OSHA Launches Safety Champions Program

As part of OSHA’s efforts to enhance compliance assistance, it launched its “Safety Champions Program” (“SCP”) effective February 24, 2026. SCP is a new program for employers to develop and implement an effective safety and health program. The SCP incorporates seven core elements of OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs which are: (1) management leadership; (2) worker protection; (3) hazard identification and assessment; (4) hazard prevention and control; (5) education and training; (6) program evaluation and improvement; and (7) communication and coordination for host employers, contractors, and staffing agencies.

The SCP contains three steps (introductory, intermediate and advanced). The steps are self-guided and designed to assist employers with compliance assistance “at their own pace.” Employers are able to use the Safety Champions Tracker to monitor and progress and achievement of each action that is required at each step.

The SCP Policies and Procedures Manual explains that SCP replaces the OSHA Challenge Program which was designed to help employers looking to participate in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (“VVP”), widely considered OSHA’s gold standard for safety and health programs.

Additional information can be found here: https://www.osha.gov/safety-champions