Associated Construction Contractors of NJ Safety Council Meeting Edison, New Jersey January 17, 2020 Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Richard Brown, CSP, CFPS, CIH VPP Manager – Region II US DOL OSHA
OSHA Regions
VPP Sites By Region Federal Only As 11/30/2019 Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition
Distribution Of VPP Sites By State Federal Only As of 11/30/2019 Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition
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 outstanding 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 ▪ 2003 - OSHA recognizes ▪ 1982- First federal VPP Site 1,00 th participant ▪ 1989 - SHMS Guidelines ▪ 2004 – 3 C’s Pilot Launched; ▪ 1994 - SGE Program All State Plans offer VPP Launched ▪ 2006 - DoD selects VPP as ▪ 1997 - VPP for Federal SHMS model Agencies ▪ 2008 – OSHA recognizes 2,000 th VPP participant ▪ 1998 – VPP Launches Demo for Construction ▪ 2002 -VPPPA & Chapters take root
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 Management Leadership & Employee Involvement Worksite Safety & Health Analysis Training Hazard Prevention & Control
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 – Nabisco – Delta Airlines – NASA – Exxon-Mobil – Rockwell Automation – Frito-Lay – Sherwin-Williams – General Electric – NutraSweet – Georgia-Pacific – Occidental Chemical – IBM Corporation – Solutia – L’Oreal – Tropicana – Lockheed Martin – Tobyhanna Army Depot http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/sitebynaics.html
Top 15 Industries In The VPP Federal Only As of 11/30/2019 Number of Sites Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition
Size Of VPP Sites Number of Sites by Employment (Federal Only) As of 11/30/2019 Number of Employees x 100 Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition
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 organization ▪ 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 On-site reviews conducted Initial inquiry by sites Recommendation report Site counseled on submitted to application preparation site for review Comments from site Mentors invited in submitted to OSHA Report revised by Application submitted and OSHA revised if necessary Re-certifications approved at Application reviewed by regional level OSHA Assistant Secretary approves site as Star, Merit Site and region prepare for on-site review Site and Union notified
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 As 11/30/2019 MWF- Star - Source: OSHA, Office of Partnerships & Recognition
VPP Site-Based ▪ Private-sector fixed worksites in general industry and the maritime industry ▪ Construction worksites/projects that will have been in operation 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
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