A Texas A&M University assistant professor in construction science stated that VR- and AI-based safety training should not be viewed as an experimental technology anymore according to [Construction Dive](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/texas-am-ai-reduce-struck-bys-construction-jobsites/824722/).
Namgyun Kim, assistant professor in construction science at Texas A&M University, made the statement on VR- and AI-based safety training.
OSHA has made available $12.7 million as part of its Susan Harwood Training Grant Program according to Safety+Health Magazine. The grants support the development and delivery of training and education that help employers and workers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards.
Grants are available to nonprofit organizations including community, faith-based and grassroots organizations; employer associations; labor unions; joint labor/management associations; Indian tribes; and public/state colleges and universities.
Washington — The National Safety Council marked the fifth anniversary of its MSD Solutions Lab on June 23 during its annual Workplace Safety Summit. The lab was launched to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders and improve worker well-being. The event included discussion of how hundreds of employers are addressing MSD risk.
Since the lab’s inception, almost 300 organizations in 22 countries have signed the MSD Pledge. Those organizations represent more than 3 million workers.
Washington — OSHA plans to publish by November a proposed rule intended to modernize its standard on lockout/tagout (1910.147), according to the federal government’s most recent regulatory agenda.
Issued July 3, the 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions includes 32 combined proposals from the Department of Labor’s safety agencies — 30 from OSHA and two from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency published guidance to help pesticide manufacturers meet bilingual labeling requirements under the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022. The agency states the guidance advances safety and access to critical use information for Spanish-speaking workers, according to Safety+Health Magazine.
The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 requires pesticide manufacturers to translate safety and health information on product labels into Spanish.
Washington — NIOSH is accepting nominations for its 2027 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards. The awards recognize organizations and professionals who implement effective practices or innovations that contribute to the prevention of on-the-job noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. The nomination period ends Aug.
An external audit of UnitedHealth senior home visits determined that almost 97% of diagnoses recorded during the visits were supported by patients' medical records.
The review examined diagnoses generated through the HouseCalls program. UnitedHealth stated that the findings showed the large majority of those diagnoses aligned with existing medical documentation.
HouseCalls has faced accusations of producing unsupported diagnoses to increase UnitedHealth Medicare reimbursement amounts.
Workplace safety in confined spaces requires gas detection devices, communication equipment, personal protective equipment, and ventilation systems, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/gas-detection-in-confined-spaces/).
Personal gas detection devices supply immediate readings of hazardous gases inside confined spaces without sole reliance on external sources. Monitors must receive current software updates.
An estimated 2.1 million workers enter permit-required confined spaces each year, where they may encounter oxygen levels that are too high or too low along with carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, propane, carbon dioxide, chlorine or ammonia.
According to Safety+Health Magazine, organizations should structure gas detection fleets around three elements: pre-entry sampling, continuous worker monitoring and real-time data and visibility.
Multi-gas detectors capable of detecting up to six gases and equipped with an integrated pump are used to test the atmosphere before entry.
Workplace heat stress programs that include hydration, breaks and buddy systems on paper frequently fail during actual operations, according to Safety+Health Magazine.
Programs collapse when production quotas take priority over scheduled breaks. A planned 15-minute break may be skipped, resulting in an employee requiring hospital care and missing subsequent work days.
Heat stress remains an overlooked workplace safety risk for employees working outdoors and in physically demanding environments, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/working-in-the-heat/). Dehydration is frequently addressed only after an incident occurs, at which point productivity has dropped, focus has declined, and worker safety may already be compromised.
Relying on thirst alone is insufficient because dehydration often begins affecting physical and cognitive performance before a worker feels thirsty.
Organizations face challenges in validating, deploying and scaling connected safety technologies across dynamic material handling environments, according to Safety+Health Magazine.
Controlled demonstrations and lab testing rarely reflect the variability of live operations. Material handling environments involve constantly changing traffic patterns, shifting site conditions, and continuous interaction between pedestrians and powered equipment.
The federal government will target tip credits, child labor, EEO-1 reports and more in new rules.
Feds to target tip credits in new rules.
Feds to target child labor in new rules.
Feds to target EEO-1 reports in new rules.
The announcements are part of the Trump administration’s broader push to reshape federal employment law compliance, according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/feds-target-tip-credits-child-labor-eeo-1-reports/824516/).
Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration will withdraw regulations governing outdated effective dates and requirements for various industry equipment and protocol effective July 27. On June 25 MSHA published multiple final rules that originated from proposals dated July 1 2025.
