OSHA News February 2026

OSHA News for March 2026 Hello, This month was nonstop classes. The car went thousands of miles. I got to teach 5 Harwood grant classes. Machine Guarding, Lockout, Fire, Confined Space and Silica. It is good to see OSHA hiring. They have been down in staffing for a while. (See Osha #1) I do not hear any evidence of OSHA relaxing enforcing at union facilities. (See OSHA #2) One of my largest cases (See Other #2) just settled for $33 million. They picked the jury and settled after the opening. Caroline Laatsh, devoted mother, public servant, athlete, and artist, passed away on March 1, 2026. From 1987 to 1994, Caroline worked for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), where she was involved in significant enforcement cases concerning lead exposure and tuberculosis. Her work reflected her commitment to protecting workers and upholding the law with integrity and resolve. This month PPT is From the Witness Stand. It was my speech at the Construction Safety Conference this year. It was good to talk with so many people and see the success of certification at the construction companies. I had a good crowd at the Underground Contractors Association meeting. l covered the excavation safety review and talked about the accidents and common OSHA excavations citations. I liked Joseph Zawacki, M.B.A., who did an outstanding job explaining how a large organization should evaluate the core competencies for its safety professionals. A New England hospital was cited willful bloodborne. Live bloodborne training was required not CBT. I am requesting the citation under FOIA. I found 17 trench deaths in 2025. Almost all of them had a spoil pile 6 ft high. 84 people have passed BCSP Certification this year. Congrats! We got up in the 60’s this month! John OSHA News Update 1. OSHA is hiring $50,000. https://lnkd.in/g8t8KXNi 2. Labor Department attorneys should refrain from pursuing legal enforcement in unionized workplaces, Labor Solicitor Jonathan Berry said in an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg Law. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/top-dol-lawyer-urges-relaxed-enforcement-in-union-workplaces 3. Horizon Biofuels OSHA General Duty clause citation. Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazards of explosion, deflagration, and fire by working in a wood pellet and animal bedding manufacturing facility without adequate controls to prevent or mitigate wood dust explosions, in that: a. On or about July 29, 2025, the employer operated Cresswood HF wood grinder, Bliss 442 hammermill, Surge mixer, and interior bucket elevators without controls to prevent ferrous metals from scrap wood from entering the equipment and creating sparks or heat, which can serve as an ignition source for an explosion, deflagration, or fire. b. On or about July 29, 2025, the employer operated Cresswood HF wood grinder, Bliss 442 hammermill, Surge mixer, and interior bucket elevators without controls to prevent hot equipment surfaces, such as from bearings on the Surge mixer and the bucket elevator, which can ignite wood dust particles, causing an explosion, deflagration, or fire. c. On or about July 29, 2025, the employer operated Cresswood HF wood grinder, Bliss 442 hammermill, Surge mixer, and interior bucket elevators without controls to prevent belt friction within the bucket elevators as a result of improper alignment of the belt, allowing it to rub against the enclosure, which can serve as an ignition source for an explosion, deflagration, or fire 4. Companies are buying knit 10 cal gloves vs the rubber gloves. I had not seen this before. It is comfortable. These are not shock protection and create a hazard if the shock hazard is present. 5. I found 45 specific arc flash incidents identified in the SIR 2025 data (not complete 2025). An arc flash occurs when an electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to the ground, often resulting in temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun and a violent pressure wave. Here is the breakdown of these injuries by equipment: Primary Sources of Arc Flashes Switchboards, Panels, and Fuses (42%): 19 incidents. These typically occur during troubleshooting, voltage testing, or cleaning inside energized panels. Power Lines and Transformers (29%): 13 incidents. These are often the most severe, involving high-voltage utility work. Electrical Wiring & Parts (18%): 8 incidents. Often caused by accidental contact with hand tools or nails during construction. 6. Recordkeeping. Are using tweezer to remove a particle in the eyelid (not the eye) recordable? Per OSHA now. What is first aid? using irrigation, tweezers, cotton swab or other simple means to remove splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye; https://lnkd.in/g5kUSxBV 7. Cincinnati Food poultry plant explosion kills worker. Others hurt. https://lnkd.in/gae7cu2J 8. OSHA staffing at record lows. https://lnkd.in/gKv-DcgF 9. LAKE WORTH, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Land O’ Lakes-based petroleum tank services contractor for exposing workers to chemical and respiratory hazards after an employee was fatally exposed to benzene and toluene when they entered a fuel storage tank at a Lake Worth worksite in July 2025 10. GIBSON CITY, ILL – Federal safety inspectors have found a central Illinois grain company endangered workers and violated federal law by failing to properly guard and lockout/tagout dangerous machinery during grain bin entry, which led to a seasonal laborer suffering a serious foot injury. https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/chicago/20260224 11. