Star worksites have exemplary safety and health management programs.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established its Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) in 1982. Companies with a strong safety and health program can enter into the VPP, partnering with OSHA to identify and eliminate workplace hazards. The program has three levels of recognition: Star, Merit and Demonstration. Companies must demonstrate exemplary safety management systems by passing a rigorous OSHA application and inspection program. