North America

• Topic: HSE
• Region: North America
• Date: 16th October 2026
• Year: 2026

When the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) unveiled its preliminary fiscal year 2026 list of the 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo in September, the underlying message was clear.

The regulatory body continues to find familiar hazards dominating the landscape. However, rather than simply serving as a punitive record, the compliance problems behind these vast numbers offer employers a vital, strategic roadmap for identifying and resolving weaknesses within their own safety programmes.

The announcement brought few surprises at the very top of the rankings. General Requirements for Fall Protection secured the number one position for the 16th consecutive year, amassing a staggering 4,041 violations. Hazard Communication followed in second place with 1,961 violations, whilst Control of Hazardous Energy—commonly referred to in the industry as lockout/tagout—ranked third with 1,863 citations.

Yet, the true value of OSHA’s Top 10 extends far beyond a simple numerical ranking of infractions. It provides a comprehensive diagnostic tool for systemic industrial failures.

The persistent nature of compliance deficiencies

During the presentation, Prent Cline, the acting deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, offered attendees a closer look at the actual conditions inspectors are encountering during site visits. The data reveals a clear picture of why some of the same structural deficiencies continue to appear year after year, regardless of broader technological advancements.

A significant portion of the employers that OSHA inspects categorise as small and midsize organisations. Cline noted that in many of these cases, the businesses simply do not fully understand the complex regulatory requirements placed upon them. However, it is not merely inexperienced firms that struggle. Even seasoned, highly trained safety professionals can face complicated compliance questions when attempting to apply broad standards to nuanced, real-world operational challenges.

Interestingly, while the specific mix of industries that OSHA inspectors visit changes over time, the underlying fundamental problems remain remarkably persistent across the board.

“These are all issues that seem to crop up again and again,” Cline said.

Safeguarding against mechanical and energy hazards

Further down the preliminary list, the data highlights crucial areas where physical safeguarding frequently falls short.

• Machine Guarding (1910.212): Rounding out the top 10 list with 1,072 violations, this standard reinforces the continuing and critical importance of protecting employees from hazardous machine motion. It also highlights the necessity of securing points of operation where workers interact directly with moving parts.

• Control of Hazardous Energy: With nearly 2,000 violations, the lockout/tagout standard demonstrates that possessing safety locks is insufficient if the procedural application of securing energy sources is flawed or misunderstood by the workforce.

The complexities of eye and face protection

Ranking ninth on the list with 1,120 violations, Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) presents a unique set of compliance hurdles, particularly within the construction sector. OSHA inspectors have documented several recurring problems that highlight a disconnect between safety policy and practical, on-the-job application.

Inspectors frequently observed the following issues regarding protective eyewear:

• Employees working with absolutely no eye or face protection at all.

• Workers wearing standard eyewear that lacked the necessary side protection.

• The use of protective eyewear that completely failed to meet the applicable regulatory specifications.

• Workers substituting correct safety spectacles for their normal, everyday prescription glasses, which are not designed to provide the required industrial-grade protection.

Cline specifically pointed out that OSHA observed heavy concentrations of these violations among framing, roofing, siding, and masonry contractors. This trend was particularly noted in the residential construction and renovation sectors.

The human element of comfort also plays a massive role in driving noncompliance. Workers actively resist wearing their mandatory protection because the equipment frequently fogs up, becomes excessively hot, or is physically uncomfortable during long, intensive shifts. Consequently, eye protection becomes a hazard that is incredibly easy for management to miss during periodic safety audits, simply because compliance can change rapidly from worker to worker and from job to job.

By analysing these specific operational failures—from a lack of side shields to the complexities of machine guarding—organisations can move beyond mere regulatory box-ticking. The OSHA 2026 data serves as a compelling reminder that true workplace safety requires continuous, daily vigilance and a deep understanding of the practical challenges workers face on the ground.

• Topic: Technology
• Region: North America
• Date: 16th October 2026
• Year: 2026

Relay and Celona have formed a partnership to strengthen communications for frontline workers in industrial environments, with the aim of improving workplace safety and operational efficiency

Celona’s Orion platform combines private 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity across extensive industrial sites, enabling workers using Relay’s system for managing physical operations to stay connected in areas where conventional wireless networks may be unreliable.

