OSHA's Keeling Discusses Safety Priorities, Heat Stress and AI at ASSP Safety 2026
Assistant Secretary of Labor David Keeling shares insights on heat stress, AI, Safety Champions and OSHA's evolving role in workplace safety.
- By David Kopf
- Jun 19, 2026
At ASSP Safety 2026 in Anaheim, OH&S sat down with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Keeling for a wide-ranging discussion on OSHA’s priorities and direction.
During the interview, Keeling discussed the status of OSHA’s ongoing heat stress rulemaking efforts, noting that the agency is reviewing more than 40,000 public comments while continuing outreach through its updated Heat National Emphasis Program. He also highlighted OSHA’s renewed focus on small and medium-sized businesses through the agency’s Safety Champions initiative, which is designed to help organizations strengthen safety programs regardless of where they are in their safety journey.
Keeling also addressed OSHA’s efforts to rebuild staffing levels, the potential role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in workplace safety, and the agency’s desire to be viewed as both an enforcement body and a resource for employers seeking to improve safety performance. He also discussed his views on safety culture, emphasizing that safety must be embedded within an organization’s overall culture and supported by operational leadership to be successful.
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About the Author
David Kopf is the publisher and executive editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine.