On March 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the launch of a new OSHA initiative called CARE, which stands for Customer Assistance, Resources & Engagements.
The program is aimed at supplementing OSHA’s enforcement initiatives with collaboration between OSHA and employers, with the goal of supporting employer compliance with OSHA regulations through new resources such as better risk assessment technology, artificial intelligence tools, and real-time injury and illness data analytics to help fix violations instead of just writing citations. As part of this initiative, OSHA has created a new OSHA CARES webpage featuring new programs such as the Safety Champion Program, which is intended to help small and medium-sized businesses implement effective Safety and Health Programs. The CARE initiative is intended to complement existing programs like the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), and includes a comprehensive rebranding effort with updated workplace posters, simplified plain-language messaging, and expanded outreach to rural and underserved communities.
While the initiative represents a significant shift toward a more proactive, solutions-based approach to workplace safety, OSHA will remain committed to its enforcement role, especially for serious violators and “bad actors.”
Please contact a Husch Blackwell Workplace Safety & Health attorney with any questions.