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration concluded United States Steel Corp. and MPW Industrial Services Inc. exposed workers at the Clairton Coke Works plant to unsafe working conditions including explosion, struck-by, and high-pressure injection hazards. Federal safety inspectors determined that United States Steel Corp. failed to use required safety management and energy control practices for hazardous work involving flammable gas. OSHA also concluded that cleaning services contractor MPW Industrial Services failed to provide a relief valve for a high-pressure water system and did not coordinate energy control practices for hazardous work involving flammable gas. OSHA cited United States Steel Corp. with seven serious and one other-than-serious violations and proposed $118,214 in penalties. The agency cited MPW Industrial Services Inc. with four serious and two other-than-serious violations and proposed $61,473 in penalties. Other News 1) A record award for jury trial in Illinois in a worker-related death. It is always better to settle a case instead of taking it to the trial. Both sides win. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/salvi-schostok-%26-pritchard_10-am-press-conference-a-madison-county-activity-7434221164392075264-E0SS?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAIBItABQBDPoUhLVeFxpTWAgr5E2vxyQDk 2) BEN CRANE and Ervin Nevitt of Coplan + Crane and Steven Groves and Caroline Alexander of Groves Powers secured a $33 million settlement for the family of a 29-year-old man who tragically died in Illinois as a result of a dangerous railroad maneuver called a “blind shove.” “While nothing can replace the life that was lost, this settlement holds those responsible accountable and reinforces the importance of safety on our railroads,” said Ben Crane. This settlement not only brings justice to the family but also shines a spotlight on the need for safe practices in railroads nationwide. 3. 1 killed, 2 injured when 8-story tower explodes in North Carolina, officials say Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article314802230.html#storylink=cpy 4. Two dead in MI from confined space gases. https://lnkd.in/guGkuHXa 5. In January 2026, ISO published ISO 3941:2026 and introduced Class L, a dedicated fire classification for fires involving lithium-ion cells and batteries where no metallic lithium is present. Why this matters: Li-ion incidents are not “just another Class A/B scenario.” Thermal runaway, high energy density, toxic by-products, and the need for cooling/thermal control change both tactics and the way we evaluate extinguisher performance. OSHA CITATIONS 6/20/2025 This is discontinued Safety Training at Non-Profits (Check Sites for Starting Dates) OSHA 3015 CSC Mar 16-18 Harwood Grant Rockford Feb 2 OSHA 500 CSC Mar 23-25 OSHA 511 Apr 1-4 For free Harwood grant training https://cpelearn.niu.edu/susan-harwood-training-grant-program/ NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association www.trma.org I usually teach only 10-hour and the 500 series. I have taught 463 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, and early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Indiana. The PowerPoint is posted free at usmwf.org. https://www.usmwf.org/powerpoints-and-safety-information.html I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections. -- John Newquist 815-354-6853

OSHA News January 2026

OSHA News for February 2026 Hello, This month was doing all the hard classes this month. CHST certification class, Industrial Competent person rigging, Respirator Fit testing and annual training, and incident investigation for 84 people over three separate days, worker machine guarding, This month are several OSHA classes. See the calendar at the end. We lost Bob Lomastro this January. He served in the Navy as a Corpsman and brought his experience to teach electrical safety. I always learned from him and he knew Camtasia the software for capturing videos. https://www.kristanfuneralhome.com/obituary/robert-lomastro We lost Larken Akins in January. I met her at Fairview Heights as CSHO. She was always positive and worked hard. She eventually became Assistant Director Area Director in Milwaukee and Regional Safety and Health Manager. She become the OSHA safety and health manager. She ran a marathon, got her CSP and went to help in Ghana. https://www.calahanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/larken-akins/#!