OSHA Updates 2026: New Rules, Deadlines & What Changed

2026 is a busy year for OSHA. Not because of new standards. Because the regulatory direction reversed.

The Biden administration pushed major new rules through 2024. The Trump administration froze most of them in January 2025, then proposed rolling back 25 existing standards in July 2025. Meanwhile, the updated Hazard Communication Standard has real compliance deadlines in 2026 that employers can’t ignore.

Here’s what actually changed, what’s still pending, and what you need to do in 2026.

2026 Compliance Deadlines at a Glance

These are the dates that matter right now.

The HazCom deadlines are the ones most employers need to pay attention to. They affect every workplace that uses chemicals, which is almost every workplace.

Hazard Communication Standard: GHS Rev 7 Deadlines

The updated Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) aligns U.S. requirements with GHS Revision 7. OSHA finalized this rule in May 2024, then extended all deadlines by four months on January 15, 2026 because guidance documents weren’t ready.

The extended deadlines for substances (not mixtures):

May 19, 2026: Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors must classify substances under the new criteria and update Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and labels. If you make or import chemicals, this is your deadline.

November 20, 2026: Employers must update workplace labels, revise written hazard communication programs, and retrain workers based on the updated SDSs and labels. If you use chemicals at your workplace, this is your deadline.

Mixture deadlines come later. Manufacturers and importers have until November 19, 2027 for mixture classification. Employers have until May 19, 2028 for workplace updates related to mixtures.

What changed in the standard:

• New hazard classes added (desensitized explosives, pyrophoric gases, chemicals under pressure)
• Updated classification criteria for several existing hazard classes
• New label elements and SDS format requirements
• Concentration cut-off values and ranges revised for health hazards
• Small container labeling provisions updated

If your company’s written HazCom program hasn’t been touched since 2012, it needs updating before November 2026. The classification criteria are different enough that some chemicals will change hazard categories. That means new labels, new SDS sections, and new training for your workers.

Check OSHA’s HazCom rulemaking page for the latest guidance documents as they’re published: osha.gov/hazcom/rulemaking.

Electronic Injury Reporting: March 2, 2026 Deadline

The electronic reporting rule (29 CFR 1904.41) expanded in 2024. The March 2, 2026 deadline applies to calendar year 2025 data.

Two groups of employers must report:

Establishments with 250+ employees in industries covered by Appendix A must submit Form 300A (Annual Summary) data through OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application (ITA).

Establishments with 100+ employees in high-hazard industries listed in Appendix B (Subpart E) must submit all three forms: the 300 Log, 300A Summary, and individual 301 Incident Reports.

This is the second full year that detailed Form 300 and 301 data is required from the 100+ employee group. Submissions go through OSHA’s ITA portal at osha.gov/injuryreporting. You can enter data manually, upload a CSV file, or use the API.

OSHA plans to publish the data publicly. Company names will be included. That changes the stakes. Your recordkeeping data becomes public record.

OSHA Penalty Amounts (Effective January 15, 2025)

Maximum penalties currently in force per the 2025 annual inflation adjustment (2.6% increase over 2024 amounts):

OSHA adjusts these annually for inflation under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. As of February 2026, OSHA hasn’t published a separate 2026 adjustment. The 2025 amounts remain in effect. Check osha.gov/penalties for the latest figures.

Small Business Penalty Reductions (July 2025)

OSHA updated its Field Operations Manual in July 2025 to reduce penalties for smaller employers. This wasn’t a new regulation. It was a policy change in how Area Directors calculate fines.

The new size-based reductions:

• 25 or fewer employees: 70% reduction (expanded from the previous threshold of 10 employees)
• 26 to 100 employees: 30% reduction
• 101 to 250 employees: 10% reduction

Two additional reductions can stack on top:

• 15% “quick-fix” reduction for employers who correct hazards immediately
• 20% “clean record” reduction for employers with no serious, willful, or failure-to-abate violations in the past 5 years

A small employer with a clean record who fixes a hazard quickly could see penalties drop by more than 80% from the listed maximum. But these reductions are discretionary. They don’t apply to willful violations. And they don’t change the maximum amounts listed above.

For a full breakdown of what triggers each violation type, see our guide on most cited OSHA violations.

Heat Illness Prevention Standard: Where It Stands

The proposed heat standard (29 CFR 1910.148) is the most closely watched rule in OSHA’s pipeline. It would be the first federal workplace heat standard in OSHA’s history.

Timeline so far:

• August 30, 2024: OSHA published the proposed rule in the Federal Register
• January 14, 2025: Comment period closed with over 43,000 public comments
• January 20, 2025: Trump administration issued a “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” memorandum, pausing progression
• June 16 to July 2, 2025: Public hearings proceeded despite the freeze
• October 30, 2025: Post-hearing comment period ended

The rule is now in post-hearing agency review. No final rule has been issued. Given the current administration’s deregulatory direction, finalization is unlikely in 2026.

What the proposed rule would require if finalized:

At a heat index of 80 degrees F: drinking water access, break areas with cooling, indoor temperature controls, acclimatization plans for new and returning workers, paid rest breaks, two-way communication systems.

At a heat index of 90 degrees F: mandatory 15-minute rest breaks at least every two hours.

Even without a final standard, OSHA’s Heat National Emphasis Program (NEP) remains active through April 8, 2026. Under the NEP, OSHA conducted roughly 7,000 heat-related inspections between April 2022 and December 2024, issued 60 heat citations, and sent 1,392 Hazard Alert Letters to employers. OSHA can still cite employers for heat hazards under the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) without a specific standard.

Bottom line: the heat standard isn’t final, but heat enforcement is real.

