OSHA Launches Initiative to Help Small Businesses Improve Safety
New agency-wide effort focuses on collaboration and compliance assistance to help employers meet federal workplace requirements.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Mar 19, 2026
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is launching OSHA Cares, an agency-wide initiative designed to help businesses meet federal safety requirements and build stronger health programs.
The program emphasizes OSHA’s role in supporting employers and providing guidance to ensure worker safety. The agency is encouraging businesses to seek assistance and is working to become more approachable by highlighting the benefits of collaboration.
As part of the effort, OSHA recently released an updated version of the required workplace safety poster. The new design aims to encourage employers and workers to address hazards together.
OSHA Cares specifically targets small and medium-sized businesses that may face unique safety challenges. The initiative increases access to agency experts and compliance assistance specialists while providing more educational materials.
The agency’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs is also starting a new training program. This will standardize how compliance officers provide real-time assistance and guidance during active inspections and enforcement visits.
The initiative reflects a broader shift toward listening to stakeholders and providing employers with the tools and knowledge necessary to develop robust safety programs.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.