Industrial sites, including refineries, factories and warehouses, often present significant connectivity challenges. Large campuses, remote locations and metal-intensive structures can weaken radio signals and limit public cellular coverage. Wi-Fi can also struggle to provide consistent connectivity across expansive indoor facilities and outdoor yards, particularly for mobile workers operating forklifts and other equipment. These gaps can disrupt communications through traditional two-way radios, increasing potential safety risks and making it difficult to maintain a complete record of operational activities.

Celona’s converged wireless platform combines enterprise-grade private 5G with Wi-Fi within an organisation’s network. Relay uses this connectivity to capture and organise spoken observations from frontline workers, converting them into actionable information within existing enterprise systems. Its approach allows workers in noisy industrial settings, including those wearing protective equipment, to communicate through familiar ruggedised push-to-talk radios rather than relying on typing into digital applications.

“Reliable connectivity is foundational to worker safety and productivity, particularly across large industrial environments where traditional wireless technologies can struggle,” said Puneet Shetty, SVP of Product and Field Engineering at Celona. “Together with Relay, we’re extending the benefits of converged wireless to frontline workers, helping maintain critical communications across even the most challenging areas of industrial facilities.”

The partnership aims to provide connectivity throughout industrial facilities while preserving a record of work carried out across operations. Relay devices have been tested on Celona’s network and are ready for deployment. The combined solution also supports real-time translation in 35 languages using AI models developed specifically for manufacturing environments. Panic alerts and location information provide additional tools for worker safety, while recorded observations, handovers and operational decisions help organisations retain information generated during each shift.

"The most important piece of equipment a frontline worker carries is the ability to reach someone. In a plant that's loud, hazardous, and spread across acres, that's the difference between a near-miss and an incident,” said Ibraheem Khalifa, Principal Product Manager, Relay. “Our partnership with Celona helps ensure frontline teams remain not just productive but also safe, no matter where in the facility they’re working.”

Relay and Celona are already being used together at customer sites in the food manufacturing sector.

• Topic: Industrial
• Region: North America
• Date: 14th October 2026
• Year: 2026

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has published a research report examining the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in environmental health and safety (EHS), highlighting both its growing use and the challenges organisations face when implementing the technology.

Titled Trust, Ethics and Governance: How Safety Leaders Are Thinking About and Using AI, the report draws on a survey of nearly 1,000 safety professionals conducted by ASSP between 6 July and 2 August 2026.

The findings show that 86% of respondents work in organisations exploring or scaling AI within EHS operations. Of these organisations, 66% began their AI-EHS initiatives within the previous two years, indicating a rapid shift towards integrating AI into workplace safety practices.

Reported applications span several operational areas, including report preparation, personalised training and education, incident analysis, pattern recognition, resource optimisation, predictive analytics, automated compliance, and real-time monitoring and alerts.

However, implementation continues to face financial, organisational and technical obstacles. Limited investment was the most frequently reported barrier, cited by 74% of respondents. Data quality followed at 62%, while 59% identified a lack of ownership, internal advocates or organisational priority. Concerns about trust, confidence and comfort with AI, alongside issues relating to data privacy, security and bias, were each reported by 55%.

The research also found links between AI adoption and organisational culture, perceptions of its value to EHS, ethical concerns and data quality. Data quality remains a challenge at different stages of implementation, while training is associated with greater knowledge of AI-EHS applications and increased confidence among safety professionals.

Emphasising the need to retain human responsibility as AI becomes more widely used, Monique Parker, CSP, president of ASSP, said, “While many safety professionals are using AI to support better decision-making and address real-world EHS challenges, human oversight remains essential. AI does not change our fundamental responsibility to protect people, property and the environment through EHS practices. This is why ASSP is meeting safety professionals where they are on their AI journey with several resources and programs to help address barriers to implementation, including the Applied AI for EHS Certificate with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the AI in EHS: A Practical Framework for Responsible Adoption course.”

ASSP will also use the survey results to inform its complimentary Standards-Based User Group (SBUG) on AI in Safety. The group aims to identify further implementation challenges and evaluate practical ways to address them.

The research was funded by the ASSP Foundation.

The full report is available on the ASSP website.

