OSHA’s compliance updates for 2026 are less about sweeping new mandates and more about how enforcement, inspections, and documentation expectations are evolving. While some changes ease financial pressure for smaller employers, OSHA is also increasing scrutiny in higher-risk industries and reinforcing expectations around training, hazard controls, and recordkeeping.
For employers, the takeaway is not that compliance has become more complicated, but that it has become more visible. Programs that are well-documented, consistently applied, and easy to demonstrate during an inspection will be far better positioned than those that rely on informal processes or fragmented records.
Mobile Health helps employers stay current as requirements shift, so compliance programs evolve with OSHA guidance rather than reacting after an inspection has already begun.
OSHA’s 2026 Enforcement Priorities
OSHA has signaled increased oversight in industries with elevated injury and exposure risks, including construction, manufacturing, and energy and utilities. Employers operating in these sectors should anticipate more frequent inspections and a deeper review of workplace safety programs.
There is growing emphasis on whether hazard controls are appropriate for the work being performed, whether personal protective equipment programs are properly implemented, and whether employees have received role-specific training. Training records, PPE documentation, and proof of ongoing compliance are increasingly central to how inspections are evaluated.
New and Emerging Safety Standards to Watch
Heat illness prevention remains a key focus as OSHA advances federal rulemaking. While a final standard is still forthcoming, employers should expect expectations around access to hydration, structured work-rest schedules, heat exposure training, and environmental monitoring. Preparing now by documenting heat-related controls and training can reduce disruption once requirements are finalized.
OSHA is also emphasizing PPE programs, including hand protection. Employers should review how PPE is selected, fitted, and maintained, and ensure employees are trained for proper use. Clear documentation showing how PPE decisions are made and tracked can make a meaningful difference during inspections.
Deregulation Update: Lower Penalties for Small Businesses
Effective July 14, 2025, OSHA updated its Field Operations Manual to reduce penalties for qualifying employers. According to OSHA enforcement guidance, businesses with 25 or fewer employees may be eligible for penalty reductions of up to 70%, with additional reductions available when hazards are permanently corrected within five calendar days.
Sliding-scale reductions may apply to larger employers as well, but reductions are not automatic. High-gravity, willful, repeated, or failure-to-abate violations can limit eligibility, and Area Directors may deny reductions if deterrence could be weakened.
Lower penalties do not reduce injury risk, legal exposure, or reputational harm. A reduced fine does not replace an injured worker or restore trust after a serious incident.
Enhanced Recordkeeping and Documentation Expectations
OSHA’s 2026 agenda reinforces the importance of accurate, accessible documentation. Employers should ensure OSHA 300A summaries are posted from February 1 through April 30, 2026, and that required electronic submissions through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) are completed by March 2, 2026, where applicable.
Beyond injury logs, OSHA expects training records, PPE documentation, and employee screening records to be current and easy to retrieve. Centralized documentation, like that offered by Mobile Health’s Client Portal and Respirator Fit Testing Portal, supports audit readiness and strengthens good-faith considerations during inspections.
How to Prepare for OSHA Workplace Safety Audits in 2026
Employers should review industry-specific inspection trends, validate training programs such as Hazard Communication, heat safety, hearing conservation, respirator use, and job-specific requirements, and confirm that medical surveillance and employee screening workflows align with job exposures. Centralizing records allows for fast, accurate responses during inspections.
How Mobile Health Helps Employers Stay Ahead
Mobile Health supports OSHA compliance through streamlined occupational health services and comprehensive employee screening, with nationwide access through more than 6,500 clinics and on-site programs. Centralized documentation helps employers respond confidently during audits and inspections.
OSHA requirements may shift, but protecting your workforce remains constant. Contact Mobile Health to stay OSHA compliant and audit-ready in 2026.
