TEXT VERSION OF TITLE SLIDE:
Title: OSHA's Cooperative Programs
Content:
- Alliance Program
- Voluntary Protection Programs
- Strategic Partnership Program
- Consultation Program
- Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program
Speaker Notes:
Alliances
Consultation and Alliances are examples of programs that provide outreach and training
Voluntary Protection Programs - The VPP is designed to recognize and promote effective safety and
health management. A hallmark of VPP is the principle that management, labor, and OSHA work
together in pursuit of a safe and healthy workplace. VPP participants are work sites that have
successfully designed and implemented outstanding health and safety management systems.
There is a new vision for VPP – to grow exponentially from the current level of 1,046 participants
to 8,000 total participants. Barriers to VPP growth are: many companies not at VPP level but need
help, encouragement and recognition to get there, corporations restrict participation because of
“onerous” site application requirements, VPP criteria limit participation in mobile workforces and
the construction industry, current VPP design requires continual OSHA reevaluation, limited OSHA
resources constrain rapid expansion.
3 new Initiatives to help overcome these barriers:
VPP Challenge: Encourages, tracks and recognizes voluntary formation and implementation of safety
and health management systems.
VPP Corporate: Streamline the VPP application and onsite evaluation processes for corporations that
make a top-level commitment to bringing a significant number of sites into VPP.
VPP Construction: Offers modified or new VPP criteria, to address construction industry needs based
on evaluation of current demo programs and stakeholder feedback.
Strategic Partnerships - Organizations can enter into Strategic Partnerships with OSHA to address
specific safety and health issues. In a partnership, OSHA enters into an extended, voluntary,
cooperative relationship with groups of employers, employees, and employee representatives
(sometimes including other stakeholders, and sometimes involving only one employer) in order to
encourage, assist, and recognize their efforts to eliminate serious hazards and achieve a high
level of worker safety and health.
Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) - Employers that participate in the
On-Site Consultation Program may seek recognition under SHARP for their exemplary safety and health
programs. SHARP provides incentives and support for small businesses to develop, implement, and
continuously improve safety and health programs.
VPP, Strategic Partnership and SHARP are examples of recognition programs with incentives.
Recognition Programs are site-based and include an enforcement component.
Consultation - Small businesses, particularly those in high-hazard industries or involved in
hazardous operations, can use this free service to help improve their safety performance. Safety
and health consultants work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on
compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing safety and health programs. The service
is delivered by state governments using well-trained professional staff. Most consultations take
place on-site, though limited services away from the worksite are available.
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