Occupational Health & Safety

Germany Adopts Law Implementing EU Emergency Procedures for Gas Appliances and PPE and Amending Safety Officer Duties (BGBl. I No. 140/2026)

Germany has adopted a law, effective 29 May 2026, to implement EU emergency procedures for gas appliances and personal protective equipment and to tighten national requirements for appointing workplace safety officers. This raises compliance expectations for manufacturers, importers and German employers, who must be ready for faster emergency product approvals and more formalised safety governance and reporting obligations.

25 May 2026, 17:11recht.bund.deGermanyEuropean Union

Washington PQAC Petition Seeks To Designate Elemental Mercury and Methylmercury as Poisons

In April 2026, a Washington dentist petitioned the state Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission to classify elemental mercury and methylmercury as “poisons” and to tighten associated labelling, licensing and dental amalgam controls. If the commission pursues this request, mercury-containing products and dental practices in Washington could face significantly stricter requirements and costs, signalling heightened regulatory scrutiny of mercury exposures.

25 May 2026, 17:10content.govdelivery.comUnited States

Germany Adopts Ordinance Updating Lead Air Limit Values and Amending the Biological Agents Ordinance

Germany has adopted a federal ordinance that sets a 15 µg/m³ workplace air limit threshold for mandatory and offered medical examinations for lead exposure and updates the Biological Agents Ordinance in line with EU Directive (EU) 2024/869, effective 16 May 2026. Employers with lead-exposed workers and operations involving biological agents or dual-use items should review exposure data, health surveillance and classification references to ensure alignment with the new German and EU occupational safety framework.

25 May 2026, 17:09recht.bund.deGermany

Italy: State–Regions Conference Approves National Prevention Plan 2026–2031

Italy has approved the National Prevention Plan 2026–2031, a One Health strategy that expands funding, defines 14 mandatory predefined regional programmes, and prioritises worker safety, environment and climate-related health, infectious disease control, and food and veterinary public health. This does not create new legal duties for companies but signals a more coordinated national focus and likely intensification of regional prevention programmes, screenings, and oversight in key HSE and food safety areas over the 2026–2031 period.

25 May 2026, 15:48salute.gov.itItaly

DHSC Opens Consultation on Stronger Regulation of Commercial Sunbeds in England

DHSC has opened a 12-week consultation on new safeguards for commercial sunbed services in England, including mandatory age checks and supervision, standardised health-risk information, mandatory protective eyewear and restrictions on misleading health claims under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010. If adopted, these measures would materially raise compliance expectations for sunbed operators and equipment suppliers, increasing enforcement risk and likely requiring changes to operating procedures, staff training, customer communications and marketing practices.

25 May 2026, 15:47gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Galicia Announces 2026 Exams for Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser Certificate for Road and Rail Transport

Galicia’s transport authority has opened the 2026 exam cycle for dangerous goods safety advisers, with applications accepted from 23 May to 23 June and written exams scheduled for October 2026. Companies moving dangerous goods by road or rail in Spain must ensure their designated advisers obtain or renew certification within this window to remain compliant with EU and national transport safety rules.

25 May 2026, 15:46xunta.galSpain

German Interior Minister Details Population Protection Pact and Planned Civil Protection Law Reform

Germany's Interior Minister has detailed a new Population Protection Pact with major investments in equipment, volunteer capacity and a planned overhaul of the federal civil protection law following cabinet approval in May 2026. The programme points to tighter expectations around emergency preparedness, coordination with civil protection services and critical infrastructure resilience, so operators and large employers should monitor the upcoming ZSKG reforms and related funding and capability requirements.

25 May 2026, 15:45bundesregierung.deGermany

US OSHA Seeks Comment on NRTL Scope Expansion for Intertek Testing Services NA

US OSHA has issued a Federal Register notice with a preliminary decision to grant Intertek Testing Services NA an expansion of its Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory scope to include UL 6200 controllers for use in power production, with public comments due by 8 June 2026. If finalized, this will allow manufacturers to use Intertek for OSHA-accepted certification of power production controllers under UL 6200, broadening testing options and capacity for equipment compliance planning.

25 May 2026, 15:40federalregister.govUnited States

Germany: Parliamentary Question on Adding PTSD and Other Mental Disorders to Occupational Diseases List

Members of the German Bundestag’s Die Linke faction have tabled a formal parliamentary question on whether and when post-traumatic stress disorder and other work-related mental illnesses will be added to Germany’s official list of occupational diseases. While no legal change is proposed yet, the move backed by case law, expert evidence and international benchmarks signals mounting pressure on the labour ministry and its advisory board to expand recognition, compensation and prevention obligations for mental health risks in high-exposure jobs.

25 May 2026, 15:39dserver.bundestag.deGermany

Rhode Island House Proposes Workplace Psychological Safety Act (H8505)

Rhode Island lawmakers have introduced House Bill H8505, the Workplace Psychological Safety Act, to address workplace bullying and psychological abuse, which is now pending in the House Labor Committee after being held for further study in May 2026. If enacted, the bill would expand employer responsibilities for managing psychosocial risks at work and create new civil and potential criminal liabilities, requiring HR and EHS leaders to strengthen policies, training, and incident response processes.