• Region: North America
• Date: 6th October 2026

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has awarded around US$10.2mn in grants to 67 organisations across the nation to support health and safety education and training for employers and employees

Funded through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, the grants aim to advance worker safety and health by providing instructor-led training opportunities for workers and employers in small businesses on recognising, avoiding and preventing workplace hazards.

What does the programme do?

Each year, OSHA selects a set of priority training topics based on workplace fatality data, national safety emphasis programs, and pending regulations. Grant recipients then develop and deliver training on those topics for workers and employers in general industry, construction, and other sectors.

Training priorities focus on:
• Small businesses, which often have fewer safety resources
• High-hazard industries with elevated injury or fatality rates
• Workers facing barriers to accessing safety and health training

The grants fund training and education on hazard awareness, prevention, and controls to protect workers from on-the-job hazards through the development of quality classroom-ready training and educational materials that identify and prevent workplace hazards. Topics may address both common and emerging workplace safety issues and can change from year to year. Grants awarded this year range from developing new fall prevention and protection training materials for employers and workers in the construction industry to providing lunch-and-learning training on fire safety and heat stress hazards for employers and workers in the food truck industry, and developing confined space hazard recognition and prevention training materials for employers and workers in the petrochemical construction industry.

The programme honours the legacy and work of Dr. Susan Harwood who, during her 17 years with OSHA, developed workplace safety guidelines for benzene, formaldehyde, bloodborne pathogens and lead in the construction industry. Harwood was also primary author of OSHA's cotton dust standard which virtually eliminated byssinosis – a lung disease that causes asthma-like symptoms – among textile workers.

• Date: 18th September 2026

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and its partners presented the 2026 Prevention through Design (PtD) Award to Square Robot, Inc. at the sixth annual PtD Award Ceremony during the National Safety Council Safety Congress and Expo in Indianapolis

What is Prevention through Design?

Led by NIOSH, Prevention through Design is a national strategy for preventing and controlling occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities by “designing out” hazards and risks. According to the hierarchy of controls, the elimination of workplace hazards is the most effective way to protect workers. PtD encompasses all of the efforts to anticipate and design out hazards to workers in facilities, work methods and operations, processes, equipment, tools, products, new technologies, and the organisation of work. The ultimate goal of the PtD initiative is to prevent or reduce occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities through the inclusion of prevention considerations into all designs that impact workers, thus promoting a proactive approach.

The annual PtD Award a collaborative effort of NIOSH, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the National Safety Council (NSC) that highlights real-world success in PtD efforts to protect workers. Through this award, partners recognise leaders and encourage further use of PtD methods.

Award winner Square Robot, a Massachusetts-based company that specialises in robotic tank inspection services, was awarded for its excellence in eliminating hazards through innovative safety design that exemplifies the PtD approach. Its fully submersible autonomous robots mitigate confined space hazards by eliminating the need for workers to enter above-ground tanks that store industrial liquids tanks for inspection. Emissions hazards are also reduced as the tanks remain sealed, removing the need for ventilation and atmospheric monitoring. Across 385 tanks inspected, Square Robot has helped contain more than 695 tons of volatile organic compound emissions and reduced confined space entries to zero. It combines advanced robotics, high-resolution sensors, and intelligent automation to deliver internal tank inspections that are safer, faster, and more accurate.

“With their innovative spirit and dogged commitment to eliminating confined space hazards, Square Robot has demonstrated remarkable achievement in improving the safety and wellbeing of many workers,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO. “Their work exemplifies the impact that designing systems safely from the start can have on preventing injuries and fatalities. The National Safety Council applauds Square Robot for helping lead us into a future where every employee returns home safe from every shift.”

The use of drones and robotics for inspections is becoming increasingly widespread. In the oil and gas industry for example, they are used for inspecting tanks, flare stacks, confined spaces and other hard to access assets, thereby eliminating the risk to personnel, as well as saving time and costs compared to traditional inspections. Equipped with LiDAR, various sensors, thermal cameras, and high-resolution imaging, drones and robots today can provide accurate and detailed real-time data, precisely pinpointing any threats to asset integrity. Capabilities continue to advance with technology advancements, with the integration of AI and data analytics facilitating real-time data processing and analysis.

• Topic: Industrial
• Region: North America
• Date: 14th September 2026
• Year: 2026

Materials science company Arclin showcased its latest personal protection solutions at the National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo 2026, held from 14-16 September at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis

At booth #4103, the company presented personal protection technologies incorporating Nomex and Kevlar, highlighting solutions designed to address workplace exposure to heat, flame, arc flash and cut hazards.

