Training Compliance News

For years organizations treated artificial intelligence primarily as a skills challenge requiring reskilling and AI literacy programs. As organizations adopt agentic AI that can plan, decide and act across multiple steps, AI may remove a critical learning step. Professional capability develops through repeated exposure to real work including handling exceptions, interpreting incomplete information, making judgement calls, receiving feedback and recognizing patterns.

Automating enough of that work can make an organization more efficient while the capabilities it will need tomorrow...

Training Magazine published an article on October 7, 2026, explaining the value of client feedback for addressing underperforming projects and teams. The piece uses the example of football manager Sam Allardyce, who turned around five Premier League clubs, to illustrate timely use of information.

According to Training Magazine, annual client satisfaction surveys function like receiving turnaround advice but acting on it after the season ends.

The Chemical Safety Board issued its final report on the June 2025 explosion and fire at the Shell Polymers Monaca facility in Pennsylvania. The blast severely damaged Furnace 5 and prompted 15 workers to evacuate. Shell estimated property damage at $95 million.

Investigators determined the explosion resulted from the inadvertent simultaneous opening of two motor-operated valves used to isolate the furnace.

Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling renewed the two-year charter for OSHA’s National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health on October 6, 2026, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/dol-renews-charter-for-osha-advisory-committee/). The committee was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

The 12-member committee advises, consults with and makes recommendations to the secretaries of labor and health and human services on matters relating to workplace safety and health.

Long onboarding times can cause cybersecurity skill decay according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/long-onboarding-times-can-cause-cybersecurity-skill-decay/832224/).

Even in a high-demand, high-skill workforce like cybersecurity, the talent pipeline may still move dangerously slow according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/long-onboarding-times-can-cause-cybersecurity-skill-decay/832224/).

SkillBit said in a report that the talent pipeline may still move dangerously slow.

Long onboarding times can cause cybersecurity skill decay as stated in the report covered by [HR...

Greenbelt, MD — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance released results from its 39th annual International Roadcheck after CVSA-certified inspectors conducted nearly 55,000 inspections on commercial trucks and buses across North America during the three-day event in May. Inspectors examined brake systems, lights, tires and other equipment.

CVSA data show 19% of vehicles and 5.8% of drivers were placed out of service. Brake systems accounted for 24.3% of vehicle out-of-service violations and tires for 20.9%.

The coming year will feature events that dig into artificial intelligence, talent acquisition, training challenges and more, according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/top-hr-conferences-for-2027/832165/).

The coming year will feature events that dig into artificial intelligence, according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/top-hr-conferences-for-2027/832165/).

The coming year will feature events that dig into talent acquisition, according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/top-hr-conferences-for-2027/832165/).

The coming year will feature events that dig into training...

A Department of Labor Office of Inspector General investigation examined OSHA Information System data from Nov. 8, 2024, through Jan. 21, 2026. The dataset covered 621 inspections involving establishments in low-hazard industries with 10 or fewer employees. Of those, 140 qualified for a permissible exception under congressional riders.

On Sept. 28 the Senate unanimously approved the Mental Health in Aviation Act (S. 3257). The bill was co-sponsored by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND). According to Safety+Health Magazine, the legislation directs the Federal Aviation Administration to revise regulations to promote early disclosure and treatment of mental health conditions.

The measure also requires the FAA to consult with mental health professionals and academic institutions conducting aviation training.

Tumwater, WA — The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issued Be #SmokeReady guidance that identifies nearly a dozen symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure for which workers should seek immediate medical attention. The guidance is available in English and Spanish.

The symptoms listed include wheezing, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks and shortness of breath.

In many organizations the decision to implement training occurs quickly after a problem surfaces. Leaders seek visible action and training serves as the immediate response that signals progress and accountability. By the time Learning & Development teams enter the process the question of whether training is the appropriate solution has already been assumed according to [Training Magazine](https://trainingmag.com/mandated-training-isnt-the-end-of-diagnosis-its-the-beginning/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mandated-training-isnt-the-end-of-diagnosis-its-the-beginning).

Every...

Training Magazine describes an exercise in which employees interview co-workers to learn their daily work routines and then present those details to the department.

According to Training Magazine, the process begins when each employee draws a colleague’s name at random. Participants are instructed to prepare questions without making assumptions about the other person’s responsibilities. The goal is for the interviewer to understand the colleague’s day-to-day work well enough to deliver a department presentation.

One suggested question asks what the colleague does first on Monday morning.

