On a bi-weekly basis, the Office of Partnerships and Recognition (OPR) submits a
recent VPP-related story or update to OSHA's Office of Communications to include
in their latest QuickTakes edition. QuickTakes is an e-news memo with
information, updates, and results from OSHA about safety and health in America's
workplaces. To view the edition in its entirety, please go to
OSHA QuickTakes.
If you would like to submit your own VPP-related story to
QuickTakes, please contact OSHA's Office of Communications at 202-639-1999.
September 15, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 18
More than 50 percent of OSHA's Region V area offices attain VPP recognition
OSHA's Region V continues to lead by example as its Cincinnati, Ohio,
Area Office becomes the latest agency participant earning
Voluntary Protection
Programs approval. With this addition, more than 50 percent of the Region's
area offices have attained recognition. A team of Special Government
Employees, led by a Defense Logistics Agency representative, conducted the
extensive on-site evaluation last spring.
September 1, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 17
National SGE of the Year award recipient honored at the VPPPA conference
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab presented
Robert Sander with the 5th National Special Government Employee (SGE) of the
Year award at the annual
Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA) Conference
recently held in San Antonio. Sander, a U.S. Postal Service employee, has
participated on nine VPP on-site evaluations and is a member of the VPPPA
Region VII Mentoring Committee. This award recognizes an SGE who epitomizes
and exhibits exceptional mentoring, outreach and OSHA support in VPP.
August 15, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 16
Next SGE of the Year award to be presented at VPPPA conference
During the Aug. 24 opening session of the
Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association Conference in San
Antonio, OSHA's acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety
and Health Jordan Barab will present the Special Government Employee of the
Year award to one of ten nominees who were recommended by the regions. This
award recognizes an SGE who exhibits exceptional mentoring, outreach and OSHA
support in VPP
August 1, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 15
VPP site representatives to gather at national conference
Nearly 3,000 safety, health and environmental professionals, workers and
managers will gather at the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants'
Association's 25th annual conference Aug. 24-27 in San Antonio. Participants
will promote effective safety and health management systems and best practices
in workplace safety and health. OSHA will exhibit. For more information, visit
the VPPPA Web site.
July 15, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 14
VPPPA hosts Special Government Employee training at annual conference
Special Government Employee training will be offered Aug. 21-23 in conjunction
with the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association annual
conference Aug. 24-27 in San Antonio. SGEs are qualified volunteers from VPP
sites who assist with conducting on-site evaluations at no cost to OSHA for
new VPP applicants or current participants. For more information, visit the
SGE Web page.
July 1, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 13
OSHA begins evaluating Voluntary Protection Programs
OSHA will address problems indentified in its Voluntary Protection Programs in
response to a new Government Accountability Office report, "OSHA's Voluntary
Protection Programs: Improved Oversight and Controls Would Better Ensure
Program Quality." The report recommends improved oversight and additional
controls to ensure participating companies maintain effective workplace safety
and health management systems. OSHA will also conduct a comprehensive
evaluation of its VPP and Alliance Program to determine how the agency should
best allocate its resources among cooperative programs, enforcement and other
agency activities.
National Guard site is first to earn VPP recognition
After forming employee committees to address workplace safety and health, the
Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 of Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville, Pa.,
became the first Army National Guard unit in December 2008 to attain
Voluntary
Protection Programs star status. The base's injury and illness rates declined
resulting in a 3-year average total case incidence rate and days away from
work, job transfer or restriction rate of 50 and 28 percent, respectively,
below the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2006 national average.
June 15, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 12
VPP site lowers injury and illness rate through worker involvement
Workers at Clean Harbors Environmental Services, a
Voluntary Protection
Programs star site, have benefited from their organization's safety and
health management system that stresses employees working together with their
managers in analyzing worksites and preventing hazards. As a result, Clean
Harbors' 2008 total recordable case incidence rate was 77 percent below the
national average. Between 2004 and 2008, the company reduced injuries and
illnesses by an average of 46 percent.