The final rules followed an Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump that directed agencies to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens.
Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration will withdraw regulations governing outdated effective dates and requirements for various industry equipment and protocol effective July 27. On June 25, MSHA published multiple final rules stemming from a series of July 1, 2025, proposals that followed an Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump.
The final rules address approval of conveyor belts in underground coal mines. The final rules address blacksmith shops at surface metal and nonmetal mines.
Toronto construction worksites require adequate lighting to improve visibility and help prevent injuries, according to a new safety talk from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. The guidance appears in Safety+Health Magazine.
Poorly lit worksites increase the risk of slips, trips and falls. They also contribute to eye strain, headaches and blurred vision.
Raleigh, NC — The Worker Safety Act of 2026 (H.B. 258) was signed by Gov. Josh Stein (D) on June 22 and amends the procedures and required information for whistleblower retaliation complaints under the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act.
According to Safety+Health Magazine, the North Carolina Department of Labor press release states the law modernizes the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act.
The new law requires complainants to provide basic information necessary for the NC DOL to conduct a timely investigation.
Employee misclassification is becoming a bigger risk for growing SMBs. Employee classification mistakes are creating costly payroll and compliance risks for SMBs according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/spons/employee-misclassification-is-becoming-a-bigger-risk-for-growing-smbs/824176/).
Employee classification mistakes are creating costly payroll and compliance risks for SMBs.
Major players in data center construction are kicking off megaprojects and pouring millions into training while many builders consider local pushback, according to [Construction Dive](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/data-center-opposition-groundbreaking-investments-workforce/824339/).
Major players kick off megaprojects in data center construction.
Major players pour millions into training.
Many data center builders consider local pushback, according to [Construction...
Boulder, CO — Nearly two-thirds of construction firms have implemented a program to prevent serious injuries and fatalities, commonly called SIFs, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by the Construction Safety Research Alliance.
For CSRA’s annual Safety in Practice Report, researchers examined responses from 72 construction firms on seven safety concepts: SIF prevention program, lagging indicators such as total recordable incident rate as incentivized metrics, high-energy control assessments or HECA program, alternative measurement metrics, quality of leading indicators...
Washington — The House Education and Workforce Committee unanimously approved legislation that would allow current and former Department of Energy employees to receive care from nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
The Health Care for Energy Workers Act of 2026 (H.R. 4122) would amend the regulations for the DOE Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program. Under current rules in 42 USC 7384t, employees are only allowed to receive medical benefits from a qualified physician. The bill was introduced by Reps.
The House Education and Workforce Committee unanimously approved legislation allowing current and former Department of Energy employees to receive care from nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
The Health Care for Energy Workers Act of 2026 (H.R. 4122) was introduced by Reps. Rick Allen (R-GA) and Lucy McBath (D-GA). The bill would amend regulations for the DOE Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.
Atlanta — Researchers from Georgia Tech have developed a computer model to estimate chemical-vapor buildup in confined spaces after on-the-job chemical spills, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/new-chemical-exposure-model-bridges-gap-between-research-labs-and-reality-study/).
A team drew on experiences from a course in which students aimed to close a gap between research labs and reality. They outlined their methods in a study published in the journal ACS Chemical Health & Safety.
The rising bring your own AI trend can spell trouble for employers according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/rising-bring-your-own-ai-trend-can-spell-trouble-for-employers/824319/).
Employee adoption of personally sourced AI tools is increasing. Without clear oversight this adoption proceeds according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/rising-bring-your-own-ai-trend-can-spell-trouble-for-employers/824319/).
Employee adoption of personally sourced AI tools can lead to issues with accuracy.
Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is reopening a Request for Information on a proposed rule to address risks from legacy uses of asbestos, according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/epa-delays-proposed-rule-on-asbestos-says-it-needs-more-information/). The agency set a June 3, 2027 target for publishing a proposed risk management rule.
Agency officials seek data on activities that disturb materials containing asbestos, use of legacy products, air-sampling methods, and laboratory capabilities.
The National Safety Council estimates that 410 people may die in motor vehicle crashes from 6 p.m. on July 2 to 11:59 p.m. on July 5. The projection covers the period when millions of people plan holiday travel.
NSC CEO Lorraine M. Martin stated that every driver has the power to help prevent a tragedy by making simple, safe choices behind the wheel.
Washington — President Donald Trump is set to nominate acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling for the permanent role, according to multiple news reports. Sonderling has led the Department of Labor since Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned April 20 amid allegations of professional misconduct.
