David Keeling, President Trump's nominee to head the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, told the Senate HELP Committee he would pursue modernization, use predictive analytics for prevention and expand collaboration among employers, unions and professional groups.

"If confirmed, my goals are straightforward and simple," Keeling said, outlining plans to accelerate regulatory modernization, "bring to bear technologies and predictive analytics" to move OSHA toward injury prevention, and update voluntary protection programs. He also said he would prioritize enforcement transformation and expand engagement with at‑risk employers before tragedies occur.

Senators pressed Keeling about specific regulatory actions. Senator Tammy Baldwin asked whether he would commit to issuing and finalizing the Department's planned workplace violence rule for health care and social‑service workers; Keeling said he sees "massive opportunity for improvement" and that he looked forward to working with senators on the issue. He agreed, on questioning from Senator Blunt Rochester, to support whistleblower protections.

Senators representing emergency responders asked about a proposed emergency responder standard (a nearly 50‑year‑old fire standard). Keeling said there is a "path through" on that rule but said he had not yet consulted career OSHA staff as a nominee. He committed that working with the career team on volunteer firefighter concerns would be one of his early conversations if confirmed. Senator Ed Markey urged a final heat‑stress prevention rule; Keeling said he would work with Congress on heat protections and other priorities.

Committee members also raised concerns about research and data. Alaska's senator questioned gaps if the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) capacity changes; Keeling noted NIOSH does not directly report to the Department of Labor and said professional groups and private resources could help fill gaps, while acknowledging such gaps would be difficult to bridge.

Why it matters: OSHA rulemaking and enforcement affect workplace safety across industries. Keeling's stated focus on modernization, predictive analytics, and voluntary program reform signals an administrative emphasis on engagement and proactive mitigation rather than solely on traditional compliance inspections. Senators pressed him to commit to finalizing rulemakings affecting emergency responders, health‑care worker safety and heat stress, and to prioritize whistleblower protections.

The hearing produced commitments but not votes; senators will continue oversight during the confirmation process.