April 1, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 7
VPP Corporate participant shows effectiveness of program on improving job
safety and health
General Electric, one of eight participants in the
Voluntary
Protection Programs Corporate Pilot, has more than 100 VPP-recognized
facilities under federal and State Plan State jurisdictions. GE's 2008 annual
evaluation demonstrated that its VPP facilities had an average total
recordable case incidence rate and an average days away from work, job
transfer or restriction rate 22 and 61 percent, respectively, below GE's non-VPP
facilities.)
March 15, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 6
More workplaces earn Voluntary Protection Programs recognition
Visit "recent approvals"
on the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) page of OSHA's Web site to view the
newest list of employers approved for new or continued participation in VPP.
March 1, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 5
Voluntary Protection Programs continue to help reduce workplace injuries
OSHA's
Voluntary Protection Programs' success in helping protect employees and
reducing workplace injuries is demonstrated by VPP star participant Utility
Contractors Inc.'s record of zero workplace injuries recorded between 2007 and
2008 after incorporating a daily muscle stretch program into its safety and
health management system. Prior to attaining VPP recognition in 2007, UCI had
high recordable incident rates because of employees experiencing
musculoskeletal injuries.
February 15, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 4
OSHA Challenge helps improve workplace safety and health
If you are an employer interested in developing an effective safety and health
management system that follows the Voluntary Protection Programs' model, then
the OSHA Challenge Pilot is the answer. On average, Challenge participants'
injury and illness rates decrease by almost 40 percent. Upon successful
completion, graduates from the Pilot may be considered for expedited approval
to VPP. For more information, visit the Challenge Web page.
January 15, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 2
Voluntary Protection Programs newest list of participants is available on Web
Visit "recent approvals" on the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)
page of OSHA's Web site to view the current list of employers approved for new
or continued participation in VPP. We encourage you to examine the entire VPP
site to learn more about how cooperative programs can help protect employees and
reduce workers' compensation costs.
Revised Voluntary Protection Programs expands participants' eligibility
OSHA is changing its
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) to allow participation by companies with
mobile workforces. VPP, the agency's recognition initiative for workplace safety
and health excellence, will provide new options for construction contractors and
other employers who may have employees at various locations. Other VPP changes
for eligible organizations include a streamlined application process, outreach
and mentoring, and on-site workplace evaluations. These changes are effective
May 9. For more information, refer to the
Jan. 9 Federal Register.
December 1, 2008, Volume 7, Issue 23
DCSP Director Welcomes Delta Air Lines into OSHA's VPP Corporate Pilot
Steven F. Witt, director of OSHA's Directorate of Cooperative and State
Programs (DCSP), welcomed Delta Air Lines as the newest
Voluntary Protection
Programs (VPP) Corporate Pilot participant during a Nov. 18 ceremony at
Delta's headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. Founded in 1928, Delta is one of the
world's largest commercial airlines with more than 75,000 employees. At the
celebration, Witt remarked "I commend you for your accomplishments and your
vision for the future. I applaud your willingness to work as a team with OSHA,
and all that you have done in cooperation with OSHA and VPP Corporate to
prevent injuries and illnesses on the job." Delta is OSHA's eighth participant
in the pilot.
Voluntary Protection Programs Certifications
Visit "recent approvals" on the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) page of
OSHA's Web site to view the latest list of employers approved for new or
continued participation in VPP. We encourage you to examine the entire VPP
site to learn more about how OSHA's cooperative programs can help protect
employees and reduce workers' compensation costs.
November 15, 2008, Volume 7, Issue 22
OSHA Welcomes Delta Air Lines into the VPP Corporate
Pilot
Delta Air Lines recently became the eighth approved participant in
OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Corporate Pilot. Founded in
1928, Delta is one of the world's largest commercial airlines with more than
53,000 employees. Criteria for VPP Corporate status include a substantial
commitment to VPP; a comprehensive, organization-wide safety and health
management system; and pre-screening processes to ready sites for VPP approval
prior to OSHA review. Delta and its subsidiaries combined have 12 active OSHA
VPP sites. The company joins seven other VPP Corporate Pilot participants: The
Dow Chemical Company, Fluor Corporation, General Electric Company,
Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Parsons Corporation, Washington Division of URS
Corporation, and the U.S. Postal Service.
