(VPP) Richard Brown, CSP, CFPS, CIH VPP Manager Region II US DOL - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)

Richard Brown, CSP, CFPS, CIH VPP Manager – Region II US DOL OSHA

Associated Construction Contractors of NJ Safety Council Meeting Edison, New Jersey January 17, 2020

OSHA Regions

VPP Sites By Region

Federal Only

Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition

As 11/30/2019

Distribution Of VPP Sites By State

Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition

Federal Only

As of 11/30/2019

OSHA’s Tool Kit

▪ Standards ▪ Enforcement ▪ Education, Training, and Outreach ▪ Cooperative Programs

– Voluntary Protection Program – Consultation Program and SHARP – Strategic Partnerships – Alliances

What VPP is All About?

▪ The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. ▪ In the VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. ▪ Approval into VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the

• utstanding efforts of employers and employees who

have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.

Principles of VPP

▪ Focus on individual worksites ▪ Performance-based criteria ▪ Beyond compliance ▪ Continuous Improvement ▪ Effective safety and health management systems

Important things to know about VPP

▪ All approved participants in the Voluntary Protection Program are required to have implemented effective safety programs and to meet all relevant OSHA standards. ▪ Current VPP participants are exempt from Programmed OSHA enforcement inspections. ▪ Unprogrammed inspections are still performed. ▪ Participation will not diminish either employer or employee rights or responsibilities under the Act or Executive Order 12196 for Federal Agencies.

Some VPP Milestones

▪ 1982- First federal VPP Site ▪ 1989 - SHMS Guidelines ▪ 1994 - SGE Program Launched ▪ 1997 - VPP for Federal Agencies ▪ 1998 – VPP Launches Demo for Construction ▪ 2002 -VPPPA & Chapters take root ▪ 2003 - OSHA recognizes 1,00th participant ▪ 2004 – 3 C’s Pilot Launched; All State Plans offer VPP ▪ 2006 - DoD selects VPP as SHMS model ▪ 2008 – OSHA recognizes 2,000th VPP participant

Growth of VPP

Federal & State

As of 11/30/2019

Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition

Comprehensive Safety and Health Management System

▪ A system for preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace ▪ The fundamental basis of VPP

Four Elements of a Comprehensive Safety and Health Management System

Worksite Analysis

Safety & Health Training

Hazard Prevention & Control Management Leadership & Employee Involvement

VPP Eligibility

▪ Available in all industries and federal agencies where OSHA has jurisdiction ▪ Also available in States with their own VPP programs

Who Participates in VPP?

▪ VPP participants are a select group of worksites that have designed and implemented outstanding safety and health programs. ▪ Voluntary program! Sites must submit an application to participate.

Who’s in VPP?

Join the ranks of such employers as……

– BAE Systems – Delta Airlines – Exxon-Mobil – Frito-Lay – General Electric – Georgia-Pacific – IBM Corporation – L’Oreal – Lockheed Martin – Nabisco – NASA – Rockwell Automation – Sherwin-Williams – NutraSweet – Occidental Chemical – Solutia – Tropicana – Tobyhanna Army Depot

http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/sitebynaics.html

Top 15 Industries In The VPP

Number of Sites

Federal Only

As of 11/30/2019

Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition

Size Of VPP Sites

Number of Sites by Employment (Federal Only)

Number of Employees x 100

Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition

As of 11/30/2019

Union & Non-Union VPP Sites

Federal Only

As of 11/30/19 Source: OSHA, Office Partnerships & Recognition

VPP Benefits Business

▪ Recognition in the community. ▪ Competitive edge. ▪ Verification of the safety and health management system by OSHA. ▪ Reduced injury and illness rates. ▪ Reduced workers' compensation costs.

VPP Benefits Workers

▪ Go home safe ▪ Involvement in S&H ▪ Pride in work ▪ Improved morale ▪ Access to safety & health information

VPP Benefits OSHA

▪ Partners in excellence ▪ Accomplishes OSHA’s mission ▪ VPP partners serve as models for their industries ▪ Helps OSHA promote value of safety and health ▪ Leverages resources ▪ Assist in standards development ▪ Provide program resources / mentoring, OSHA volunteers, training, seminars, disaster response

VPP Benefits Everyone

▪ Decreased turnover and absenteeism ▪ Increased productivity ▪ Exempt from programmed OSHA inspections ▪ Networking with the best ▪ Community recognition ▪ Models of excellence ▪ Competitive Edge for American businesses

VPP is a Win-Win-Win !!!

▪ Trust and cooperation ▪ Elimination of fear ▪ Achievement of a common goal….to prevent worker injuries, illnesses and deaths ▪ Improved relations between labor, management, and government

Are You ready for VPP?

