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ARTICLE · 17 FEBRUARY 2026

New OSHA Safety Program Represents Shift Away From Enforcement-Based Compliance To Proactive Prevention

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued a voluntary, self-paced blueprint designed to assist employers looking for help on how to develop and structure their workplace safety...

United StatesEmployment and HR
Christopher Ward
Christopher Ward
John Cernelich
John Cernelich
Todd Palmer
Todd Palmer
Ronald McMillan
Ronald McMillan
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued a voluntary, self-paced blueprint designed to assist employers looking for help on how to develop and structure their workplace safety and health programs. OSHA's "Safety Champions Program," announced by Assistant Secretary of Labor David Keeling, is a free program that outlines several core practices that OSHA recommends employers incorporate into their health and safety plans.

Designed to shift away from yet another compliance requirement checklist, the Safety Champions Program is an attempt to encourage proactive risk management and prevention and move away from rigorous enforcement-based compliance. The focus of the Program is built on the foundation of OSHA's Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs, first issued in October 2016. Each section of the recommended practices describes a core program element followed by several action items. Each action item is an example of steps

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