The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a new safety initiative called OSHA Cares; an agency-wide effort focused on helping businesses meet federal workplace safety requirements. 

According to OSHA, through the OSHA Cares initiative, the agency hopes to empower employers to improve workplace safety – particularly small and medium-sized businesses who face unique safety and health challenges – by increasing access to OSHA experts and compliance assistance specialists; improving access to educational and training materials; and offering consistent workplace assistance during enforcement visits and meetings.  

This latest OSHA initiative encourages organizations to seek guidance to enhance safety and health within their workplaces. In line with this objective, the agency appears to be making a deliberate effort to present itself as more accessible by highlighting the advantages of seeking assistance or collaborating with OSHA. For instance, last month OSHA introduced an updated version of the poster employers are required to display in the workplace. In addition, the agency’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs has announced the pending launch of a new training program to assist in standardizing how the agency’s Compliance Safety and Health Officers will offer real time assistance during inspections and enforcement activities. 

For more information on the new OSHA Cares initiative, visit OSHA.gov.