The July 2025 Deregulatory Push: 25 Proposed Rules

On July 1, 2025, OSHA published 25 proposed rules and 1 final rule aimed at reducing regulatory burden. This was the largest single deregulatory action in OSHA’s history.

The final rule removed the requirement for OSHA to consult with the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) before changing construction standards. It took effect immediately.

The 25 proposed rules cover a wide range. The most significant ones:

General Duty Clause narrowing. OSHA proposed exempting hazards that are “inherent and inseparable from the core nature of a professional activity.” If finalized, this would limit OSHA’s ability to cite employers for hazards not covered by a specific standard. Comment period closed November 1, 2025.

Respiratory protection changes. OSHA proposed removing medical evaluation requirements for filtering facepiece respirators (like N95s) and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators. Also proposed revising substance-specific respirator requirements for 15 regulated chemicals, including lead, asbestos, benzene, cadmium, and formaldehyde.

Recordkeeping changes. OSHA proposed withdrawing the previously proposed musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) column for the OSHA 300 Log. This column was part of the electronic reporting expansion and would have required employers to flag MSD injuries separately.

Removed standards. Proposals to remove the Safety Color Code and Marking Standards and certain Marine Terminal standards (House Falls and Open Fires).

None of these 25 proposals are final yet. Comment periods closed in late 2025. Final rules could come in 2026, but the timeline is uncertain.

For the full list, see OSHA’s deregulatory rulemaking page: osha.gov/deregulatory-rulemaking.

Walkaround Representative Rule: Still in Effect

The walkaround rule (29 CFR 1903.8(c)) took effect May 31, 2024. It clarifies that employees can designate a non-employee third party to accompany OSHA compliance officers during workplace inspections, as long as that person is “reasonably necessary” based on their knowledge, skills, or experience.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups challenged the rule in federal court. No injunction has been issued. The rule remains in effect as of February 2026, though OSHA has reportedly made limited use of it.

The current administration could settle the lawsuit by withdrawing the rule, but hasn’t done so.

What this means for employers: a union representative, safety consultant, industrial hygienist, or other third party could potentially accompany an OSHA inspector during a walkaround inspection if an employee designates them. Review your inspection response procedures and be prepared for this possibility.

Emergency Response Standard: Frozen

The proposed Emergency Response Standard (replacing the 1980 Fire Brigades standard, 29 CFR 1910.156) was published February 5, 2024. It would expand coverage beyond firefighters to include EMS workers, technical search and rescue teams, and all workers who respond to emergencies as part of their regular duties.

Public hearings ran from November to December 2024. The post-hearing comment deadline was January 17, 2025, three days before the regulatory freeze.

The rule is frozen. Given its scope and the current administration’s deregulatory posture, finalization isn’t expected in 2026.

State Plans: Don’t Forget Your State

Twenty-two states and territories run their own OSHA-approved State Plans covering both private and public sector workers. Seven more cover only public employees. These states can adopt standards stricter than federal OSHA.

California (Cal/OSHA) has its own heat illness prevention standard already in effect, its own COVID-19 prevention regulation, and is developing a workplace violence prevention standard for general industry with a December 2026 adoption target.

Other state plans may adopt standards that federal OSHA has paused or withdrawn. Washington State, Oregon, Minnesota, and California have historically moved ahead of federal OSHA on heat, ergonomics, and violence prevention.

Check your state’s specific requirements before assuming federal OSHA is the only standard that applies.

What Employers Should Do Right Now

Before March 2, 2026: Submit your electronic injury and illness data through OSHA’s ITA portal if you meet the size and industry thresholds under 29 CFR 1904.41.

Before May 19, 2026 (manufacturers/importers): Update substance classifications, SDSs, and labels to meet the revised HazCom standard aligned with GHS Revision 7.

Before November 20, 2026 (all employers using chemicals): Update workplace labels, revise your written HazCom program, and retrain workers on new hazard classifications and label elements.

Ongoing: Maintain heat illness prevention measures. The NEP is active through April 2026, and the General Duty Clause gives OSHA authority to cite heat hazards regardless of whether the heat standard is finalized.

Review your recordkeeping. OSHA plans to publish submitted injury data publicly. Sloppy recordkeeping creates a public liability.

Know your state. If you operate in a state plan state, track state-level rulemaking independently. Your state may adopt standards that federal OSHA has shelved.

For help figuring out which OSHA training your workers need, see our employer’s guide to safety training requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did OSHA penalties go up in 2026? As of February 2026, OSHA hasn’t published a 2026 penalty adjustment. The 2025 maximums of $16,550 for serious violations and $165,514 for willful violations (effective January 15, 2025) remain in force. Check osha.gov/penalties for the latest amounts.

Is the heat standard final? No. The proposed heat illness prevention standard (29 CFR 1910.148) is in post-hearing review. It hasn’t been finalized and likely won’t be under the current administration. But OSHA still enforces heat safety under the General Duty Clause and the Heat National Emphasis Program.

When do I need to update my HazCom program? Employers have until November 20, 2026 to update workplace labels, written programs, and worker training for substances. Chemical manufacturers and importers have an earlier deadline of May 19, 2026 for substance classification and SDS/label updates.

Did OSHA remove any safety rules? One final rule took effect July 1, 2025, removing the ACCSH consultation requirement for construction standards. Twenty-five additional deregulatory proposals are pending but not finalized. No existing worker protection standards have been removed yet.

Do the small business penalty reductions apply to me? If you have 25 or fewer employees, you’re eligible for a 70% penalty reduction under the July 2025 policy change. Employers up to 250 workers get smaller reductions. These are discretionary and don’t apply to willful violations. They’re calculated during the penalty assessment process, not automatic.