OSHA CHALLENGE, VPP PILOT
OSHA works to promote the safety and health of employees in their workplaces through the Voluntary Protection Programs. VPP sites have injury and illness rates over 50% lower than industry averages, saving employers millions of dollars each year. OHSA has introduced three new pilot programs to expand efforts to promote health and safety to thousands of additional workers across the nation. These pilot programs, OHSA CHALLENGE, VPP CORPORATE, and the VPP CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM are the “Three C's of VPP”.
OSHA CHALLENGE
The reason behind creating the pilot program OSHA Challenge, was to provide more opportunity for employers who have a desire to work with OSHA in creating a safer, healthier environment for their workers and who also have an interest in pursuing recognition through the Voluntary Protection Programs. OSHA Challenge is available to eligible private or public-sector employers in all the major industry groups and provides guidelines to help companies in improving the safety and health management systems in their facilities.
ROAD MAP TO SAFETY AND HEALTH EXCELLENCE
OSHA Challenge outlines the steps necessary to achieve effective safety and health management. Participants follow three levels of progression as they work through the OSHA Challenge program. Each employer may be at varying levels in their development of an effective safety and health management systems in their facility. OSHA Challenge provides flexibility allowing participants to be accepted at different stages depending on which elements their facility has already implemented.
OSHA provides many tools and guides as a “roadmap to safety and health excellence” to help participants progress through the development and implementation of each of the three stages. For each stage in the OSHA Challenge defined requirements, specific actions, documentation and outcomes are required. Management commitment and employee involvement are important components of OSHA Challenge and will be evaluated. Illness and injury data and other quantitative and qualitative program measures will also be evaluated by OSHA
OSHA provides recognition at the successful completion of each stage. The guidelines in OSHA Challenge help participants improve their performance step by step, and ultimately enable participants to pursue their goal to attain VPP “Merit” or “Star” recognition.
CHALLENGE ADMINISTRATORS
Prior to participation, interested employers associate with an appropriate Administrator, then complete an application which is submitted by the Administrator to OSHA. The Administrator remains the participant's primary contact with OSHA and provides guidance through the stages of the OSHA Challenge. Administrators, who are qualified volunteers selected by OSHA, encourage, assist, track, and report on the progress participants are making in each stage of the OSHA Challenge. Recognition from OHSA is received at the completion of each stage. Once an OSHA Challenge participant completes all of the stages in the program successfully, consideration is given for expedited participation in VPP.
VPP CORPORATE
VPP Corporate pilot program is designed to address the needs of large corporations with multiple facilities in their organization. Large corporations are able to increase participation in VPP through a more efficient streamlined process. VPP Corporate reduces duplication of effort in the VPP application and on-site evaluation process for individual facilities in the organization, while still maintaining the integrity and high quality of VPP. In addition to the benefit of a safer, healthier workplace, participants the VPP Corporate experience the benefit of a strengthened corporate identity as a leader in the health and safety community.
VPP CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
The construction industry has unique needs that are address in this program. The goal of the VPP Construction pilot program is to make VPP more accessible to even small construction employers. While still maintaining the high standards of the Voluntary Protection Programs, the VPP Construction Program expands participation to broader categories of employers in the construction industry such as general contractors, subcontractors, mobile workforce groups and short term project employers.
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