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Regulatory Compliance News & Updates
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2026-08-10T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsEnforcement and Audits - OSHAEnforcement and Audits - OSHASafety & HealthConstruction SafetyGeneral Industry SafetyOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), DOLIn-Depth ArticleEnglishFocus AreaUSA
Hot off the press: OSHA’s latest compliance publications
OSHA continues to release publications. Five new ones cover topics ranging from heat-related illnesses to hepatitis B vaccination requirements. The documents don’t create new regulations or obligations. Instead, they provide guidance and information that may help you comply.
Heat-related illness
Although OSHA doesn’t have a Heat standard, the agency expects employers to protect workers from heat hazards. In fact, OSHA can issue citations under the General Duty Clause. The agency may also cite related existing standards for illness recordkeeping, sanitation, and training. Two new publications offer solutions:
- The fact sheet, Heat-Related Illnesses and First Aid (OSHA 4506), outlines the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, from heat stroke to rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown). A section on first aid offers several response principles, including four ways to cool a worker immediately.
- The Quick Card, Protecting You and Your Co-workers from Heat Exposure (OSHA 3154), explains how workers can protect themselves and their coworkers from heat exposure. It covers risk factors, symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, prevention and protection measures, and first aid actions.
Hepatitis B vaccination
The Bloodborne Pathogens standard requires employers to make the hepatitis B vaccine series available to workers who have occupational exposure. The term occupational exposure is defined in 29 CFR 1910.1030. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a pathogenic microorganism that can cause potentially life-threatening disease in humans. It’s transmitted through exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
An OSHA fact sheet, Hepatitis B Vaccination Protection (OSHA 4504), provides a high-level overview of 1910.1030 and an explanation of hepatitis B vaccine protection and employer requirements under the standard.
Anti-retaliation programs
OSHA's whistleblower protections prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who report safety concerns, workplace injuries, or potential OSHA violations. The agency also enforces whistleblower protections under more than 20 other federal laws. The fact sheet, Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs (OSHA 4508), is intended to assist employers in creating retaliation-free workplaces.
The publication outlines five key elements to an effective anti-retaliation program: management commitment, compliance concern response system, anti-retaliation response system, anti-retaliation training, and program oversight.
Safety Champions Program
OSHA’s Safety Champions Program is a voluntary program open to private and public-sector worksites covered by OSHA. It is aimed at employers that want to improve workplace safety and health, with the goal of reducing the risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. A fact sheet, Safety Champions: An OSHA Cooperative Program (OSHA 4497), explains who can participate, how the program works, the benefits of participating, and how to get started.
Other publications
Earlier this year, OSHA also issued these publications related to electrical safety, OSHA inquiries, silica, the OSHA poster, hearing protection, and OSHA inspections:
- Extension Cords: 5 Things to Know (OSHA 4495);
- Roll Up! Electrical Safety in Construction (OSHA 4496);
- Responding to OSHA Inquiries on Complaints and Referrals: Best Practices for Small Employers (OSHA 4498);
- Hazard Alert: Worker Exposure to Silica during Countertop Manufacturing, Finishing, and Installation (OSHA (DTSEM) - HA-3768-2026);
- OSHA Cares That You Go Home Safe (OSHA 3165-02R 2026), the OSHA job safety and health poster;
- Hearing Protector Fit Testing: Ensuring Appropriate Noise Protection at Work (SHIB 02-17-2026); and
- Employer Rights and Responsibilities Following a Federal OSHA Inspection (OSHA 3000-01R 2026).
Key to remember: Several new OSHA publications provide guidance and information on a variety of topics, from heat safety to anti-retaliation programs.
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2026-08-10T05:00:00Z
NewsDrug and alcohol policy - Motor CarrierEnglishFleet SafetyFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOTChange NoticesChange NoticeDrug and Alcohol Testing - DOTDriver qualificationsDriver qualification and hiringFocus AreaAlcohol testing - Motor CarrierTransportationUSA
FMCSA Proposed Rule: English Language Proficiency; Out of Service Criteria
FMCSA proposes to codify the English language proficiency (ELP) driver qualification requirement as an out-of-service (OOS) violation. The rulemaking would ensure uniform enforcement by aligning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) with the current enforcement tolerances in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria issued by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). The rulemaking responds to a petition from CVSA.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 9, 2026. Published in the Federal Register August 10, 2026, page 51422.