Trump nominated Sonderling for deputy labor secretary in January 2025. The Senate confirmed his nomination with a 53-46 party-line vote two months later. Sonderling’s nomination process is expected to include another hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Assistant Labor Secretary Henry Mack told SHRM26 attendees that federal funding could help employers prepare for disruption in the labor market, but the money is often difficult to access, according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/interested-in-job-training-dol-official-wants-you-to-give-him-a-call/824194/).
Federal funding could help employers prepare for disruption in the labor market. Assistant Labor Secretary Henry Mack addressed SHRM26 attendees on this topic.
The money is often difficult to access.
Trump has tapped acting Secretary Sonderling to lead DOL.
Trump taps acting Secretary Sonderling to lead DOL according to [Construction Dive](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/sonderling-trump-DOL-EEOC-AI/824193/).
Keith Sonderling has voiced support for business-friendly regulations and programs that encourage employers to perform self-audits according to [Construction Dive](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/sonderling-trump-DOL-EEOC-AI/824193/).
Keith Sonderling has voiced support for business-friendly regulations and programs that encourage employers to perform self-audits...
OSHA revised and extended its National Emphasis Program on heat stress. The update adds Appendix I, an 11-item checklist for evaluating heat programs, and Appendix J, a citation guide for heat hazards under the General Duty Clause.
According to Safety+Health Magazine, the changes move the program from awareness and data collection toward enforcement. Inspectors now have defined tools to issue citations more quickly during inspections.
Arlington, VA — More than 2 out of 3 employers struggle to get workers to consistently follow proper protocols for personal protective equipment, according to the 2026 PPE Pain Points Study. Researchers asked 500 employers for feedback on the top challenges and trends related to PPE. The study, now in its fourth year, was a collaboration between the International Safety Equipment Association and J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.
OSHA has scheduled a virtual training event for Aug. 4-6 according to [Safety+Health Magazine](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/osha-to-conduct-safety-training-for-federal-agency-staff/). The training aims to help federal agency safety and health personnel strengthen protections for federal workers. The event is presented by the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers and the agency’s Office of Federal Agency Programs.
The training is free and conducted virtually. It targets federal agency safety and health personnel.
Washington — Matt Law, director of the Work to Zero initiative at the National Safety Council, told attendees of a June 2 NSC webinar that employers should select safety technology based on fit rather than novelty. “It’s not about the shiny object,” Law said during the session titled Moving Safety Forward: The Evolution of Safety Tech and the Safety Innovation Journey.
Training magazine will hold its TechLearn 2026 Conference from September 15 to 17 in Austin, Texas. The event focuses on learning and development programs and artificial intelligence tools.
The conference includes 47 interactive breakout sessions. It also features 8 hands-on clinics and 2 keynote sessions. The Innovations in Training Test Kitchen provides at least four demo stations.
For decades learning leaders answered questions about effectiveness with data on participants trained, completion percentages, learning hours consumed, course satisfaction scores and certification counts according to Chief Learning Officer. These measures allowed organizations to track activity while leaving impact on business results unaddressed.
A global technology services company reported 8,000 associates trained, a 96 percent completion rate, an average satisfaction score of 4.7 out of 5 and 2,500 cloud certifications after a cloud transformation initiative.
Washington — The Chemical Safety Board continues its work despite facing elimination under the Trump administration’s most recent budget request, according to Safety+Health Magazine. The White House released the request in April, marking the sixth attempt across President Donald Trump’s two terms to shutter the agency. Congress has not followed through on prior requests. A bill approved in May by the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee would reduce the CSB budget by more than 41% for fiscal year 2027 beginning Oct.
The Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs published a notice on June 23 requesting information on advances in hearing tests. The office is considering revisions to quality standards under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
The notice states that objective methods such as auditory brainstem response, auditory steady state response and otoacoustic emissions have become more widely available. These tests measure physiological responses to sound stimuli rather than relying on subjective patient responses required by traditional pure-tone audiometry.
In 1982 Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson published “The One Minute Manager,” a parable that spent three years on The New York Times Best Sellers list and sold more than 15 million copies, according to [Training Magazine](https://trainingmag.com/the-power-of-story-in-leadership-development/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-power-of-story-in-leadership-development).
Leadership presented as a mechanical checklist causes audiences to tune out. Storytelling humanizes problems so participants see universal issues such as self-doubt and setbacks.