An international group of researchers examined data from more than 91,000 participants in the UK Biobank research database who used wearable devices and were followed for an average of 12 years. The risk of cancer death fell 12% when participants replaced periods of continuous inactivity each day with exercise such as taking a slow walk or performing household cleaning tasks, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

The risk was 8% lower for the participants who engaged in moderate physical activity each day.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) have reintroduced bills in the Senate and House to reduce the standard workweek to 32 hours for nonexempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The measures, S. 5384 and H.R. 10323, would require overtime pay for covered workers beyond 32 hours per week.

The legislation targets nonexempt employees and amends the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act. Workers covered under the bills would receive overtime compensation after 32 hours.

Washington — The Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as the 31st leader of the Department of Labor in a 47-41 vote on Sept. 30, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

Sonderling had served as acting labor secretary since Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned on April 20. President Donald Trump nominated him for the permanent role in July.

Sonderling appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for a confirmation hearing later in July. The committee approved the nomination in a 12-11 party-line vote on July 30.

During the hearing, Sen.

Around 31,000 fire spray canisters manufactured by Prepared Hero have been recalled because of a risk of rupturing and failing to operate during a fire. The recall, announced Sept. 10 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, states that the canisters could cause serious injury or death if they’re inoperable during a fire, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/fire-spray-canisters-for-home-use-recalled-for-rupture-and-failure-risk/).

The recall was announced Sept. 10 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Around 31,000 units are affected.

NCCER has introduced CraftPro, a new tool that provides training for craftworkers regardless of location.

The nonprofit NCCER developed CraftPro to deliver craftworker training without location restrictions, according to Construction Dive.

Lisa Strite, NCCER chief learning officer, hopes builders of all sizes will adopt the tool to fill gaps and retain crews.

CraftPro aims to support both new hires and experienced workers through its training format.

This development comes from NCCER, a nonprofit focused on construction training, according to [Construction...

Artificial intelligence is forcing organizations to rethink job roles at a speed few learning functions have experienced before. Tasks are being automated. Workflows are being redesigned. Decision-making is shifting between people and technology. Activities once performed by experienced employees are increasingly supported or performed by AI.

The instinctive response from learning and development leaders is to identify new skills employees will need and build programs to develop them.

The National Safety Council has joined OSHA and other safety organizations as a charter member of the National Serious Injury and Fatality Prevention Alliance, announced Sept. 30.

Through the alliance, members intend to develop resources, training and practical solutions focused on preventing serious injuries and fatalities.

Indianapolis — The National Safety Council joined OSHA and other safety organizations to form the National Serious Injury and Fatality Prevention Alliance. The alliance was announced Sept. 30 during the 2026 NSC Safety Congress & Expo. Members will develop resources, training and practical solutions to prevent serious injuries and fatalities.

The alliance includes OSHA, the National Safety Council, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the American Society of Safety Professionals and the University of Colorado’s Construction Safety Research Alliance.

Safety+Health Magazine published a partner content guide titled Transform Your Workplace with 5S. The guide covers implementation of a 5S program across warehouse, manufacturing facility, office, health care organization or school settings according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/transform-your-workplace-with-5s/).

Implementing a 5S program can help reduce waste, improve efficiency and create a safer, more organized workplace.

Washington — The Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled the first official, recurring process to identify, consolidate, and publish anticipated HHS purchases of personal protective equipment covered by the Make PPE in America Act, according to Safety+Health Magazine. HHS purchases PPE for both routine operations and public health emergencies.

The HHS Personal Protective Equipment Forecast replaces one-time data collection with a system requiring updates on Jan. 15, April 15, July 15 and Oct. 15 each year.

Washington incidents reported to the Chemical Safety Board in fiscal year 2026 have been particularly deadly compared with previous years, according to Safety+Health Magazine. CSB Chair Steve Owens made the statement at a Sept. 17 public business meeting. Incidents reported since Oct. 1 resulted in 53 deaths, compared with 36 in FY 2025.

Board member Sylvia Johnson stated that visiting grieving family members is something she carries with her during investigations of worker deaths. Those meetings rank among the most difficult responsibilities the agency holds.

Incidents reported to the Chemical Safety Board in fiscal year 2026 have resulted in 53 deaths, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/chemical-safety-board-members-discuss-particularly-deadly-year-during-public-meeting/). CSB Chair Steve Owens stated during a Sept. 17 public business meeting that the year has been particularly deadly compared to previous years. This figure is higher than the 36 deaths recorded in FY 2025.

