Building a Safer Future: Private-Sector Strategies for Emerging Safety Issues

The House Committee on Education & Workforce held a hearing on May 14, 2026, titled "Building a Safer Future: Private-Sector Strategies for Emerging Safety Issues." The meeting focused on emerging workplace safety risks, the need for collaborative policymaking, and innovative private-sector safety strategies. Witnesses from the National Safety Council, legal experts, and industry representatives discussed the importance of adopting leading safety indicators, modernizing outdated regulations such as lockout/tagout standards, and addressing emerging hazards like respirable silica exposure and workplace violence. The hearing highlighted concerns about underfunding and understaffing of OSHA and NYOSH, which limits enforcement, research, and regulatory updates. There was emphasis on the need for flexible, performance-based standards that accommodate new technologies including AI and engineering controls, as well as cooperative programs and education to improve safety outcomes without relying solely on enforcement. The discussion also touched on the opioid crisis's impact on workplace safety and the challenges posed by production pressures and outdated regulatory frameworks. No specific contract awards or procurement actions were discussed, but the testimony underscored the importance of funding and staffing for regulatory agencies to support safety research and enforcement.