Keep in mind that an OSHA card is not a certification, license or OSHA requirement and Outreach Training does not meet the training requirements for any OSHA standards. However, some states have enacted laws mandating training. Some employers, unions, organizations or other jurisdictions may also require workers to complete this training.

Learn more about the OSHA Outreach Training Program and frequently asked questions.

Have a minute? Watch this short video to hear about protecting landscaping workers from hazards. You can also visit our website for more information.

Missed a minute? Visit our video webpage to watch all the episodes in this series.

We appreciate your commitment to remain informed about what affects the safety and health of America’s workers.

You can also read this issue on OSHA’s website at osha.gov/quicktakes/062426.