Arclin’s participation marked its return to the NSC event and provided an opportunity to highlight developments across its Nomex and Kevlar portfolios. The company said the brands build on nearly 60 years of experience in personal protection, with solutions focused on protection and durability for workers and manufacturers.

"Protecting people in demanding environments requires us to continually look for ways to improve how materials perform when workers need them most," said Trey Roy, Arclin's North American Market Leader for Personal Protection.

"Nomex and Kevlar have protected workers for generations, and at Arclin, we're building on that foundation with new technologies designed to address the evolving needs of today's workforce. Returning to NSC is an opportunity to connect with the safety community and demonstrate how we're continuing to advance personal protection."

Among the solutions showcased was Nomex Xtreme Arc (NXA), a next-generation flame-resistant fabric designed for utility and electrical applications. The material is designed to help protect workers against arc flash and flash fire hazards.

Arclin also highlighted ArmorCell technology, which forms insulating air pockets when exposed to heat. According to the company, the technology helps slow heat transfer and reduce burn severity.

The company’s Nomex personal protection portfolio includes materials designed to help protect against heat, flame and arc flash across demanding industrial environments. Its Kevlar solutions use high-performance fibre technology in protective equipment and apparel to address cut and other workplace hazards while supporting durable protection.

During the Expo, Arclin’s team discussed its personal protection portfolio, developments in flame-resistant and cut protection, evolving workplace safety requirements and applications across utilities, manufacturing, construction, aerospace and petrochemical operations.

• Date: 1st September 2026

At the Big Sky Labor and Employment Conference in Montana, which brings influential employee, employer, and neutral leaders together to discuss important labour and employment issues, OSHA Assistant Secretary David Keeling highlighted the agency’s commitment to working more closely with employers, listening to stakeholders, and raising awareness of the importance of prevention to businesses

Keeling outlined how OSHA plans to advance that vision:

• Provide small businesses with tailored guidance and practical support.
• Understand stakeholders' needs and how OSHA can be most effective for them.
• Build stronger partnerships across industries, associations, and alliances to share what works and amplify safety successes.
• Make resources easier to access by promoting onsite consultation, expanding training tools and enhancing digital resources so employers understand requirements before an incident happens.

Keeling also highlighted new initiatives designed to enhance workplace safety and health, including:

• The OSHA CARES Initiative, a customer service effort designed to help businesses meet federal requirements as well as building more effective safety and health programmes that benefit both employers and workers. It is aimed at supporting small and medium sized business in particular, strengthening collaboration between businesses and OSHA by increasing access to OSHA experts and compliance assistance specialists, improving access to educational and training materials, and offering consistent workplace assistance during enforcement visits and meetings.
• The Safety Champions Program, a new cooperative initiative designed to help employers develop and implement effective safety and health programmes. With a focus on proactive prevention and continuous improvement to prevent workplace injuries, illness and fatalities, it emphasises seven key elements: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, prevention and control, education and training, programme evaluation, and communication. By incorporating these elements, employers can create safety and health programs that not only meet regulations but also enhance workplace safety and health.

Along with the focus on assistance and partnership comes a strong enforcement role. Keeling emphasised OSHA priorities that include hiring compliance officers, focusing enforcement efforts on repeat violators and other bad actors, and modernising outdated rules by prioritising clarity and efficiency to meet the needs of today's workforce.

The mission of OSHA, part of the US Department of Labor, is to ensure America's workers have safe and healthy working conditions free from unlawful retaliation. It does this by setting and enforcing standards; enforcing anti-retaliation provisions of the OSH Act and other federal whistleblower laws; providing and supporting training, outreach, education, and assistance; and working collaboratively with state OSHA programmes, furthering a national system of worker safety and health protections.

• Topic: Industrial
• Region: North America
• Date: 17th August 2026
• Year: 2026

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) have announced a Statement of Shared Principles aimed at strengthening safe digging awareness, supporting consistent industry guidance and promoting best practices for contacting 811 before digging and operating equipment around underground infrastructure. 

As an initial action under the agreement, the organisations are recommending that manufacturers of non-highway equipment add an 811 reminder decal to machinery that could unintentionally dig into underground utilities.

