OSHA’s enforcement priorities introduced in 2025 continue to shape regulatory activity heading into 2026. Employers across all industries should expect sustained and heightened attention on heat illness prevention, workplace violence, and high-hazard operations. These focus areas reflect ongoing national injury trends, emerging workplace risks, and OSHA’s continued shift toward proactive, data-driven enforcement. Organizations that fail to address these risks may face increased inspection frequency, citations, or enforcement actions.
Heat illness prevention remains one of OSHA’s most visible and expanding enforcement initiatives. Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme heat events continue to affect both indoor and outdoor work environments, increasing the risk of heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. OSHA continues to prioritize inspections in industries such as construction, agriculture, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, landscaping, and utilities. Inspectors are closely evaluating whether employers are monitoring environmental conditions, providing adequate hydration and rest breaks, implementing acclimatization protocols for new and returning workers, and training employees to recognize early signs of heat-related illness. Organizations without a documented and consistently implemented heat illness prevention program may face elevated compliance risk as enforcement efforts extend into 2026.
Workplace violence prevention also remains a critical enforcement focus, particularly in healthcare, social services, retail, hospitality, education, and other public-facing environments. OSHA continues to emphasize that workplace violence is a preventable occupational hazard and expects employers to take proactive steps to identify and mitigate risks. Inspections increasingly assess whether organizations have conducted formal risk assessments, implemented engineering and administrative controls, established response and reporting procedures, and provided appropriate employee training. Employers are also expected to maintain accurate incident records and demonstrate that prior incidents have been addressed. Repeated occurrences of workplace violence or insufficient safeguards may result in targeted enforcement actions.
High-hazard industries, including chemical processing, manufacturing, waste management, energy, and heavy construction, remain central to OSHA’s enforcement strategy. Through programs such as the Site-Specific Targeting (SST) initiative and various National Emphasis Programs (NEPs), OSHA continues to direct inspections based on injury and illness data, historical violations, and inherent operational risks. Common enforcement areas include machine guarding, lockout/tagout procedures, fall protection, electrical safety, chemical exposure controls, confined space entry, and recordkeeping accuracy. OSHA is placing increasing emphasis on the effectiveness of written programs, employee training, and corrective action processes rather than documentation alone.
To align with OSHA’s ongoing enforcement priorities, organizations should take a proactive approach to compliance and risk management as they move into 2026. This includes conducting internal audits that specifically address heat exposure risks, reviewing and strengthening workplace violence prevention programs, and reassessing hazard controls within high-risk operations. Employers should ensure training programs remain current, communication systems are effective, and near-miss reporting processes are actively used to identify and address hazards before incidents occur.
Ultimately, OSHA’s continued focus on these priority areas underscores the importance of continuous improvement in workplace health and safety programs. Organizations that invest in prevention, employee engagement, and risk-based decision-making will be better positioned to navigate evolving enforcement expectations. By aligning safety programs with OSHA’s ongoing priorities, employers can reduce injuries, strengthen compliance performance, and foster a resilient safety culture that protects workers well into 2026 and beyond.
