Unified Agenda
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: 2026 Regulatory Agenda
Every rulemaking the OSHA has on its regulatory agenda in the 2026 Unified Agenda. Proposed rules, final rules, and long-term actions, each with the agency's own summary and its latest status.
Source: the 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda, published by OIRA on July 3, 2026 (reginfo.gov). The OSHA lists 47 active actions plus 2 completed this cycle. Refreshed as the agenda changes.
Regulatory Plan marks the agency’s most significant planned actions, singled out by OIRA in the Regulatory Plan that accompanies this edition.
What changed since the Spring 2025 agenda
Between editions, the OSHA added 4 new rules, changed the stage on 11, and dropped 4 from the agenda. The official agenda only shows you today’s snapshot. We keep the history, so you can see what actually moved.
- New this edition. Construction Illumination (entered the Proposed Rule stage)
- Moved. Amendments to the Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard (Long-Term to Proposed Rule)
- Moved. Communication Tower Safety (Proposed Rule to Long-Term)
and 16 more changes this edition, including 4 rules that dropped off the agenda entirely.
Track the OSHA agenda freeSignificant, priority, and finalized rules are shown in full below. Routine actions are condensed to a line, with full summaries for every rule on the dashboard.
Slated for a final rule. Several have already published in the Federal Register, which we mark on each; the rest are still pending.
Emergency Response
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently regulates aspects of emergency response and preparedness; some of these standards were promulgated decades ago, and none were designed as comprehensive emergency response standards. Consequently, they do not address the full range of hazards or concerns currently facing emergency responders and other workers providing skilled support, nor do they reflect major changes in performance specifications for protective clothing and equipment. The agency acknowledges that current OSHA standards also do not reflect all the major developments in safety and health practices that have already been accepted by the emergency response community and incorporated into industry consensus standards. The regulatory effort began in 2007 with a Request for Information (RFI). In July 2014, OSHA hosted two stakeholder meetings with participants representing a broad range of emergency responders as well as allied stakeholders such as State Plan representatives, skilled support workers, and law enforcement. Given the broad support and interest seen during the stakeholder meetings, OSHA decided to move forward with a comprehensive proposed standard for emergency response. In September 2015, OSHA requested, and NACOSH designated, a subcommittee made up of major stakeholders and charged with developing proposed regulatory text. The subcommittee held six meetings over the course of a year. In December 2016, the full NACOSH committee reviewed and approved the recommendations for a proposed rule developed by the subcommittee. The committee recommended to the Secretary that OSHA proceed with rulemaking, using the subcommittee's regulatory text as a basis for the rule. In October 2021, a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel was assembled, as required by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA); SBREFA was concluded in December 2021. OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in February 2024. To encourage and increase stakeholder feedback regarding the proposed rule, OSHA twice extended the original 90-day public comment period by a total of 76 days: from May 6 until July 22, 2024. The agency also held an 11-day informal public hearing beginning on November 12, 2024. Testimony was provided by 266 stakeholders from around the country who provided their input, shared data, and expressed their opinions. The post-hearing written comment period concluded on January 17, 2025, OSHA is currently making revisions based on the analysis of the testimony and evidence provided during this public hearing and post-hearing comment period.
Status: Proposed rule published on July 23, 2024
Removal of 1910 Subpart U (COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgated the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in subpart U of 29 CFR 1910 in accordance with President Biden's Executive Order (E.O.) 13999 on Protecting Worker Health and Safety (January 21, 2021). Publication of the ETS also served as a notice of proposed rulemaking, thus initiating the rulemaking process for a permanent rule on COVID-19. OSHA announced on December 27, 2021 that it could not complete a permanent rule in a timeframe approaching the one contemplated by the OSHA Act, so the agency stopped enforcing the provision in subpart U, other than the COVID-19 log requirements in 29 CFR 1920.502(q)(2)(ii) and 29 CFR 1920.502(q)(3)(i)-(iv) and the reporting requirements in 29 CFR 1920.502(4). OSHA subsequently terminated the rulemaking on January 15, 2025. On February 5, 2025, OSHA announced that it would no longer enforce the few reporting and recordkeeping provisions that remained in effect. On July 1, 2025, OSHA issued a proposed rule to ultimately remove all of subpart U from 29 CFR 1910.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2025
House Falls in Marine Terminals
This proposed rule intends to remove the House Falls in Marine Terminals Standard, 29 CFR 1917.41 (House Falls Standard), from the Code of Federal Regulations because that standard is no longer necessary to protect employees working in marine terminals from occupational safety and health hazards. This is a deregulatory action per Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation (90 FR 9065, Feb. 6, 2025).
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2026
Open Fires in Marine Terminals
This proposed rule intends to remove the Open Fires in Marine Terminals Standard, 29 CFR 1917.21 (Open Fires Standard), from the Code of Federal Regulations because that standard is no longer necessary to protect employees working in marine terminals from occupational safety and health hazards. This is a deregulatory action per Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation (90 FR 9065, Feb. 6, 2025).