November 1, 2008, Volume 7, Issue 21
Parsons Corp. is Seventh Member of OSHA's VPP
Corporate Pilot
Parsons Corp., headquartered in Pasadena, Calif., joins the elite group of
organizations participating in
OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Corporate Pilot. Founded in
1944 with locations nationwide and abroad, Parsons Corp. is one of the world's
largest engineering and construction firms with revenues totaling more than
$3.6 billion. Criteria for VPP Corporate status include a substantial
commitment to VPP; a comprehensive, organization-wide safety and health
management system; and pre-screening processes to ready sites for VPP approval
prior to OSHA review. The six VPP Corporate participants are the General
Electric Company, the United States Postal Service, Georgia-Pacific Corp., The
Dow Chemical Company, Washington Division of URS Corp., and Fluor Corp.
Latest Voluntary Protection Programs Certifications
Visit "recent
approvals" on the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) page of OSHA's Web
site to view the latest list of employers approved for new or continued
participation in VPP.
October 15, 2008, Volume 7, Issue 20
Deputy Assistant Secretary Welcomes Fluor Corporation
into VPP Corporate Pilot
On Oct. 3, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health Don Shalhoub officially welcomed
Fluor Corporation as the newest
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Corporate Pilot participant during a
ceremony at Fluor's Greenville, S.C., campus. Based out of Irving, Texas,
Fluor is one of the world's largest publicly owned engineering, procurement,
construction, and maintenance services companies. At the celebration, Shalhoub
remarked, "I am grateful for the support that Fluor has demonstrated for
OSHA's mission of protecting employees. We have an opportunity to make a
lasting impact on lives here and around the world, and I am glad that Fluor
has chosen to take this bold leadership rol e." Fluor Corporation is OSHA's
sixth participant in the pilot and the second from the construction industry.
October 1, 2008, Volume 7, Issue 19
OSHA Education Center Hosts "Meet and Greet" on Voluntary Protection
Programs
The
New England OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center, in cooperation
with OSHA's New England Region Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) managers,
will host an orientation to VPP at the New England Institute of Technology in
Warwick, R.I., on Oct. 30. VPP recognizes worksites that are committed to
effective employee protection beyond the requirements of OSHA standards, and
encourages cooperative relationships among labor, management, unions and
government. For more information, contact the New England OTI Education Center
at 1-800-449-6742 or email.
Peoria, Ill., Area Office is Sixth Site to Earn VPP Star Recognition
OSHA's Peoria, Ill., Area Office is the sixth OSHA site to earn star status in
the agency's
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). VPP participation is
determined by an independent team of Special Government Employees who conduct
extensive on-site evaluations. OSHA's Eau Claire, Wis., Area Office is the
next site under review for VPP recognition. OSHA VPP sites include area
offices in Columbus, Ohio, Appleton, Wis., Madison, Wis., Des Plaines, Ill.,
and Milwaukee, Wis.
Voluntary Protection Programs Update
Visit "recent
approvals" on the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) page of
OSHA's Web site to view the latest list of employers approved for new or
continued participation in VPP. We encourage you to examine the entire VPP
site to learn more about how OSHA's cooperative programs can help protect
employees and reduce workers' compensation costs.
September 15, 2008, Volume 7, Issue 18
Larry Shaffer is Winner of VPP's Fourth Annual National SGE of the Year
Award
During the Aug. 25 opening session of the Voluntary Protection Programs
Participants' Association (VPPPA) Conference in Anaheim, Calif., Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.,
presented the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) National
Special Government
Employee (SGE) of the Year plaque to Larry Shaffer of International Paper.
This award recognizes an SGE who epitomizes and exhibits exceptional
mentoring, outreach and OSHA support in VPP. Shaffer has been an SGE for the
past five years and is a member of the Philadelphia region VPPPA Board of
Directors.
September 1, 2008, Volume 7, Issue 17
Fluor Corporation Accepted into VPP Corporate Pilot
In August 2008, Fluor Corporation, one of the world's largest publicly owned
engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services companies,
became OSHA's sixth participant in the
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)
Corporate Pilot. Based in Irving, Texas, Fluor joins General Electric Company,
the United States Postal Service, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Dow Chemical
Company, and the Washington Division of URS Corporation in the pilot. Criteria
include a substantial commitment to VPP, a comprehensive, organization-wide
safety and health management system, and prescreening processes to ready sites
for VPP approval prior to OSHA review.