▪ Good labor-management relations for safety and health ▪ Good safety and health culture at all levels of the

• rganization

▪ Resources to achieve and maintain VPP ▪ Injury/illness rates below the industry comparative BLS average

What Do Management & Employees Agree To Do to Get into VPP?

▪ Involve all employees in Safety & Health ▪ Inform employees of their rights under the OSH Act & provide continuous training ▪ Correct all identified hazards immediately ▪ Prohibit employee reprisals ▪ Provide employee access to certain records ▪ Maintain evaluation/inspection records ▪ Submit annual injury/illness statistics ▪ Submit annual program evaluation ▪ Employees agree to participate in the program and work with management to ensure a safe and healthful workplace

The VPP Process

Initial inquiry by sites Site counseled on application preparation Application submitted and revised if necessary Site and region prepare for on-site review On-site reviews conducted Recommendation report submitted to site for review Report revised by OSHA Re-certifications approved at regional level Assistant Secretary approves site as Star, Merit Site and Union notified Mentors invited in Application reviewed by OSHA Comments from site submitted to OSHA

Where do I sign up? VPP Application Process

▪ Application template available on OSHA’s website

– Description of safety and health management system – Injury and illness rates

▪ Companies submit an application that includes:

– Signed management VPP assurances – Signed statement union support (if applicable) – Copy of top-level safety policy – Most recent annual evaluation – Organizational chart – Site Map – VPP PSM Supplement A (if applicable)

Where do I sign up? VPP Application Process

▪ Application reviewed for completeness ▪ Application returned if necessary for additional information (due within 90 Days) ▪ Company’s previous OSHA enforcement and Whistleblower history verified ▪ Application formally accepted ▪ OSHA and the site prepare for the onsite review within six (6) months of formal acceptance

Where do I sign up? VPP Application Process

▪ Recommend using a VPP mentor through the VPPPA ▪ Recommend involving employees in preparing the VPP application ▪ Submit VPP application electronically:

– Via email to the VPP Manager – Via mail to the VPP Manager on a thumb drive if the file size is over 5 MB – Hard copies are not required

Onsite Evaluation

▪ An OSHA Team visits the site ▪ Typically lasts 3-5 days, longer for complex worksites ▪ Evaluation consists of:

– Opening Conference – Employee and Management Interviews – Walkthrough of Worksite – Document Review – Closing Conference

3 Possible Outcomes from an initial VPP Evaluation

▪ Star ▪ Merit ▪ Application Withdrawal / Denial

VPP Star

▪ Highest level of recognition ▪ All VPP requirements met ▪ System operating at least one year ▪ Rates are below the National Average

VPP Merit

▪ Elements and sub-elements in place ▪ Systems may not all be at Star quality ▪ Rates may be above the National Average ▪ Limited to one 3-year term

Current VPP Participants

Federal Only

Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition

MWF- Star -

As 11/30/2019

VPP Site-Based

▪ Private-sector fixed worksites in general industry and the maritime industry ▪ Construction worksites/projects that will have been in

• peration for at least 12 months at projected time of

approval and that expect to continue in operation for at least an additional 12 months ▪ Federal-sector fixed worksites ▪ Resident contractors at participating VPP sites for the contractors' operations at those VPP sites

VPP Mobile Workforce

▪ OSHA introduced a new VPP program designed for mobile workforces which became effective on May 9, 2009. ▪ OSHA believes this new way to participate will work for companies that typically function as contractors or subcontractors who may or may not have the authority for safety and health for an entire worksite and for those companies that have employees that move site-to-site such as a specialty trade contractor or repair and maintenance company regardless of size or length and duration of the project or service.

VPP Corporate

▪ VPP corporate is designed for corporate applicants, who demonstrate a strong commitment to employee safety and health and VPP. ▪ VPP corporate applicants must have established, standardized corporate-level safety and health management systems, effectively implemented organization-wide as well as internal audit/screening processes that evaluate their facilities for safety and health performance. ▪ Five (5) current VPP Corporate participants are:

• Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
• Morton Salt Corporation
• Delta Air Lines
• General Electric Company
• Parsons Corporation

▪ New approvals by US DOL Assistant Secretary - OSHA ▪ Re-approvals at Regional Level ▪ VPP Ceremony

Celebration!

Continuous Improvement

▪ Requirement for trend/pattern analysis ▪ Annual Self-Evaluation submitted to OSHA ▪ On-going dialogue ▪ OSHA re-visits the site every three to five years. (12 –18 months for Merit sites)

Additional Assistance

▪ Web Sites:

– http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/ – www.vpppa.org

▪ Publications

– VPP Policies and Procedures Manual – Federal Register Notice – Brochure

▪ Training

– OSHA Training Institute and OSHA Education Centers – Special Government Employees Course-if you qualify

Questions?

Richard Brown, VPP Manager – Region II 201-288-1700 EXT 1018 Email: brown.richard@dol.gov