WASHINGTON, Jan 6, 2026, 08:54 (EST)
- A safety training provider is urging employers to track OSHA-required annual refresher courses as 2026 schedules reset.
- An Ohio commercial bakery faces $394,849 in proposed OSHA penalties tied in part to alleged training failures on lockout/tagout.
- A Florida city cited training and safety equipment gaps after a utility worker death, a local report said.
U.S. safety professionals are urging employers to review Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) annual refresher training requirements as 2026 compliance calendars reset, citing persistent gaps in retraining and documentation.
The reminder lands as OSHA enforcement actions continue to spotlight alleged training lapses, including proposed penalties of nearly $395,000 against an Ohio commercial bakery over repeat and serious violations, according to federal releases.
Refresher training—repeat instruction meant to reinforce hazards and safe work practices for employees who have already been trained—often slips after initial onboarding, Curtis Chambers, a board-certified safety professional and OSHA expert, said in a Jan. 5 press release. “Employers often do a good job providing initial training, but refresher training is where OSHA compliance gaps frequently appear,” he said. 1
The release said annual refresher requirements are embedded across multiple OSHA standards and can apply in construction, general industry, manufacturing, environmental services and energy. It flagged common topics such as HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) 8-hour refreshers, respiratory protection, hearing conservation and bloodborne pathogens training.
In Ohio, OSHA cited New Horizons Baking Co. for three repeat, nine serious and one other-than-serious violations, proposing penalties of $394,849, the U.S. Labor Department said. The agency said the alleged hazards included chemical risks and machinery dangers such as pinch-point and struck-by hazards. 2
OSHA said repeat violations included failing to train workers on lockout/tagout—procedures meant to shut down and isolate machines so they cannot restart during servicing and maintenance. New Horizons said it disagreed with OSHA’s allegations and intended to defend the company, Baking Business reported. 3
In Florida, the city of New Port Richey acknowledged OSHA violations after a utility worker died in September, with a confidential internal memo citing a lack of training and insufficient safety equipment, local broadcaster WFLA reported. 4
But OSHA cases can shift. Proposed penalties may be reduced and employers can contest citations, and not every OSHA training requirement is strictly annual—some standards trigger retraining when hazards, equipment or processes change, rather than on a fixed schedule.