Owens highlighted the increase in deaths from incidents reported since Oct. 1.

Washington — Prentice Cline is the new deputy assistant secretary at OSHA, the agency’s updated organizational chart shows, according to Safety+Health Magazine. Cline previously served as acting deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs. In his new role, Cline supervises OSHA’s regional administrators.

The agency’s “career” deputy assistant secretary role had been vacant since Scott Ketcham retired in May 2025. Amanda Wood Laihow was previously OSHA’s sole deputy assistant secretary, beginning in February 2025, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

Washington — NIOSH and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training released a new toolbox talk on safe practices for operating boom trucks on September 29, 2026. The document covers use of load charts, verification of load weights, maintenance of clear communication, and protection of workers from crane overturn or boom collapse. It also contains key safety steps, a narrative on a real-life incident, and an illustration of a boom truck with workers.

The toolbox talk is available from NIOSH and CPWR.

Washington — The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the Construction Safety Organization signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Sept. 24 to coordinate education and outreach on worker mental health and suicide prevention, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

The agreement was announced during National Suicide Prevention Month.

Washington — Two construction safety organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Sept. 24 to coordinate education and outreach efforts on worker mental health and suicide prevention. The agreement was announced during National Suicide Prevention Month.

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and Safety and Health and the Construction Safety Organization entered the MOU.

Washington employers and workers should be prepared to respond to an opioid overdose on the job, according to a recently published OSHA fact sheet. The fact sheet forms part of the Great American Recovery Initiative, described in an agency press release as a governmentwide effort by the Trump administration prioritizing addiction treatment and recovery.

High performers might resent lower-performing workers getting training over them.

Managers may struggle with this decision in part because of what training represents and what doors it can open up, a researcher said, according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/high-performers-might-resent-lower-performing-workers-getting-training-over/831613/).

High performers might resent lower-performing workers getting training over them.

Pittsburgh is examining changes to its permitting process that include virtual inspections and a fast lane for low-risk projects.

The city is targeting quicker permitting timelines. The first set of changes will help applicants spend less time waiting and more time getting projects done, according to [Construction Dive](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/permitting-reform-pittsburgh-housing-development-streamline/831606/).

Virtual inspections form one element of the proposed reforms.

Businesses that support upskilling and reskilling can improve employee recruitment and retention, according to Training Magazine. Rapid changes in technology are transforming workplaces across sectors and creating demand for updated skills among managers and entry-level staff. Even in professions untouched by new technologies, learning new skills remains essential for producing quality work.

Upskilling consists of training to learn new skills or enhance current skills related to an employee’s role, according to Training Magazine.

Fleet safety software can combine video and telematics data to distinguish risky driving from circumstances such as sudden traffic changes, poor weather or another vehicle cutting off the driver, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/fleet-safety-software/).

Telematics data identifies vehicle behaviors such as hard acceleration, sudden braking and sharp cornering. Video adds the context needed to understand what actually happened. A hard-braking event may indicate aggressive driving or a defensive reaction to another vehicle cutting off the driver.

Boston — U.S. employers incurred $58.7 billion in costs from workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023, with the top 10 causes accounting for about 85% of the total, according to the latest Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index.

Of that overall amount, $49.9 billion went toward the top 10 causes.

When compiling the index, the insurer used its own information, customized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and data from the National Academy of Social Insurance.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has published a draft of its emergency rule that would prohibit fabrications of artificial stone countertops containing more than 1% crystalline silica, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

The draft rule includes requirements for recordkeeping of countertop materials used in manufacturing or fabrication, exposure levels, methods of compliance, and respiratory protection.

A California Department of Public Health dashboard on silicosis lists the number of cases linked to artificial or engineered stone products at 657 since the...

Arlington, VA — The International Safety Equipment Association has scheduled a webinar on recent changes to the ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 head protection standard. The free webinar is set for 1 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 30, with registration required.

The session covers the updated standard released Sept. 11. According to Safety+Health Magazine, the standard does not replace existing requirements or make current compliant head protection obsolete, as stated in an ISEA press release.

According to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/the-doctors-note-is-vague-what-should-the-employer-do-next/831148/), employers get into trouble when they treat an incomplete note as a verdict.

According to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/the-doctors-note-is-vague-what-should-the-employer-do-next/831148/), employers get into trouble when they treat an incomplete note as a verdict.

The guidance addresses situations involving vague doctor's notes.

PPE manufacturers state that misconceptions persist among buyers and workers about proper selection and use of equipment, according to Safety+Health Magazine. Makers of personal protective equipment act as educators who want customers to purchase the right PPE and ensure correct use.