Contact with buried utilities can cause power outages and service interruptions, while also exposing equipment operators and bystanders to serious injury or death. The decal is intended to remind operators to contact 811 and have underground utilities marked before starting work.

Under the recommendation, the decal could appear on all applicable new equipment sold into the US market by August 2027.

"Our members build the machines that build, feed and power the world, and safety is central to that work," said Megan Tanel, AEM president and CEO. "Adding an 811 decal is a simple, visible way for equipment manufacturers to remind operators to contact 811 before digging or working near underground infrastructure. We are proud to work with CGA to help share this important safety message across the industry."

Endorsed by the boards of both organisations, the best practice positions equipment operators as the last line of defence against underground utility strikes. In 2025, an estimated 213,985 damages to underground infrastructure were reported across the United States.

The initiative supports CGA’s goal of reducing damage to underground infrastructure while helping keep workers and communities safe and connected to critical utilities.

"Preventing damage to underground infrastructure is a shared responsibility, and this best practice will remind equipment operators closest to the dig to contact 811 before starting their work," said Sarah K. Magruder Lyle, President and CEO of the Common Ground Alliance. "When non-road equipment manufacturers stand with us, we reach operators before a shovel ever hits the ground. That's how we reduce our top driver of damages every year, which is failure to contact 811 before digging."

The recommendation covers both new and existing equipment. Participating manufacturers will apply the decal to new machines during production, while owners of equipment already in the field can request a no-cost licence from CGA to reproduce the official 811 decal and retrofit their fleets.

Safe digging is not limited to construction activities. Farmers and other agricultural operators can also encounter underground lines in fields, farmyards and rural rights-of-way. The initiative therefore seeks to reinforce the same safety practice across industries where equipment may dig, pull or impact underground infrastructure.

"As manufacturers, we provide the equipment, so we have a role to play in reminding every operator to contact 811 if the ground is not clearly marked for utilities," said Kevin Thomas, executive vice president, Industrial Equipment Division, at Alamo Group Inc. and 2027 show Chair of The Utility Expo. "Attendees can expect to see this decal on equipment across the show floor at The Utility Expo 2027 — a clear signal that our industry takes damage prevention seriously."

The Statement of Shared Principles extends beyond the decal initiative, with AEM and CGA committing to continued cooperation on consistent safety guidance, industry education and practical measures to help prevent damage to underground infrastructure.

The 811 reminder decal is an early action under the partnership, providing manufacturers, equipment owners and operators with a visible reminder to check for underground utilities before beginning work.

• Topic: HSE
• Region: North America
• Date: 17th August 2026
• Year: 2026

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.2 million essential workers across North America, has issued a statement following a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showing that July was the hottest month since records began, surpassing the previous record set during the Dust Bowl in 1936.

The statement comes amid reports that the US administration is considering changes to workplace heat standards established by the US Department of Labor and a reduction in heat safety enforcement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

UFCW International President Milton Jones said: "Whether a UFCW member works in harvesting at a meatpacking plant in the summertime or fulfilling grocery orders outside in the sun, heat poses a potentially fatal risk to every worker. Common sense policies to protect workers from extreme temperatures would save hundreds of lives a year, yet only seven states have implemented a heat standard."

"Despite the progress made to establish a federal standard, the Trump administration has made it clear that it intends to side with big businesses fighting these protections rather than workers in danger of heat-related illness and death."

"We have just lived through the hottest month on record. Workers urgently need standards and accountability from their employers as summer temperatures last longer and become more intense. But without a federal standard, many employers do not offer the breaks, hydration, and resources needed. The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have an opportunity to do the right thing instead of bowing to special interests and leaving workers at risk. It is not too late to reverse course and implement a national heat standard that protects every working person in this new climate reality."

• Topic: HSE
• Region: North America
• Date: 13th August 2026
• Year: 2026

Creating a blame-free  environment where employees can report any safety concerns or unsafe practices without fear of reprisal is critical for a good safety culture and strong safety performance. However, all too often employees are effectively punished for doing so

US employees who believe they are retaliated against for exercising their legal rights can file a whistleblower complaint with OSHA. OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program enforces protections for employees who suffer retaliation for engaging in protected activities under more than 20 federal laws.