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2026
Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is promulgating procedures for the handling and investigation of complaints pursuant to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) of 2020. This new law prohibits employers from retaliating against certain whistleblowers who report potential money laundering-related violations to the federal government, Congress, their supervisors, or who testify, cause to be filed, or participate in, or otherwise assist in an investigation or proceeding relating to potential money laundering-related violations. Promulgation of this procedural regulation will aid in the efficient processing of complaints under this new statutory provision.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2025
Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is promulgating procedures for the handling and investigation of complaints pursuant to the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act (CAARA) of 2019. This new law prohibits employers from retaliating against certain whistleblowers who report criminal antitrust violations to the federal government or their supervisors, or who cause to be filed, testify or participate in, or otherwise assist in an investigation or proceeding relating to a violation of antitrust laws. The law's whistleblower protections cover employees, contractors, subcontractors, and agents. Promulgation of this procedural regulation will aid in the efficient processing of complaints under this new statutory provision.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on February 10, 2023
Other actions in this stage
Rules open for, or headed toward, public comment.
Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings
Excessive heat in the workplace can cause a number of adverse health effects, including heat stroke and even death, if not treated properly. Workers in outdoor and indoor work settings without adequate climate controls are at risk of hazardous heat exposure. Certain heat-generating processes, machinery, and equipment (e.g., hot tar ovens, furnaces, etc.) can also cause hazardous heat when cooling measures are not in place. To date, California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have issued heat protections. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently relies on the general duty clause (OSHA Act section 5(a)(1)) to protect workers from this hazard. However, a standard specific to heat-related injury and illness prevention would more clearly set forth enforceable employer obligations and the measures necessary to effectively protect employees from hazardous heat. OSHA published an ANPRM on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings (October 27, 2021) to begin a dialogue and engage with stakeholders to explore the potential for rulemaking on this topic. On May 3, 2022, OSHA held a virtual public stakeholder meeting on the Agency's initiatives to protect workers from heat-related hazards. OSHA also established a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) to help NACOSH provide recommendations on potential elements of a heat injury and illness prevention standard. On May 31, 2023, the Work Group presented its recommendations to the full committee, which submitted the recommendations to OSHA (www.regulations.gov, Document No. OSHA-2023-0003-0012). In August 2023, OSHA convened a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel, in accordance with the requirements of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), to hear comments directly from small entity representatives (SERs) on the potential impacts of a heat-specific standard. OSHA completed its small business consultations as another important step in this process in November 2023. On April 24, 2024, OSHA presented to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) the Agency's framework for this proposed rule, in accordance with 29 CFR 1911.10(a) which requires the Assistant Secretary to provide ACCSH with any proposal (along with pertinent factual information) affecting construction work and give ACCSH an opportunity to submit recommendations. ACCSH passed unanimously a motion recommending that OSHA proceed expeditiously with proposing a standard on heat injury and illness prevention. On August 30, 2024, OSHA published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. The proposed standard would apply to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction. The standard would require employers to create a plan to evaluate and control heat hazards in their workplace. It would clarify employer obligations and the steps necessary to effectively protect employees from hazardous heat. The public comment period for the NPRM closed on January 14, 2025. From June 16, 2025 through July 2, 2025, OSHA held an informal public hearing to receive additional public input on the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule. The post-hearing comment period for individuals who submitted a Notice of Intention to Appear (NOITA) at the informal public hearing was extended until October 30, 2025.
Status: Proposed rule published on September 25, 2025
Walking-Working Surfaces – Fixed ladders
This proposed rule removes a deadline in OSHA's Walking-Working Surfaces standard by which all fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level must be equipped with personal fall arrest systems or ladder safety systems. Additionally, OSHA is seeking comment on repealing or revising the requirement that employers use personal fall arrest systems on all fixed ladders over 24 feet tall and instead permitting employers to continue to use ladder cages or wells (91 FR 17165, Apr 6, 2026).
Status: Proposed rule published on April 6, 2026
Lock-Out/Tag-Out Update
Recent technological advancements that employ computer-based controls of hazardous energy (e.g., mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, chemical, and radiation) conflict with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) existing lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) standard. The use of these computer-based controls has become more prevalent as equipment manufacturers modernize their designs to increase productivity. Additionally, National Consensus Standards have evolved, and international approaches to the use of computer-based controls are increasingly recognized. In light of these advancements, there is a need to modernize United States regulations to better align with current technologies, ensuring improved safety effectiveness and, indirectly, potential benefits such as increased operational efficiency. OSHA issued a Request for Information (RFI) in May 2019 to understand the strengths and limitations of this new technology, as well as potential impacts on worker safety.
Status: Proposed rule published on May 20, 2019
Other actions in this stage
On the agenda, but not expected to move within the next 12 months.
Process Safety Management and Prevention of Major Chemical Accidents
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) on December 9, 2013 (78 FR 73756). The RFI identified issues related to modernization of the Process Safety Management standard and related standards necessary to meet the goal of preventing major chemical accidents. OSHA completed SBREFA in August 2016. OSHA held a stakeholder meeting on October 12, 2022, and kept the docket open for comments until November 14, 2022.
Status: Proposed rule published on March 7, 2014
Other actions in this stage
Actions the agency reports as completed this cycle. The official agenda rule list files these separately from the active pipeline.
Construction Standards – Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health
OSHA removed from the Code of Federal Regulations requirements for the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health (Assistant Secretary) to consult with the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) in the formulation of rules to promulgate, modify, or revoke standards applicable to construction work. This is a deregulatory action per Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation (90 FR 9065, Feb. 6, 2025).
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2025
Other actions in this stage
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Create a free accountCompiled from the 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda (reginfo.gov), cross-referenced against Federal Register publications. Regulation Roundup tracks all 49 OSHA actions and refreshes as the agenda changes.