May 27, 2026
Hurricane prep guidance, training for OSHA’s HazCom rule and more
To help you stay ahead of the curve, The Safety Pulse provides a monthly recap of safety-related news. Each edition brings you the latest trends, resources, regulation updates and more, all in one place. We’re here to help you stay informed, compliant and safe.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
National safety stand-down to prevent falls
Falls remain the leading cause of death in the construction industry. To help spread awareness, OSHA spearheaded its 13th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction from May 4–8. This coincided with a string of major enforcement actions. The agency is using the momentum from this month's stand-down to signal increased, zero-tolerance field inspections for fall hazard compliance across both residential and commercial sectors.
Recordkeeping compliance reminder
While OSHA’s posting period for the Form 300A injury summary officially wrapped up on April 30, this data is still valuable to your business. Ensure your safety teams are leveraging that information to audit your active heat illness and ergonomic safety plans as we head into the summer.
OSHA and NIOSH heads join House hearing on emerging safety issues
OSHA leader Doug Parker and National Safety Council (NSC) CEO Lorraine Martin recently testified during a House Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing on emerging safety issues. Parker voiced concerns about the agency’s ability to help proactively prevent injuries with proposed budget cuts, while Martin focused on areas to enhance safety efforts. Specifically, Martin called on OSHA to develop a National Emphasis Program centered on serious incident and fatality (SIF) prevention, rather than standard minor recordables. Multiple panelists also pushed for modernizing lockout/tagout (LOTO) standards to allow computer-based, AI-driven protection systems.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)
Early hurricane season prep guidance issued
TDI released an early directive urging businesses to finalize severe weather and disaster recovery plans ahead of the upcoming hurricane season. The guidance highlights critical steps for employers, including conducting comprehensive facility inventories, clearing potential windborne hazards from industrial yards and auditing emergency communication protocols. Businesses in coastal and adjacent areas should review this information to ensure employee safety and mitigate property risk during severe weather events.
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC)
DWC issues draft amending return-to-work guidelines
DWC has published an informal working draft amending 28 Texas Administrative Code Section 137.10. The amendment updates the state's official return-to-work guidelines, instructing insurance carriers, health care providers and employers to transition to the disability duration values in the current edition of the Official Disability Guidelines by Milliman Care Guidelines (ODG by MCG). This directly affects how Texas employers, medical providers and workers' comp carriers evaluate and manage expected recovery timelines and return-to-work planning for injured employees.
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
ASSP offers training on OSHA’s HazCom rule
DWC has published an informal working draft amending 28 Texas Administrative Code Section 137.10. The amendment updates the state's official return-to-work guidelines, instructing insurance carriers, health care providers and employers to transition to the disability duration values in the current edition of the Official Disability Guidelines by Milliman Care Guidelines (ODG by MCG). This directly affects how Texas employers, medical providers and workers' comp carriers evaluate and manage expected recovery timelines and return-to-work planning for injured employees.