OSHA rolls out CARES program
OSHA launched the CARES program to give frontline workers and employers faster access to compliance experts and safety resources—creating a formal avenue for reporting hazards and pushing for workplace fixes. (ehstoday.com)
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the OSHA Cares initiative on March 18, 2026 (Release No. 26-543-NAT) and listed media contacts Lorynn Holloway and Kristen Knebel in the national news release. (dol.gov) OSHA describes CARES on its agency page as an "agency-wide effort" to strengthen customer service and expand compliance assistance across regions. (osha.gov) The agency’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs will launch a training program to standardize how Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) offer real-time assistance during inspections and enforcement activities, according to the Department of Labor release. (dol.gov) OSHA rolled out an updated Job Safety and Health Workplace Poster tied to the campaign (revised as OSHA 3165‑02R, 2026) and the poster text explicitly lists rights such as "Speak up about safety and health concerns without retaliation" and includes the contact 800‑321‑OSHA and OSHA.gov/workers. (osha.gov) The poster is available in 16 languages, is provided free on OSHA’s publications page, and OSHA says employers do not need to replace previously posted versions to remain compliant. (safetyandhealthmagazine.com) OSHA and the Department of Labor say CARES will emphasize assistance for small and medium-sized businesses by increasing access to agency experts, compliance assistance specialists, and educational materials. (dol.gov) Taken together, OSHA’s updated poster listing whistleblower and inspection-request rights plus the planned CSHO assistance training create new, formal agency contact points—OSHA phone, web, and on-site guidance—that employees can use to escalate hazards and that employers can cite when coordinating corrective action during inspections. (osha.gov)