One frequent misconception in hand protection holds that cut-resistant gloves are cut proof. The terms differ in meaning. Cut-resistant gloves use specialized materials and construction to reduce risk of cuts and lacerations.

Safety technology exists to close the gap between an incident happening and help arriving, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/effective-automated-alerts/). Automated alerts, real-time location data and instant escalation are built to make emergency response faster and more reliable. The more alerts a system generates, the more likely people are to tune them out.

Alert fatigue has a documented effect on attention and response time. With safety technology, a missed notification can mean a genuine emergency dismissed as another false alarm.

Employers must manage hazard communication for chemicals generated during work activities such as welding fumes, combustion byproducts and reaction products. The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals has improved chemical hazard communication by standardizing labels and Safety Data Sheets.

Tyndale Co. performed arc flash testing at an independent laboratory using incident energies from 3.7 to 29.2 cal/cm². Clothed manikins positioned at typical working distances were not knocked over. At the highest energies the manikins only wobbled slightly, even though each manikin and stand weighed about 42 pounds.

Higher incident energy levels did not produce larger pressure waves. Security camera footage of real arc events showed workers were not knocked over or blown backward.

The Nov. 20, 2026 deadline is the next major compliance date in OSHA’s revised Hazard Communication Standard, according to Safety+Health Magazine. The standard went into effect on July 19, 2024 and contains staggered compliance dates in Paragraph (j) of 1910.1200 stretching into 2028.

Chemical manufacturers and importers evaluating substances had until May 19, 2026 to reclassify aerosols, desensitized explosives and flammable gases under new criteria in Appendix B to 1910.1200.

Roughly 80 percent of manufacturing process deviations trace back to human error rather than equipment failure, according to Training Magazine. Safety protocols require System 2 cognition, which is slow and deliberate, while work under time pressure occurs in System 1, which is fast and automatic.

Daniel Kahneman’s model in Thinking, Fast and Slow separates these two modes. Workers pass assessments and maintain current certifications, yet they skip lockout steps, enter restricted zones, or overlook PPE violations when production deadlines mount.

A federal appellate court overturned an Environmental Protection Agency final rule that banned most uses of methylene chloride on Sept. 15. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that the EPA issued its ban based on a scientific analysis that discounted relevant human studies, assumed workers are not using personal protective equipment despite OSHA requirements, and relied on a rat study with extreme exposures. Methylene chloride is widely used for bathtub refinishing as well as in paint strippers, cleaners, adhesives and sealants.

Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the House targets air quality and ventilation problems in federal buildings. The Federal Facilities Indoor Air Quality Assessment Act (H.R. 9886) directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive review of indoor air quality, ventilation and heating, ventilation and air conditioning system performance across federal buildings.

The review must be shared with Congress within 12 months and examine whether federal buildings meet applicable HVAC, air quality and ventilation standards.

NIOSH has released a new toolbox talk focused on skid steer loader safety. The resource highlights the need for operators and workers near the machines to stay aware of injury risks and the work environment.

Dangers listed in the toolbox talk include falling off the machine and being pinned, crushed or struck by the loader. The publication notes these risks apply to both operators and people working nearby.

The NIOSH resource contains a real incident narrative, discussion prompts and safety tips aimed at injury prevention.

A team led by a Penn State University researcher divided 97 adults at least 65 years old into a control group and an exercise group. The exercise group performed four daily exercises—push-ups, chair stands, two-arm rows and stair stepping—each lasting 30 seconds followed by 30 seconds of rest.

The exercise regimen totaled four minutes per day.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Sept. 17 that Richard Marini, 73, the training director of Valor, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and one count of reckless endangerment in the second degree. Marini is expected to receive a sentence of 1½ to three years in state prison on Oct. 5.

The sham safety training school sold construction safety certificates and OSHA training cards to approximately 20,000 untrained students.

Washington — The International Association of Fire Fighters launched a publicly available digital Resource Library on September 23, 2026, giving firefighters and emergency medical workers access to nearly 300 health and safety resources, with additional materials planned.

Users can search the library by topic, including occupational health, illness/injury, building and fire codes, nutrition and fitness, and behavioral health.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore established a framework for artificial intelligence that begins with forming committees and gathering stakeholders.

The framework focuses on regulation and reskilling according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/maryland-governor-ai-framework-focuses-on-regulation-and-reskilling/831016/).

Maryland already has one law regulating the technology at work.

Gov.