/TributeWall This month PPT is Most Cited Violation in General Industry. It is only in pdf. We have not been above freezing since January 12, 2026. I am ready for warmer weather. John OSHA News Update 1. On July 1, 2025, OSHA proposed a rule to narrow the interpretation of the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, specifically limiting its application to hazards that are inherent to certain professional activities. This revision aims to prevent citations for risks deemed inseparable from the core nature of jobs in sectors like entertainment, animal handling, motorsports, and high-risk performance. 2. OSHA has cited Horizon Biofuels Inc in Fremont, Neb., following a July 2025 wood-pellet plant explosion that killed three people. The agency issued citations for multiple "serious" violations, including hazards related to the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout). The investigation into the fatal incident prompted these findings. https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/30/osha-cites-horizon-biofuels-in-fremont-plant-explosion/ 3. As of February 15, 2025, OSHA increased its maximum civil penalties as part of its mandatory annual inflation adjustment. This raised the maximum penalties to $16,550 for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations, and $165,514 for “willful” or “repeated” violations. 4. OSHA has significantly sharpened its focus on high-injury workplaces with its updated Site-Specific Targeting (SST) inspection program. This directive uses your 300A data from 2021–2023 to decide who gets an unannounced visit. The "Goldilocks" Problem: OSHA isn't just looking for high injury rates. They are looking for: • Upward Trends: If your rates are climbing or exceed twice the private sector average. • Unusually Low Rates: If your numbers look "too perfect," OSHA may trigger a "verify" inspection to check for underreporting or recordkeeping violations. • Non-Responders: Failure to submit your 300A data for 2023 is now a nearly guaranteed way to get on the list. The Takeaway: Review your historical data now. If you fall into any of these categories, conduct a mock audit before the compliance officer knocks. 5. I’m thrilled to announce that Northern Illinois University (NIU) has been awarded a Susan Harwood Training Grant, and I’ll be personally leading three sessions throughout 2026. I will be teaching three critical workshops: ✅ Lockout/Tagout ✅ Machine Guarding ✅ Confined Spaces. This grant is specifically designed to support companies with fewer than 250 employees. If that’s you, this is a chance to get high-level, practical training for your team completely FREE. Whether you need an in-person workshop or a tailored on-site session, the National Safety Education Center wants to help you strengthen your safety program. Slots are limited. If you are a small business looking to level up your safety, click the link below! https://cpelearn.niu.edu/susan-harwood-training-grant-program/ 6. EASTON, CT — Federal workplace safety officials have proposed more than $1.2 million in penalties against Sound Construction Inc., an Easton-based concrete and earthwork contractor, following a follow-up inspection that found repeated violations related to trenching and excavation hazards. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the company willfully failed to protect workers from cave-ins and other excavation dangers. OSHA cited the employer after a June 12, 2025, inspection at a Sound Construction work site in Stamford, issuing seven willful and four serious violations. The inspection followed a December 2023 investigation into a workplace fatality at a New Canaan site that resulted in the death of a Sound Construction worker. After that incident, OSHA cited the company for two willful and five serious violations. The agency also entered into a settlement agreement requiring the company’s owner to submit monthly lists of active work sites and allow random OSHA inspections to monitor compliance with trenching and excavation safety standards. During the Stamford inspection, OSHA said inspectors found the company failed to train workers on trenching and excavation hazards, provide adequate protection from cave-ins, conduct required daily excavation inspections, follow trench shield installation standards, and properly backfill shields to prevent hazardous movement. 7. Electronic Submission Deadline: Beginning January 2, 2026, covered employers may start submitting their calendar year 2025 injury and illness data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). 8. Post the OSHA 300A Feb1 to Apr 30. Other News 1) 47 died in the Swiss Ski Resort fire. