OSHA VPP
Although many companies in industry strive to gain Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) status, their employees may not know the significance of this accomplishment or what it takes to earn it. Some of them may even be unfamiliar with it altogether.
What is VPP?
According to OSHA’s website, www.osha.gov, VPP recognizes employees and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. To participate, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo a rigorous on-site evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals. Union support is required for applicants represented by a bargaining unit. VPP participants are re-evaluated every three to five years to remain in the programs. VPP participants are exempt from OSHA-programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP statuses.
Southwest Generation Operating Co. LLC Safety Coordinator Kelli Heflin added VPP is a voluntary program by which OSHA recognizes companies with exemplary health and safety systems. It is also a partnership among labor, management and OSHA.
“Employees are a very integral part of this program, and they need to be involved from the get-go,” said Heflin, who presented the “VPP 1-0 Wait Whaaaa?” webinar hosted by The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association Inc. “Have your employees help complete audits, get involved in grassroots hazard recognition and prevention committees, conduct trainings, put together safety videos, and serve on the VPP review committee for self-evaluation and application. Earning VPP status takes a proactive versus a reactive approach.”
She elaborated you not only want employees actively involved, but you also want to explain to them VPP status is not an empty recognition. When your company achieves VPP status, Heflin said it will reap the following benefits:
- Add a positive branding point to your website.
- Establish a culture of excellence with clear expectations.
- Establish a pattern of continuous improvement.
- Show executive management support.
- Promote ownership of your safety program.
Working toward VPP certification
“You want to set your destination, which is to achieve VPP status,” said Heflin. “Then you proceed with baby steps.”
One of those steps consists of observing and understanding VPP requirements. Another step involves preparing a self-evaluation report based on the required elements. Heflin pointed out this step must be performed before submitting your application to garner VPP status and carried out annually after achieving said status.
“What you want to do is identify gaps through the self-evaluation, and then put your corrective action items and improvements in place,” explained Heflin. “Be honest when you’re doing this. Be critical, because OSHA knows your system isn’t perfect.”
Another step requires pinpointing where continuous improvement can occur in these four elements: management leadership/employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention/control, and safety and health training.
“Be meaningful with this section,” she urged. “Don’t give throwaway items. You don’t have to create continuous improvements for all sub-elements, but you probably want to pick a couple of items from each main element to really concentrate on over the next year.”
She concluded OSHA has a helpful challenge checklist, found at www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/challenge/ocpts_gi.pdf, and a template on its website to help identify gaps in your company’s application and assist with completing it.
For more information, visit www.vpppa.org or call (703) 761-1146.
