The Senate on Friday, October 3, 2025, confirmed David Keeling as the new leader of OSHA. He had been nominated by President Donald Trump on February 12, 2025. He was previously Vice President for Global Health and Safety at both Amazon and UPS. 

Keeling had outlined his plans for the agency during his June 5 confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee:

• Supplement “simple” regulatory compliance using global safety and health management systems voluntary standards and predictive analytics to guide injury prevention and “informed design.”
• Expand voluntary compliance and cooperative outreach by collaborating with professional groups, companies and unions. OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs may be updated to increase participation.
• Treat enforcement to a “transformation” process using predictive analytics to more narrowly focus on the most at-risk employers.

Keeling mentioned that his “passion” for workplace safety was influenced by a relative’s work-related fatality. “Throughout my nearly 40 years in occupational safety and health, I have dedicated myself to ensuring that every worker goes home to their loved ones healthy and whole at the end of each day. This passion was influenced by the death of my uncle, Lonny Crouch, who died in a farming accident at the age of 17. I never had the opportunity to know my uncle. Because of the pain his death caused, his name wasn’t used every day. However, his loss was always there in my grandparents’ house, an empty chair always present at their dinner table.”

Safety organizations applaud confirmation

IN a statement released Friday, October 3, 2025, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) said it welcomes the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Keeling. An ASSP member since 2002, Keeling brings nearly four decades of experience to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“OSHA’s leadership is more important than ever given today’s workplace safety challenges and the continuing evolution of how work is performed,” said ASSP President Linda Tapp, CSP, ALCM, CPTD. “We know David is a strong proponent of protecting workers, and his extensive knowledge and skills as a safety professional will certainly help the agency. We look forward to working with him and his staff on many substantial issues.”

The Society is encouraged by Keeling’s commitment and vision to modernize regulatory oversight and rulemaking through the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, predictive analytics and informed design, which can significantly reduce workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

“It’s vital to understand the risks workers confront every day, knowing these hazards often have life-and-death implications,” Tapp said. “Workplace fatalities are preventable.”

The National Safety Council also released a statement on the confirmation. “The National Safety Council congratulates David Keeling on his successful confirmation as the next head of OSHA,” said Lorraine Martin, CEO of NSC. “David is a proven safety leader who will help continue the agency’s long legacy of protecting the health and wellbeing of our workers. NSC looks forward to partnering with OSHA to continue to exert strong leadership on issues impacting workplace safety so that every American makes it home at the end of their shift.”