On October 7, the U.S. Senate confirmed David Keeling as OSHA's new Assistant Secretary of Labor. During his confirmation hearing, Keeling stated that "nothing is more beneficial than collaboration between employers and employees" and shared his three main goals for the agency. Sky Transport Solutions helps employers understand these new priorities and prepare for potential changes in OSHA's regulatory approach.
Keeling's Vision
"Nothing is more beneficial than collaboration between employers and employees"
Goal 1: Modernization in Regulatory Oversight and Rulemaking
Assistant Secretary Keeling's first goal focuses on modernizing OSHA's approach to regulatory oversight and rulemaking by moving beyond simple regulatory compliance and post-injury response, to injury prevention through informed design.
Modernization Approach
This involves taking advantage of existing global industry consensus standards which have gone through:
- Much more rigorous review
- Regular updating
- Continuous improvement
This shift from reactive compliance to proactive prevention represents a significant change in OSHA's regulatory philosophy. Sky Transport Solutions recommends that employers begin evaluating their safety programs with a focus on prevention and design-based safety solutions.
Goal 2: Expanding OSHA's Cooperation and Collaboration Efforts
The second goal emphasizes expanding OSHA's cooperation and collaboration efforts between professional groups, companies, and unions to achieve a common goal – employee safety. This also includes modernizing and updating OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).
Collaboration Focus Areas:
- Enhanced cooperation between professional groups, companies, and unions
- Modernizing and updating OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs
- Building partnerships to achieve common safety goals
Sky Transport Solutions encourages employers to explore participation in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs and to engage in collaborative safety initiatives with industry partners.
Goal 3: Transforming OSHA's Enforcement
The third goal focuses on transforming OSHA's enforcement by using existing data to greatly enhance on-site safety efforts through predictive analytics. Other enforcement measures include engaging at-risk employers and employees through proactive risk mitigation and reduction programs before a worksite tragedy has taken place or fatality has occurred.
New Enforcement Approaches
- Predictive Analytics: Using existing data to greatly enhance on-site safety efforts through predictive analytics
- Proactive Engagement: Engaging at-risk employers and employees through proactive risk mitigation and reduction programs
- Prevention Focus: Intervening before a worksite tragedy has taken place or fatality has occurred
This data-driven, proactive approach represents a significant shift from traditional reactive enforcement. Sky Transport Solutions recommends that employers prepare for more data-driven inspections and proactive engagement from OSHA.
Key Takeaway from Sky Transport Solutions
In collaboration with the Senate and other stakeholders, Assistant Secretary Keeling hopes to achieve these goals and ensure that all workers arrive home safely at the end of each day. Sky Transport Solutions recommends that employers prepare for a more collaborative, data-driven, and prevention-focused approach from OSHA under Keeling's leadership.
What This Means for Employers
Assistant Secretary Keeling's three goals suggest several important changes for employers:
- Prevention Over Compliance: A shift from reactive compliance to proactive injury prevention through informed design
- Industry Standards: Greater emphasis on global industry consensus standards
- Collaboration: More opportunities for collaboration with OSHA and industry partners
- Data-Driven Inspections: OSHA may use predictive analytics to identify at-risk employers
- Proactive Engagement: OSHA may engage with employers before incidents occur
- VPP Modernization: Updates to Voluntary Protection Programs may provide new opportunities for recognition
How Sky Transport Solutions Can Help
At Sky Transport Solutions, we understand that OSHA's new direction under Assistant Secretary Keeling will require employers to adapt their safety programs. Our team can help companies:
- Develop prevention-focused safety programs that emphasize injury prevention through informed design
- Align safety programs with global industry consensus standards
- Prepare for data-driven OSHA inspections and predictive analytics
- Engage proactively with OSHA and industry partners on safety initiatives
- Explore participation in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs
- Implement proactive risk mitigation and reduction programs
- Build collaborative relationships with employees, unions, and professional groups
- Stay informed about changes to OSHA's regulatory approach and enforcement priorities
As OSHA transitions to a more collaborative, data-driven, and prevention-focused approach, Sky Transport Solutions can help your organization adapt and thrive under these new priorities. Contact us today to ensure your safety programs are aligned with OSHA's evolving direction.
Sky Transport Solutions provides comprehensive compliance support for trucking companies nationwide. Stay informed about critical regulatory changes that impact your business operations.