August 15, 2008 Volume 7, Issue 16
VPP Sites to Gather for 24th Annual National VPPPA Conference
Safety, health and environmental professionals, hourly employees and managers
from worksites across the country will be gathering together for this year's
Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA) Conference, Aug.
25-28, 2008, in Anaheim, Calif. The conference focuses on OSHA's and the
Department of Energy's premier recognition program--Voluntary Protection
Programs--which promote best practices in occupational safety and health.
Attendees are invited to participate in two full days of workshops, which are
listed
online. The VPPPA Expo will feature more
than 180 exhibitors, evening receptions and networking sessions. For more
information, visit
VPPPA Annual National Conference Registration page on the World
Wide Web. Onsite registration will be available.
August 1, 2008 Volume 7, Issue 15
Celebrating OSHA's 2,000th VPP Site
On Monday, July 21, OSHA recognized its
2,000th Voluntary Protection Programs
(VPP) site, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, in Pearl River, N.Y., for excellent safety
and health performance. The facility is a 580-acre site and Rockland County's
largest employer, with more than 3,000 employees. This site has a long and
distinguished history, going back 100 years when the Commissioner of the NYC
Health Department bought the property for producing blood products in both world
wars. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G.
Foulke, Jr., attended the celebration and officially recognized this VPP
achievement. The site has a Days Away, Restricted and Transferred (DART) rate 84
percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics' national industry average-the
lowest injury and illness rate of any pharmaceutical company in the United
States.
July 15, 2008 Volume 7, Issue 14
2,000th VPP Site Soon to be Recognized
OSHA is about to recognize its 2,000th
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) site
which will join the elite group of employers recognized by OSHA for having
exemplary safety and health management systems. A July celebration is planned at
the site where Assistant Secretary Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., will officially
recognize this achievement. OSHA will reveal the honored site in your next issue
of QuickTakes.
July 1, 2008 Volume 7, Issue 13
OSHA Challenge Administrators Meeting
OSHA hosted an OSHA Challenge meeting on June 19 focusing on data collection,
documentation transition, administrator and coordinator recognition, and
marketing strategies. Attendees included OSHA Challenge administrators,
coordinators and participants, Regional OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)
staff, State Plan State representatives, and OSHA National Office staff. Edwin
G. Foulke, Jr., OSHA's assistant secretary, recognized Agrifos Fertilizer Inc.
of Pasadena, Texas, and Trucco Construction of Powell, Ohio. These OSHA
Challenge participants were acknowledged for developing and implementing
exemplary safety and health management systems modeled on the rigorous standards
of VPP.
June 15, 2008 Volume 7, Issue 12
Delta Airlines Submits Application to VPP Corporate
Delta Air Lines hopes to join the elite group of organizations currently
participating in OSHA's
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Corporate Pilot,
which provides streamlined VPP application and on-site evaluation procedures for
organizations that meet the Pilot's criteria. Criteria for participation
include: a substantial commitment to VPP; a comprehensive, organization-wide
safety and health management system; and pre-screening processes to ready sites
for VPP approval prior to OSHA review. The five organizations already approved
as VPP Corporate participants are The Dow Chemical Company, General Electric
Company, the Georgia-Pacific Corporation, the United States Postal Service, and
Washington Division of URS Corporation. Additionally, Fluor Corporation recently
had their VPP Corporate on-site evaluation and is awaiting approval, and Parsons
Corporation has submitted an application to participate.
May 15, 2008 Volume 7, Issue 10
Air National Guard's 148th Fighter Wing Achieves VPP Star Status
On April 30, OSHA recognized the Air National Guard's 148th Fighter Wing of
Duluth, Minn., as the first U.S. Air Force inductee to the agency's highly
acclaimed Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) with a star rating. This status
can only be achieved by an organization's steadfast commitment to demonstrating
an effective worksite-based Safety and Health Management System (SHMS). In VPP,
management, labor and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces
that have implemented comprehensive SHMS. Approval to VPP at the star level is
OSHA's official recognition of outstanding efforts on the part of both employers
and employees who have strived to achieve exemplary occupational safety and
health records.
For more historical information on VPP Activity, please visit the
VPP News Archive.
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