View proposed rule.
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2026-08-10T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsFleet SafetyEnglishDriver qualificationsOut-of-service criteria - Motor CarrierDriver qualification and hiringFocus AreaFleet OperationsEnforcement - DOTTransportationUSA
Proposal strengthens English language proficiency enforcement
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed strengthening enforcement of its existing English language proficiency (ELP) requirement by formally making an ELP violation an out-of-service (OOS) offense.
The proposed regulation, which aligns with the current Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, would require that drivers who cannot adequately read or speak English or understand highway signs and traffic signals be placed OOS and prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle until the violation is corrected.
The proposal, the result of a petition filed by CVSA, would codify noncompliance with the ELP requirements as an OOS violation, ensuring uniform enforcement.
FMCSA is accepting comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) until October 9, 2026.
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NewsEnforcement and Audits - OSHAVideoTransportationBusiness planning - Motor CarrierCompany growth - Motor CarrierUSAEnglishBusiness planning - Motor CarrierIndustry NewsFederal Motor Carrier Safety RegulationsFleet SafetyRisk Management TransportationBusiness policies and procedures - Motor CarrierFleet OperationsFocus AreaMonthly Roundup Video
Transportation Monthly Round Up - July 2026
In this July 2026 monthly round up video, we'll review the most impactful transportation and safety news.
In this July 2026 round up, we will discuss the FMCSA 2026 rulemaking agenda, the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, and an update for freight brokers. Let's get started.
The latest 2026 DOT rulemaking agenda pushes many actions into mid- to late 2026 and adds several new priorities, including English-language proficiency, entry-level driver-training-provider standards, commercial driver’s license (CDL) security, and updates to federal drug-testing guidelines.
Among other long-expected changes are updates to the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and electronic logging device (ELD) rules, changes to cargo securement provisions, annual penalty adjustments, and several proposals affecting CDL standards, medical qualification, drug testing, brokers, and more.
The public will have a chance to comment on proposed rules as they’re announced, so carriers should watch for proposed rules, review how the changes could affect operations, and comment when agencies ask for public input.
Every year, the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) season opens in July , and every year the same pattern plays out. It’s rarely the big stuff that gets carriers into trouble. Most fleets and owner-operators know they need to file Form 2290 and understand the August 31 deadline for vehicles in service in July.
The real problems show up in the details. Carriers must ensure the EIN and legal business name on the return match exactly what's on file to avoid a rejected Form 2290 from an identity mismatch. It's essential to meet the filing deadline and NOT use the purchase date instead of first dispatch.
The trucking industry is still assessing the impact of the Supreme Court's Montgomery decision, but a recent $604 million verdict against freight broker C.H. Robinson has made one thing clear: broker liability is no longer just a legal theory. The case stemmed from a fatal 2021 crash in Mississippi and highlights a significant shift in how courts view carrier selection. Rather than focusing solely on a broker's role in arranging transportation, juries are increasingly examining whether brokers exercised reasonable care when choosing carriers, particularly when safety concerns may have been evident.
The verdict underscores the growing importance of carrier vetting, safety performance reviews, and documentation. FMCSA safety data, crash history, violations, and maintenance records are becoming key pieces of evidence in litigation. In this evolving legal environment, brokers must be prepared to demonstrate not only that they selected a qualified carrier, but also how and why that decision was made. Consistent vetting standards and thorough documentation are becoming essential safeguards as accountability continues to carry as much weight as capacity.
That’s it for this month’s round up. Stay safe, and thanks for watching.
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NewsMonthly Roundup VideoFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)LeaveFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)USAHuman ResourcesLeaveHR ManagementEnglishTalent Management & RecruitingAssociate Benefits & CompensationDiscriminationGender DiscriminationDiscriminationIndustry NewsAffirmative ActionRetaliationWage and HourWage and HourPregnancy DiscriminationHR GeneralistAssociate RelationsFocus AreaVideo
HR Monthly Round Up - July 2026
In this July 2026 roundup video, we’ll review the most impactful HR news.