Most organizations include communication, leadership and conflict resolution in training curricula, yet negotiation, the capability that shapes all three, remains one of the least formally developed inside companies, according to [Training Magazine](https://trainingmag.com/if-everyone-negotiates-at-work-why-dont-we-train-them/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=if-everyone-negotiates-at-work-why-dont-we-train-them).
Negotiation occurs in project alignment, cross-functional collaboration, resource allocation and interpersonal trust.
Organizations are struggling to keep up with the rapid pace of new skills according to TalentLMS’s new Speed-to-Skill report. The data come from a survey of 1,500 U.S. respondents including 964 managers and 536 employees.
Seven in 10 employees say they need faster ways to practice skills to keep up with the pace of work. Forty-four percent of respondents say work keeps cutting into their time to learn. More than half of respondents at 53 percent are taking skills development into their own hands.
Organizations spend billions of dollars each year on learning and development. Yet despite those investments, many employees remain disengaged during training, struggle to apply what they learn and quickly forget new information once a program ends. The problem may not be the content. It may be the assumption that all learners engage in the same way.
For decades, corporate learning has largely been designed around standardized delivery models.
A judge trimmed $83 million from a record-breaking age bias penalty imposed on Liberty Mutual.
A judge trimmed $83 million from a record-breaking age bias penalty imposed on Liberty Mutual, according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/news/judge-trims-83m-from-record-breaking-age-bias-penalty-liberty-mutual/822834/).
There was no evidence from which a jury could reasonably infer that Liberty Mutual acted with “intentional malice, trickery or deceit,” the judge said.
The ruling information appears in coverage from [HR...
Washington — The Chemical Safety Board is urging chemical facilities to prepare for hurricane season by securing hazardous materials and training workers on emergency procedures.
CSB states that adequate preparations can help workers, emergency responders and surrounding communities stay safe in the event of a storm. Additional steps include ensuring backup power for critical safety systems and coordinating with local emergency management authorities. Hurricane season along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts lasts through Nov.
Lowell, MA — A University of Massachusetts-Lowell research team interviewed 66 workers across occupations and found that accepting a "sufficient worker body" reduces extra physical and mental fatigue for those with chronic pain.
The team reported that workers often feel trapped pursuing an "ideal worker body." Accepting that "I can still be a very good worker, but I might need to do things differently" eased self-imposed pressure and supported sustainable work methods, according to Safety+Health Magazine.
The condition affects around a quarter of U.S.
More than 3 out of 5 health care workers surveyed say their employer does not demonstrate strong concern for their security and that safety training is lax, according to Safety+Health Magazine.
Safety technology provider Centegix conducted the 2026 Healthcare Workforce Safety Report. The survey included more than 600 workers who interact with patients, patient family members or visitors at least once a week in a health care facility.
Washington — The House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 5437 on June 3 by a 16-7 vote. The legislation would shield stone slab product manufacturers and sellers from lawsuits related to silicosis caused by workplace exposure to silica dust. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
H.R. 5437 places the blame for workers’ health problems on fabrication companies and other employers.
The North Carolina Department of Labor will no longer reduce employer penalties in cases involving worker deaths under a directive issued by Commissioner Luke Farley on April 29.
The directive states that penalties assessed for violations that are a proximate cause of a fatality shall not be adjusted. All other violations found during the inspection may be adjusted for size, good faith and history, unless prohibited by other exceptions. The change took effect immediately.
The directive reverses a decadeslong policy known as the death discount that mirrored a federal OSHA policy.
Google vows $50M for skilled trades training. The commitment comes within a week of Meta investing $115 million. Google is a major data center owner seeking to expand the construction education pipeline.
According to [Construction Dive](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/google-skilled-trades-training-investment-construction/822788/), Google has announced the $50 million pledge for skilled trades training. The timing follows Meta's $115 million commitment by less than seven days.
Google operates as a major data center owner.
Arlington, VA — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issued its first occupant safety ratings for cargo vans and Class 3 pickups on June 9. The ratings cover vehicles weighing between 10,001 and 14,000 pounds.
IIHS previously rated only passenger vehicles. The organization expanded its program to address gaps where many government standards for passenger vehicles do not apply to delivery vans, box trucks, tractor-trailers, and certain work pickups.
Meta is allocating $115 million to create a workforce academy that supports data center construction. The program supplies free skilled-trades training, industry credentials and guaranteed jobs.
Meta earmarks $115M specifically for the workforce academy to aid data center construction according to [Construction Dive](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/meta-workforce-academy-data-center-construction/822698/).
The academy delivers free skilled-trades training to participants.
