A new federal audit will examine how well the steps OSHA has taken on workplace violence have worked. The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General announced the review in a Nov. 4 memo to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

Auditors will reach out to OSHA's audit liaison to schedule the entrance conference. That meeting is set aside to discuss what the audit will examine and how it will be done. Work on the audit is planned to start right after it, the memo said.

OSHA has conducted more than 500 inspections under an initiative intended to protect engineered stone fabrication and installation workers from exposure to respirable silica, an agency official said during a recent webinar.

Jennifer Kim, director of OSHA’s Office of Health Enforcement, was among the panelists on an Oct. 20 presentation hosted by CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. The webinar covered compliance with OSHA’s standard on respirable crystalline in construction (1926.1153).

OSHA has launched a website aimed at helping employers and workers “safely manufacture, use, store, recycle and ship lithium-ion batteries.”

The Lithium-ion Battery Safety website covers hazards, controls and evaluating exposures, and includes links to additional resources. It also features a fact sheet published in 2025.

California employers will face heightened criminal exposure next year under a new state law that makes interference with safety inspections a jailable offense, raising the stakes for workplace safety enforcement.

The law, which is expected to go into effect in January, strengthens the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s criminal investigation unit by requiring its involvement in cases involving serious injury, illness, or exposure when Cal/OSHA issues a willful violation citation.

But management-side attorneys warn the law is pushing up against Fourth and Fifth Amendment protections because the criminalization of impeding Cal/OSHA inspections is so broadly defined.

Only 12% of manufacturing citations examined in an SDS Manager study were followed by a qualifying OSHA inspection within roughly three years, leaving researchers unable to determine whether most cited hazards remained corrected.

The safety software provider analyzed 139,777 initial citations across 28,339 U.S. manufacturing facilities overseen by federal OSHA. Among the 16,831 citations associated with a qualifying return inspection, 916, or 5.4%, were followed by another citation under the same regulatory paragraph.

Fall Protection—General Requirements has been the top OSHA violation for 16 consecutive years, indicating persistent safety challenges.

Four of the top 10 violations are directly related to falls, which are the second leading cause of workplace fatalities after transportation incidents.

OSHA's annual report serves as a critical tool for employers to identify safety gaps and implement effective safeguards to protect workers.

The National Safety Council and other safety organizations are teaming up with OSHA to develop resources, training and practical solutions focused on preventing serious injuries and fatalities.

Through the agency’s newly formed National Serious Injury and Fatality Prevention Alliance, announced Sept. 30, members intend to help employers identify and control high-risk hazards that can lead to SIFs.

Along with OSHA and NSC, the alliance includes the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the American Society of Safety Professionals and the University of Colorado’s Construction Safety Research Alliance.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is urging employers to prepare their workplaces for potential opioid overdoses, including by keeping medications such as naloxone readily available and training employees to recognize and respond to an overdose.

On Sept. 24, the Department of Labor (DOL) released new OSHA guidance aimed at helping employers and workers respond quickly to opioid-related emergencies. The fact sheet, Opioid Overdose Rescue with Reversal Medications, recommends treating overdose medications much like other workplace emergency equipment, with supplies stored in visible and easily accessible locations.

Workers in Oregon can use free state resources to learn about job hazards, understand their safety rights and raise concerns with Oregon OSHA.

A worker guide explains common hazards and employer responsibilities under state law. It also lists organizations and agencies that can provide assistance. The guide is also available online, and workers can request printed copies from Oregon OSHA.

The agency also provides online training on fall protection, controlling hazardous energy, personal protective equipment and safety committees. Its website includes information on filing a complaint, protections against retaliation and resources for young workers. Some materials are available in multiple languages.