25 May 2026, 15:38webserver.rilegislature.govUnited States

China Launches 2026 National "Safety Production Month" Campaign

China’s work safety authorities have launched the 2026 National “Safety Production Month” campaign for June, combining nationwide risk‑hazard inspections, safety outreach and a 16 June publicity day in Hefei while a draft standard on major accident hazard criteria for fireworks remains open for consultation until mid‑June. This signals intensified enforcement and cultural emphasis on work safety across high‑risk sectors, and gives fireworks producers a short window to help shape binding hazard‑determination rules and align their internal safety programmes.

25 May 2026, 15:38mem.gov.cnChina

Colorado Legislature Sends SB26-186 On Electronic Workers’ Compensation Filing To Governor

Colorado has passed SB26-186 to modernise workers’ compensation procedures by allowing electronic filing and service of key documents, with the bill now awaiting the Governor’s signature. If enacted, employers, insurers and claims administrators in Colorado will need to update claims systems and workflows to support compliant electronic service and tracking of statutory timelines ahead of the law’s expected mid-2026 effective date.

25 May 2026, 15:37leg.colorado.govUnited States

Switzerland FSVO Grants Emergency Authorisation for Spinosad and Acetamiprid Plant Protection Products

Switzerland’s food safety authority has issued a binding general decision granting temporary emergency authorisations for several spinosad- and acetamiprid-based plant protection products on key vegetable crops until late November 2026. Professional users must strictly follow new PPE, buffer-zone, bee-protection and treatment-limit conditions, which will shape plant protection planning and compliance for the 2026 growing season.

25 May 2026, 15:36fedlex.data.admin.chSwitzerland

Vermont Senate Appropriations Committee Backs H.542 To End State PCB Testing In Schools

In May 2026, the Vermont Senate Appropriations Committee backed H.542, a bill that would end state-run PCB air testing in pre-1980 schools while maintaining and refocusing state funding on remediation at already-identified problem sites. If enacted, the measure would shift Vermont’s PCB programme from broad screening to targeted cleanup and long-term planning, reducing future testing obligations but keeping pressure on school owners to remediate contaminated buildings and meet new planning and reporting deadlines.

25 May 2026, 15:35legislature.vermont.govUnited States

China Launches 2026 National “Work Safety Month” Campaign

China’s State Council Work Safety Commission Office and the Ministry of Emergency Management have launched the 2026 nationwide Work Safety Month campaign for June, emphasising hazard identification, rectification and public awareness across sectors. While it does not create new legal rules, the campaign signals intensified inspections, risk reporting and safety culture initiatives that companies operating in China should factor into operational planning and incident‑prevention efforts.

25 May 2026, 15:35mem.gov.cnChina

New Hampshire Senate Rejects House Amendments To SB 298 Fragrance-Free State Buildings Bill

In May 2026, the New Hampshire legislature considered SB 298, a bill that would require fragrance-free cleaning and hygiene products and ban fragrance-dispensing devices in public areas of state buildings within one year of enactment, alongside administrative-law and recovery-residence provisions. If passed, state agencies and service providers operating in New Hampshire state buildings would need to overhaul janitorial supplies, restroom products and building policies toward fragrance-free operations, signalling a broader shift toward indoor air and accessibility-driven fragrance controls in public facilities.

24 May 2026, 21:39gc.nh.govUnited States

US EPA Seeks Comment on Renewal of Asbestos-in-Schools and Accreditation ICR (Comments Due 22 June 2026)

In May 2026 the US Environmental Protection Agency opened a 30-day public comment period on renewing its information collection for the Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule and Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan, with comments due 22 June 2026. The renewal keeps existing asbestos inspection, management-plan and accreditation reporting burdens in place for school districts, training providers and state programmes, so affected organisations may wish to review EPA’s burden estimates and submit feedback before the deadline.

24 May 2026, 21:33federalregister.govUnited States

Florida Enacts Safety Design Standards Requirement for Office Surgery Suites (H1175)

Florida has enacted House Bill 1175, effective 1 July 2026, directing the Florida Building Commission and State Fire Marshal to establish safety design standards for office surgery suites by 1 January 2027. This will drive new building and fire code requirements for office-based surgical facilities in Florida, so providers and facility designers should anticipate potential design, retrofit, and approval impacts over the next year.

24 May 2026, 21:26flsenate.govUnited States

Italy Adopts National Prevention Plan 2026–2031, Approved by State–Regions Conference

Italy has adopted the 2026–2031 National Prevention Plan, setting national priorities and mandatory regional programmes for worker health, environment and climate-related health, food safety, and other public-health priorities over the next five years. This framework signals increased prevention funding, tighter central monitoring, and more harmonised regional action, shaping how future workplace, environmental and food-safety policies are designed and implemented across Italy.

24 May 2026, 21:22salute.gov.itItaly

New Hampshire Legislature Adopts HB 1555 on State Fire Code Appeals and Enforcement

In May 2026, the New Hampshire legislature aligned on HB 1555, a bill giving the state fire marshal clearer authority over appeals of local fire decisions and over project-specific modifications to the state building code, with changes scheduled to take effect in July 2027. These reforms centralise fire and building code oversight at state level, likely increasing scrutiny of complex projects and requiring municipalities, developers, and facility operators to adapt their permitting, design and appeals practices ahead of the new regime.

24 May 2026, 21:16gc.nh.govUnited States