OSHA highlights a case where a public transit employee noticed some damage on the tracks that could cause railcars to derail if left unrepaired. After reporting the hazard, the employee's manager said there wasn't time to make repairs because service would be disrupted. The manager then reassigned the employee to the night shift and removed them from rail repair work.

The employee filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA. An investigation found that the site manager's actions violated the National Transit Systems Security Act, which protects public transportation workers from retaliation for reporting potential safety or security violations. As a result, the employee's original work schedule was restored, and the track damage was reported to the Federal Transit Administration.

“This case is a reminder that workplace safety is a shared responsibility,” says OSHA. “Workers have the right to report safety concerns without fear of retaliation, and speaking up can help prevent serious incidents before they happen.”

OSHA has published guidance to help employers create workplaces that are free from retaliation, highlighting five key elements:

1.Management commitment

Managers need to lead by example and ensure that systems for reporting concerns, anti-retaliation policies and practices, and training for managers are implemented, enforced and evaluated. Make use of strong codes of conduct and ethics programmes to identify retaliatory behaviour as a form of misconduct.

2. Compliance concern response system

Create an environment where raising concerns about workplace conditions and activities is comfortable for all employees. Have at least one to allow anonymous or confidential reporting, respond in a timely manner, and provide fair and transparent resolution to concerns.

3. Anti-retaliation response system

Take all concerns seriously. Make the process to report concerns known and clear, investigate claims objectively and listen to all sides before making a judgement, ensuring that employees are not discouraged from reporting concerns.

4. Anti-retaliation training

Effective anti-retaliation training should give employees the knowledge, skills, and tools they need, as well as explain the employer’s commitment to complying with the law, employee rights, an overview of the employer’s anti-retaliation programme, and what constitutes retaliation.

5. Programme oversight

Rigorous oversight is needed to ensure an anti-retaliation programme is effective. Develop a plan for oversight, review findings and modify and improve the programme as needed.

• Topic: HSE
• Region: North America
• Date: 30th July 2026
• Year: 2026

The offshore marine contracting industry should place greater emphasis on preventing serious injuries and fatalities by identifying high-consequence hazards before they result in tragedy, according to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), the international body 

The latest Annual Safety Statistics report from the IMCA, which covers more than 1.02 billion working hours submitted by 167 contractor members, reveals that, while injury rates continue to improve, the number of fatalities has risen. Injury rates alone cannot therefore provide a complete picture of risk, with fatal accidents a continued threat across the offshore marine contracting industry.

Key messages

Key messages from the 2025 data include:

Injury rates improved

Contractor members reported 268 lost-time injuries and 996 total recordable injuries during 2025. This represents a fall in Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) from 0.30 to 0.27 and a fall in the Total

Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR) from 1.10 to 0.98. While this is good news, these indicators do not always show where fatal or life-changing harm could occur.

Fatalities rose

Fatalities rose from three to seven (four of which are offshore), representing an increase in the Fatal Accident Rate (FAR) from 0.30 to 0.69. Reported fatal incidents included an electrocution, a fall from height and a mooring incident involving a parted rope, while details of four additional fatalities were not provided. This reinforces the need to look beyond headline injury rates and focus more directly on serious injury and fatality prevention. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on identifying high-consequences hazards before they result in tragedy, rather than relying on traditional performance measures.

Line of fire remained the leading cause of LTIs

Line of fire remained the most common cause of LTIs in 2025 and a recurring serious harm concern. This needs to be broken down into the work situations where people are exposed to harmful energy. These include lifting and rigging, mooring, moving equipment, dropped objects, stored energy, suspended loads, and tasks where hands or body parts are placed in hazardous positions. The key issue is not only awareness, but whether work is planned and controlled so people are not placed in the path of harmful energy. This includes hands-free working, exclusion zones, tag line use, lifting control, equipment design, communication, supervision, and stop-work confidence.

Safety observation reporting fell significantly

The Safety Observation Frequency Rate (SOFR) fell from 482.1 to 387.1 observations per 200,000 hours worked, down by around 20%. The reasons remain unclear and could include changes in reporting behaviour, participating companies or reporting systems. However, the IMCA believes companies should focus less on the volume of observation cards submitted and more on whether observations generate meaningful learning, practical improvements and stronger safety conversations.