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/swiss-face-arduous-task-identifying-victims-deadly-bar-fire-2026-01-01/ 2) Break a leg? Here what caused worker to break a leg in the last 12 months of data. May 1 2024 to April 30 2025 🥇 1. Vehicle & Mobile Equipment Interaction (~29% of broken-leg cases) Typical tasks involved Working around or mounting/dismounting forklifts Being struck or run over by trucks, carts, or mobile equipment Foot/leg caught between vehicle and fixed object Equipment roll-back or unexpected movement 🥈 2. Slips, Trips & Falls – Same Level (~19% of broken-leg cases) Typical tasks involved Walking on uneven surfaces Carrying materials while walking Transitioning between surfaces (dock → floor, gravel → concrete) Wet, icy, oily, or debris-covered walking areas 🥉 3. Falls From Elevation (Ladders / Scaffolds / Steps) (~18% of broken-leg cases) Typical tasks involved Climbing ladders Stepping off platforms Descending stairs or equipment Improper ladder placement or overreach 677 brokens legs in a year ~1.9 broken legs per day ~13 per week 3. Illinois lawmakers are pushing for new legislation that would require employers to protect workers from extreme heat and cold, days after a brutal cold snap forced thousands to work in subzero wind chills with no legal safeguards. The Workplace Extreme Temperature Safety Act would establish clear temperature thresholds and require employers to provide warming stations, protective equipment, and rest breaks when temperatures drop below 32 degrees or rise above 80 to 90 degrees. Illinois currently has no state law setting temperature limits for workplaces, leaving workers without union contracts vulnerable to frostbite, hypothermia, and other preventable cold-weather injuries. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/new-push-protect-illinois-workers-from-extreme-cold-after-subzero-week 4. Co-op student killed by H2S at papermill https://www.wmtw.com/article/umaine-student-dies-gas-incident-maine-pulp-mill/70186498?fbclid=IwY2xjawPreVNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeeT3WJjTl5JVaZtsq-6uDPD6rXYzaS-VfEKKZfM3lQ2gES-0vWsZ6QYsqCvY_aem_wdGk9wAWMcM2Cae8UKjxHA 5. Bartlett Public worker in a snow plow hit and killed by metra train. https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/metra-train-collides-with-snow-plow-driver-critically-injured-md-w-service-halted-near-bartlett/ 6. Microsoft Propose 15 More Data Center Facilities in Mount Pleasant In another clear sign of just how aggressively demand is accelerating, Microsoft has proposed a major expansion in Mount Pleasant that would add 15 new data centers across two additional campuses on top of the multibillion dollar investment already underway. Originally announced as a 7 billion dollars+ development, the Mount Pleasant footprint was already one of the largest active data center projects in the region. The latest proposal pushes the scale even further and shows that cloud and AI infrastructure planning is now happening at mega campus levels rather than incremental phases. 7. Cleaning a mixer. Begging for help. No $10 lockout 99.9% of the time. https://people.com/father-dies-after-getting-trapped-in-chemical-mixer-at-work-11885820 8. AUGUSTA, ME (WGME) — Two state workers are dead and another is injured after a horrific crash in Waterville Tuesday morning. State police say a Maine DOT crew had closed a southbound lane on I-95 to work on an overpass when a driver allegedly cut off a tractor-trailer truck before striking the workers. Governor Janet Mills said Tuesday that Maine DOT workers put themselves in harm’s way every day. State police say the DOT crew set up a temporary stop sign at the end of the southbound on-ramp, leading to a single lane on I-95, but it didn’t prevent a woman from driving into the path of a tractor-trailer. The two victims who were killed have been identified as Waterville residents James Brown, 60, and Dwayne Campbell, 51. https://fox23maine.com/news/local/crash-shuts-down-i-95-in-waterville-maine-state-police-traffic-travel OSHA CITATIONS 6/20/2025 This is discontinued Safety Training at Non-Profits (Check Sites for Starting Dates) OSHA 7500 Naperville Feb 6 OSHA 510 CSC Feb 2-5 Harwood Grant Rockford Feb 2 OSHA 511 Online Feb 9-12 OSHA 7205 Naperville Feb 13 OSHA 7300 CSC Feb 10 OSHA 7845 Feb 20 CSC Silica Grant Feb 23 NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association www.trma.org I usually teach only 10-hour and the 500 series. I have taught 140 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, and early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Indiana. The PowerPoint is posted free at usmwf.org. https://www.usmwf.org/powerpoints-and-safety-information.html I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections. -- John Newquist 815-354-6853

OSHA News DEcember 2025

OSHA News for December 2025 Hello, OSHA is doing enforcement despite being down 20%. Some more office consolidations will occur in 2026. There are numerous employer phone calls from all the letters sent for verification of abatement. The calls did not drop 20% like the staffing. Some lockout data May 1 2024-Apr 30 2025. Severe Injury Reports. •Total lockout-related incidents identified: 481 •These incidents involve situations where energy control, unexpected startup, or jam clearing were part of the incident sequence Jam clearing was the #1 cause. 49% of all lockout-related injuries resulted in an amputation. 