OSHA is proud to work alongside the National Safety Council, a trusted leader in safety and health for over a century, to advance our shared goal of making sure every worker goes home safe and healthy. At the recent NSC Safety Congress & Expo, OSHA Assistant Secretary Dave Keeling shared the agency’s vision for building stronger relationships with employers and finding better ways to connect with the people we serve.

Keeling outlined the efforts OSHA is making to be more approachable, putting a greater emphasis on collaboration, and showing employers the agency can be a resource and partner to help them create safer, healthier workplaces. This is reflected in the agency’s many programs, including OSHA CARES, Safety Champions, and the Voluntary Protection Programs.

He emphasized that OSHA’s measure of success shouldn’t simply be how many inspections we conduct or citations we issue. It should be whether we are preventing injuries, illnesses and fatalities, and whether more workers make it home safe at the end of a shift. It will take all of us to build a stronger organizational culture where safety is part the way businesses operate every day.

That approach also means working with others. An example of this is OSHA’s work toward a new national alliance with NSC and other safety organizations focused on preventing severe injuries and fatalities. Through the combined resources and collaboration of these alliance partners, we plan to develop shared messaging, educational resources and training to help employers and workers identify, and ultimately prevent, the conditions that can lead to life-altering injuries and fatalities.

Keeling also highlighted efforts to support mental health and work zone safety, areas where OSHA can’t, and shouldn’t, work alone. We want to continue working with safety organizations, employers, workers and other partners to raise awareness and find practical ways to reduce risks.

For us, the goal is clear, keeping prevention, partnership and the wellbeing of America’s workers at the heart of everything OSHA does.

OSHA is sharing resources during Farm Safety and Health Week to help farmers and agricultural workers stay safe around tractors and equipment. Tractors are an important part of everyday farm work. Taking time to understand hazards and using the right safeguards can make a meaningful difference. OSHA is here to help. Visit our website to learn more about tractor safety and how to prevent other farming hazards.

Construction workers can face unique mental health challenges. In this short video, OSHA Assistant Secretary Dave Keeling talks about the importance of suicide prevention, recognizing the signs, and starting a conversation about mental well-being at work. Visit OSHA's Preventing Suicides in Construction page for resources.

We all play an important role in creating workplaces where people feel supported and know where to turn for help. Whether you're facing mental health challenges, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, 998 Lifeline is there for you. You are not alone.

At A-Line T.D.S., an Oklahoma company that safely dismantles and disposes of transformers, safety is part of everything they do. Actively seeking ways to strengthen their safety programs, the company reached out to the state’s On-Site Consultation Program, which offers no-cost, confidential consultations for small and midsize businesses.

Following its first consultation, A-Line T.D.S. introduced open forums in daily safety meetings, encouraging employees to share concerns and ideas. This approach led to:

• A significant drop in near-miss incidents.
• Increased employee engagement.
• Lower costs because of fewer injuries and improved efficiency.
• Strengthened morale and team cohesion.

Last year, the company was accepted into OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, which recognizes small and medium-sized businesses that use our consultation services and operate exemplary workplace safety and health programs.

Our On-Site Consultation Program can help employers identify and address hazards, improve safety and health programs, and find practical solutions all at no cost and without routine enforcement penalties or citations. Find and book a consultant near you.

A bookkeeper at a small accounting firm noticed their employer hiding cash income to avoid paying taxes, so they provided relevant records to the Internal Revenue Service. A week later, the employee’s duties were reassigned to colleagues. The employee was also excluded from meetings and eventually fired.

The employee filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA. Following an investigation, we determined that the employer violated the Taxpayer First Act, which protects employees from retaliation for reporting underpayment of taxes, potential violations of internal revenue laws, or potential violations of any provision of federal law relating to tax fraud. As a result, the employee received backpay, was given a neutral reference, and had their work record cleared.

Workers have the right to report safety or other concerns without retaliation, and speaking up can help protect others in the future. If you believe you were retaliated against for exercising your legal rights, you can file a whistleblower complaint with OSHA.

❓ Where do I find information on OSHA courses on specific hazards such as hazardous materials, confined spaces or fall protection?

🗣️The OSHA Training Institute Education Centers offer courses on topics such as hazardous materials, machine guarding, ergonomics, confined space, excavation, electrical hazards, and fall protection. OTI Education Center courses also offer industry-specific courses that align with OSHA National Emphasis Programs, including the oil and gas industry, nursing homes, and crane hazards. There are several one-day seminars on subjects such as safety and health management, recordkeeping, health care ergonomic guidelines, accident investigation, and emergency evacuation for students unable to attend the full-week courses but who would like to benefit from the training curriculum. Learn more about OSHA training courses.

🎉 Congratulations to Wieland Metal Services in Parsippany, New Jersey, on achieving OSHA VPP Star Status!

On Aug. 27, OSHA New York Region Regional Administrator, Richard Mendelson, presented the Voluntary Protection Programs Star plaque to the Wieland team in recognition of their outstanding commitment to workplace safety and health.

Wieland Metal Services in Parsippany is now one of 66 VPP participants in OSHA’s New York region and the eighth Wieland location nationwide to earn and maintain VPP Star approval.

The VPP Star Program recognizes employers and employees who have developed comprehensive, effective safety and health management systems that successfully prevent workplace injuries while maintaining safety performance below industry averages.

👏 Congratulations to Wieland Metal Services for this impressive achievement and their continued commitment to safety excellence!

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/092326