Serious incidents continue to occur during familiar activities

Many of the industry’s most serious incidents continue to occur during familiar activities rather than exceptional operations, reinforcing the importance of effective planning, supervision and risk management every day.

Areas requiring attention

The IMCA identifies several recurring areas requiring continued attention, including:
• line-of-fire hazards
• lifting and rigging operations
• dropped objects
• mooring and snap-back zones
• working at height
• electrical safety
• routine day-to-day tasks.

Priorities for future safety

The findings will now directly shape IMCA’s future safety programme, with priorities including:
• strengthening serious injury and fatality prevention,
• improving understanding of line-of-fire risks,
• investigating the decline in safety observations,
• encouraging wider industry participation in safety reporting, and
• strengthening the link between Safety Flashes, guidance and practical action.

The IMCA helps the report will help companies identify serious risks earlier, strengthen critical controls and share learning across the offshore marine contracting industry.

Mark Holmes, safety and security manager at IMCA, said, “Every fatality represents a person, a family and a workforce affected by loss. While the continued improvement in injury rates is encouraging and reflects the hard work of our Members, these figures demonstrate that serious harm risks remain present despite improving injury statistics.

“Safety performance should no longer be judged primarily by injury frequency rates, but by how effectively companies identify and control the hazards most likely to result in death or life-changing injury.
“Every contractor, supervisor and worker has a responsibility to recognise serious risks before they become tragedies. The goal remains the same: everyone working in our industry should go home safe and well.”

• Topic: Industrial
• Region: North America
• Date: 14th July 2026
• Year: 2026

SPS North America has been recognised among North America's Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces for 2026 by the Inspiring Workplaces Group, acknowledging organisations that cultivate workplace cultures built on trust, purpose, inclusion and employee experience.

The recognition reflects the company's sustained investment in programmes that support employee engagement, leadership development, wellbeing, learning and communication for its nearly 3,000 employees across North America.

Employee investment delivers measurable results

SPS earned the recognition for its people-first strategy, which has driven improvements in employee engagement, professional development and business performance.

Over the past year, employee satisfaction increased by seven points, while participation in the company's annual employee survey reached 89%, demonstrating high levels of engagement and trust across the workforce.

Employees completed more than 209,000 learning enrolments and accumulated over 100,000 hours of professional development, reinforcing the company's focus on continuous learning and career advancement.

These workforce investments also supported strong business performance, contributing to a 95% client retention rate, a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 79 and a customer satisfaction score of 91% for service delivery.

"Creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered is fundamental to how we deliver for our clients," said Valerie Mahoney, CHRO, North America, SPS. "We're committed to investing in leadership, learning, wellbeing, and open communication because exceptional employee experiences drive exceptional client experiences. We're honored to be recognized among North America's most inspiring workplace."

Recognition highlights people-focused strategy

The company was recognised for its integrated approach to employee engagement, leadership development, wellbeing, continuous learning and internal communication across its geographically dispersed workforce.

Presented in association with Engagedly, the Inspiring Workplaces Awards assess organisations across six key areas: Culture & Purpose, Leadership, Wellbeing, Inclusion & Belonging, Employee Voice and Employee Experience.

Commenting on this year's winners, Matt Manners, Founder of Inspiring Workplaces Group, said recognised organisations demonstrate that "when businesses put People First and build cultures based on trust, inclusion and belonging, they create the resilience and agility needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving world of work."

Strengthening workplace culture across North America

SPS has developed a scalable workplace culture that supports nearly 3,000 employees serving clients at more than 480 locations across over 120 cities throughout North America. The company's approach centres on employee engagement, professional development, wellbeing and fostering a sense of belonging.

Its strategy is further supported by findings from the 2026 State of the Workplace report, co-authored with WORKTECH Academy, which found that engaged employees create greater value for clients, strengthen collaboration with colleagues and contribute to improved business performance. The findings reinforce SPS' view that investing in employee experience benefits employees, clients and the wider communities they serve.

Continued recognition

The latest honour adds to SPS' recent industry recognition, including being named Most Innovative Company of the Year at the American Business Awards, inclusion in IAOP's Global Outsourcing 100 for the 13th consecutive year, and recognition for Best Corporate Training Program at the Globee Awards. Together, these achievements reflect the company's continued focus on innovation, employee development and delivering high-quality client experiences.