🥇 Conveyors (All Types Combined) 🥈 Packaging / Wrapping / Bundling Machinery 🥉 Metal / Woodworking Machinery (Saws, Cutters, Presses) 4️⃣ Stamping / Press Machinery (Non-Printing) This month’s PowerPoint is Most Cited Construction. I only got a pdf version so it will do for now. Electronic Submission Deadline: Beginning January 2, 2026, covered employers may start submitting their calendar year 2025 injury and illness data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting We had 221 people get certified in 2025. Stay warm! John OSHA News Update 1) Over the weekend, OSHA published FOUR NEW letters of interpretation (LOIs) that help clarify OSHA requirements found in OSHA safety standards: Clarification of "as free as practicable" lead contamination on surfaces https://lnkd.in/eJSC82GV Electrical Busway Hot Swappable Plug-In Units https://lnkd.in/eQRAkN7m Whether the respiratory protection medical evaluation may consider factors beyond respirator use https://lnkd.in/eszA5ptM 140 decibels (dB) impact/impulse policy under the noise standard https://lnkd.in/eDVXMQwS 2) Private equity firm acquires Maricopa Pizza Co. Maricopa was cited $2.9 million on lockout death. https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/30749-private-equity-firm-acquires-miracapo-pizza-co 3) Naperville IL OSHA wins dismissal of Late notice of contest. You have 15 days to contest. The Court finds OSHA, as well as this Court, have conveyed due notice to Respondent of its procedural rights and provided ample warning that its failure to comply with Court orders 9 may result in the dismissal of its Notice of Contest https://www.oshrc.gov/wp-content/uploads/595-Construction-LLC-OSHRC-Nos-25-0120-25-0121-25-0122-REDACTED.pdf 4) OSHA TOP Cited by National Safety Council. https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/27597-the-most-frequently-cited-standards-in-fy-2025 5) A trenching company removed the safety latch on the quick coupler and ended up killing an employee https://www.kptv.com/2025/12/04/vancouver-construction-company-fined-over-170k-after-worker-crushed-by-excavator-bucket/ 6) $1.2M Fine for Trenching Violations: OSHA proposed more than $1.2 million in fines against an Easton, Connecticut, earthwork contractor for willfully failing to protect workers from cave-in and excavation hazards after a follow-up inspection. https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/boston/20251215 7) $1M Fine in Vegetable Processing Fatality: A New Jersey vegetable processing facility faces a proposed penalty of over $1 million following a worker fatality during machine cleaning. The onsite temporary agency was also cited for failing to train workers on lockout/tagout. https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/osha-national-news-release/20251124 8) $986K Fine for Idaho Manufacturer: A transformer manufacturer in Pocatello, Idaho, was cited for over $986,000 for repeatedly exposing workers to serious safety hazards. https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/san-francisco/20251208 9) Ohio Bakery Citation: A commercial bakery in Columbus, Ohio, was cited for repeat and serious violations involving chemical, "caught-in," and "struck-by" hazards. https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/chicago/20251216 Other News 1) 47 died in the Swiss Ski Resort fire. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/swiss-face-arduous-task-identifying-victims-deadly-bar-fire-2026-01-01/ 2) Break a leg? Here what caused worker to break a leg in the last 12 months of data. May 1 2024 to April 30 2025 🥇 1. Vehicle & Mobile Equipment Interaction (~29% of broken-leg cases) Typical tasks involved Working around or mounting/dismounting forklifts Being struck or run over by trucks, carts, or mobile equipment Foot/leg caught between vehicle and fixed object Equipment roll-back or unexpected movement 🥈 2. Slips, Trips & Falls – Same Level (~19% of broken-leg cases) Typical tasks involved Walking on uneven surfaces Carrying materials while walking Transitioning between surfaces (dock → floor, gravel → concrete) Wet, icy, oily, or debris-covered walking areas 🥉 3. Falls From Elevation (Ladders / Scaffolds / Steps) (~18% of broken-leg cases) Typical tasks involved Climbing ladders Stepping off platforms Descending stairs or equipment Improper ladder placement or overreach 677 brokens legs in a year ~1.9 broken legs per day ~13 per week 3) J&J Ordered to Pay Over $1.5 Billion in Asbestos Talc Lawsuit https://finance.yahoo.com/news/j-j-ordered-pay-over-130900329.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMkfQfxfXl9kEMMQwyzuMdZLJ7HLAS5WDt4l_foOaaGVHpkw_Cyk0CoAbg4_FBt1e8CidkWJaVAABqYjMUUFPzZ3tGVWtTHjy3_wB0M8RoZc0ur3X_8N5cE0fP581eNoHerYPExkuE-8NB5gEqWCjyyiF78lYwTvxTGkqhXLLmUp 4) The $15 million clamp on the ground N.J. man awarded $15.5M after being injured by flying construction debris https://www.nj.com/hunterdon/2025/12/nj-man-awarded-155m-after-being-injured-by-flying-construction-debris.html OSHA CITATIONS 6/20/2025 This is discontinued Safety Training at Non-Profits (Check Sites for Starting Dates) OSHA 511 Virtual Jan 12-15 OSHA 500 CSC Jan 20-23 NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association www.trma.org I usually teach only 10-hour and the 500 series. I have taught 24730 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, and early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Indiana. The PowerPoint is posted free at usmwf.org. https://www.usmwf.org/powerpoints-and-safety-information.html I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections. -- John Newquist 815-354-6853