Voluntary Protection Programs
Stored: Voluntary Protection Programs
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| Top Organization | Department of Labor |
| Creation Legislation | Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Voluntary Protection Programs recognized and promoted exemplary workplace safety and health management systems through voluntary employer participation. It aimed to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses by fostering cooperative partnerships between management, workers, and OSHA. |
| Program Start | 1982 |
| Initial Funding | Congressional appropriations |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) is a Department of Labor initiative administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that recognizes over 2,100 worksites across the United States and territories for exemplary safety and health performance, reducing injury and illness rates by up to 52% below industry averages by 2025 through cooperative partnerships between employers, workers, and OSHA at sites like ExxonMobil and NASA.
Launched in 1982 as OSHA Instruction STD 8-1.1, it offers three participation levels—Star, Merit, and Demonstration—engaging over 750,000 employees with rigorous onsite evaluations, annual self-assessments, and recertification every three to five years, fostering a safety culture that has saved billions in workers’ compensation costs since its inception.
Goals
- Recognize worksites with superior safety and health management systems.[1]
- Reduce workplace injuries and illnesses by up to 52% below industry norms through voluntary efforts.
- Promote cooperative safety partnerships among employers, employees, and OSHA.
Organization
The Voluntary Protection Programs are sponsored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Department of Labor, managed through OSHA’s Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP) via 10 regional VPP managers and over 2,000 compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs).[2] Funding comes from Congressional appropriations, with FY 2025 at $620 million for OSHA, supporting evaluations, training, and administration across federal and 29 state-plan jurisdictions, with volunteer Special Government Employees aiding reviews.
The leader at the Department of Labor level is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, currently Douglas L. Parker (as of February 19, 2025).
History
The Voluntary Protection Programs were established in 1982 as OSHA Instruction STD 8-1.1 under the authority of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, formalized on July 2, 1982, to recognize exemplary safety amid Reagan-era regulatory shifts.[3] It grew from 12 initial sites to over 2,100 by 2025, with milestones like the 2002 VPP Corporate Pilot and a 2023 reevaluation of application processes following a GAO critique (GAO-23-105737). It remains a cornerstone of OSHA’s cooperative efforts, adapting with 2025 updates to modernize recognition criteria.
Funding
Initial funding in 1982 came from Congressional appropriations, integrated into OSHA’s early budgets (e.g., $203 million in FY 1982).[4] Funding began in 1982 and continues, with FY 2025 at $620 million for OSHA, a portion supporting VPP’s 2,100+ site evaluations, training, and outreach, with no end date as appropriations and volunteer efforts sustain operations like 2025’s expanded site recognitions.
Implementation
The program is implemented through a voluntary application process, with employers submitting safety management plans for OSHA review, followed by onsite evaluations every three to five years and annual self-assessments.[5] It operates continuously across three levels—Star (highest), Merit, Demonstration—covering over 750,000 employees, with no end date, adapting in 2025 to streamline applications and boost participation post-GAO feedback.
Related
- OSHA Construction Safety and Health Program
- National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation
- OSHA Training Institute
External links
- https://www.osha.gov/vpp
- https://www.osha.gov/vpp/vpp-programs - VPP Program Details
- https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105737 - GAO 2023 VPP Report
- wikipedia:Voluntary Protection Programs
Social media
References
- ↑ "Voluntary Protection Programs Overview," OSHA, https://www.osha.gov/vpp, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "VPP Organization," OSHA, https://www.osha.gov/vpp/vpp-programs, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "VPP History," OSHA, https://www.osha.gov/vpp/vpp-programs, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "OSHA Budget History," OSHA, https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha/budget, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "VPP Implementation," OSHA, https://www.osha.gov/vpp/vpp-programs, accessed February 19, 2025.