Government Affairs & Advocacy Updates
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| ASSP Supports Strong Federal Funding for OSHA & NIOSH to Advance Worker Safety |
| ASSP, along with other leading safety and health organizations, has urged Congress to support strong FY 2026 funding for OSHA and NIOSH. Sustained investment helps maintain the research, compliance assistance and safety infrastructure needed to prevent injuries and fatalities. |
Advisory Group Updates
Our Advisory Group has direct input and communication with the Board of Directors. The group informs board decisions and communicates member needs, concerns and suggestions to the board.
August 2026 Government Affairs Updates
| August 2026 ASSP supports evidence-based policy decisions and engages with policymakers to ensure our members’ voices are part of important deliberations. ASSP also supports efforts to grow public awareness of environmental health and safety. |
| TOP STORIES |
| Regulatory Watch: OSHA’s Rulemaking Outlook for 2026 The federal Unified Regulatory Agenda provides an updated look at OSHA rulemakings in development, including heat injury and illness prevention and walking-working surfaces. The agenda gives safety professionals a clearer picture of OSHA’s anticipated regulatory activity in the months ahead. |
| OSHA Holds Hearings on Deregulatory Rulemaking Proposals OSHA is holding public hearings Aug. 19-26 on proposed changes to multiple workplace safety requirements, including respiratory protection, fixed ladders and chemical-specific standards. OSHA’s deregulatory rulemaking hub provides access to the proposals and hearing proceedings. |
| OSHA Assistant Secretary David Keeling Shares Agency Vision at Safety 2026 OSHA Assistant Secretary David Keeling joined ASSP at Safety 2026 to share his vision for the agency, emphasizing prevention, collaboration and innovation. His Super Session also addressed SIF prevention, voluntary consensus standards and moving beyond compliance. |
| ADVOCACY UPDATES |
| ASSP Testifies Before OSHA on Fixed Ladder Requirements Watch the Archived Hearing This week, ASSP provided expert testimony during OSHA’s public hearing on proposed changes to its Walking-Working Surfaces standard. ASSP leaders urged OSHA to retain existing fixed-ladder fall protection requirements, including the 2036 deadline for transitioning from ladder cages to personal fall arrest or ladder safety systems. |
| Advocacy in Action: 2025–2026 Member Impact Report ASSP’s 2025-26 Member Impact Report highlights a year of federal engagement, strategic partnerships, SIF prevention initiatives and member-driven advocacy to advance workplace safety and the profession. |
| GAC Chair Discusses Regulations Impacting EHS Professionals ASSP Government Affairs Committee Chair Dr. Bob Drane joins The Case for Safety Podcast to discuss current regulatory developments, the GAC’s role in ASSP advocacy and how safety professionals can make their voices heard. |
| OTHER NEWS |
| OSHA Renews Focus on Warehousing and Distribution OSHA has updated its National Emphasis Program for warehousing and distribution operations, where injury and illness rates remain above the national average. The revised program outlines OSHA’s inspection approach and key hazards for safety professionals to watch. |
| Federal Appeals Court Rules on OSHA Mental Health Recordkeeping A federal appeals court ruled that OSHA’s statutory recordkeeping authority does not extend to requiring employers to record work-related mental illnesses. The decision could have implications for OSHA recordkeeping requirements. |
| New ASSP Report Identifies Barriers and Solutions to Prevent SIFs Following two ASSP-hosted SIF Prevention Convenings, a new report identifies barriers and potential solutions for preventing serious injuries and fatalities involving falls from height and lockout/tagout. The findings will also inform ASSP’s Standards-Based User Groups as they examine implementation challenges. |
| Senate Bill Targets Suicide Prevention in Construction New federal legislation would direct HHS, through the CDC, to study suicide risk factors among construction workers and develop recommendations to address them. The proposal reflects growing federal attention to mental health and well-being in the construction industry. |
| CSB Report Highlights Process Safety Lessons From Fatal Explosion The U.S. Chemical Safety Board released its final report on the fatal 2025 explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works. The investigation identified key safety issues involving procedures and hazard analysis, facility siting and process safety management systems. |