OSHA Launches Safety Champions Program
A new Safety Champions Program aims to help employers strengthen workplace safety through a voluntary, structured framework.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Mar 16, 2026
OSHA officially launched its Safety Champions Program today, introducing a voluntary framework designed to help employers move from basic regulatory compliance to proactive injury prevention.
The initiative provides a structured, three-step pathway—categorized as introductory, intermediate, and advanced—allowing organizations to develop workplace safety and health programs at their own pace.
“By providing employers with these resources, we are putting American workers first and keeping them healthy and safe on the job,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
According to agency officials, the program is built upon seven core elements of effective safety management: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, hazard prevention and control, education and training, program evaluation, and communication among employers and contractors.
Participants in the program may work independently or collaborate with Special Government Employees. These individuals are safety and health professionals who work alongside OSHA to provide technical assistance and guidance to participating businesses.
To complete the advanced level of the program, employers must demonstrate they have fully implemented all seven core elements and established a plan for continuous improvement. The agency stated that the tiered structure is intended to meet businesses at their current level of safety development while providing a roadmap for systematic hazard reduction.
OSHA has begun distributing outreach materials and registration details for employers interested in joining the initiative. The program joins several other existing OSHA cooperative programs, such as the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), aimed at reducing workplace fatalities and illnesses through employer-agency collaboration.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.