Welcome, everyone! In the next few minutes, we’ll review the latest HR news. Let’s get started.
On June 30th, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced that it voted to rescind two documents relating to permissible affirmative action under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The rescission doesn’t reverse the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in two cases in which the Court recognized that Title VII may allow for certain voluntary affirmative action plans in limited circumstances.
In lieu of the EEOC’s actions, employers may want to assess whether any existing policies or programs could be affected by changes in the federal government’s approach to affirmative action.
One other quick EEOC update, the agency published its 2026 regulatory agenda on July 6th, indicating that it plans to publish a proposed rule in November that would change the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act regulations. The EEOC wants to revise the interpretation of the words “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.” Stay tuned for more on this in the coming months.
Also, on July 6th, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published its 2026 regulatory agenda. The agency noted that a proposed rule on joint employer status was slated for July 2026, and a final rule on independent contractor status is expected in October 2026. However, these dates, like the EEOC one, are estimates and subject to change.
Our last HR update for this month is all about retaliation, specifically as it pertains to the Family and Medical Leave Act. Employers are prohibited from taking adverse employment actions because employees exercise their FMLA rights. For example, giving an employee who took FMLA leave a smaller pay increase or a lower bonus could be seen as retaliating against them.
That’s what the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in June against an employer that had given an employee a more than 40 percent reduction in bonus and salary increase compared to previous years. The employer ultimately fired the employee who then sued.
The court found the timing of the lower amounts was unusually suggestive, as they happened right after he took FMLA leave, which implied it was retaliatory.
That’s all the HR news we have time for today. Thanks for watching. See you next month!
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NewsHazardous WasteSARA ComplianceCommunity Right to KnowPesticidesMine SafetyPesticide Registration and LabelingTSCA ComplianceWater ProgramsBenzeneWater QualitySafety Data Sheet ReportingMiningWaste/HazWasteTier II Inventory ReportingEnforcement and Audits - OSHASafety & HealthToxic and Hazardous Substances - OSHAEnvironmentalAir ProgramsToxic and Hazardous Substances - OSHAVideoAir QualityEnforcement and Audits - OSHACERCLA, SARA, EPCRAToxic Substances Control Act - EPAAir EmissionsMonthly Roundup VideoCAA ComplianceCWA ComplianceEnglishIndustry News
EHS Monthly Round Up - July 2026
In this July 2026 monthly roundup video, we'll review the most impactful environmental health and safety news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly news roundup video, where we’ll review the most impactful environmental health and safety news. Let’s take a look at what happened over the past month.
OSHA published its 2026 regulatory agenda on July 3. Of note, the agency projects an April 2027 date for the Emergency Response final rule, and the Heat Illness proposal is slated to be finalized in October 2027. In November 2026, OSHA also expects to publish a final rule addressing the use of subpoenas during investigations.
OSHA reopened the comment period for 14 chemical-specific proposals. This allows the public 30 days to comment on recommendations made by OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.
OSHA updated its Voluntary Protection Programs, which recognize workplaces with strong safety and health programs and low injury rates. The changes align with the seven core elements in the agency’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration withdrew 4 regulations that it says address outdated effective dates and requirements for various industry equipment and procedures. These relate to conveyor belts, blacksmith shops, diesel emission limits, and permissible flame safety lamps.
Turning to environmental news, EPA released detailed instructions and deadlines for pesticide registrants to begin compliance with the bilingual labeling requirements in the My PeST application. The first compliance deadline was July 31.
EPA aligned regulations under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312 with OSHA’s Hazard Communication amendments for hazardous chemical reporting requirements. Facilities must use OSHA’s hazard classes with their categories for safety data sheet submissions and hazardous chemical inventory reports required under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312.
And finally, EPA published its 2026 regulatory agenda on July 3. Many of the proposed and final rules support the agency’s continued deregulatory efforts and may impact regulatory compliance with air, land, and water rules.
Thanks for tuning in to the monthly news roundup. We’ll see you next month!
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Copyright 2026 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.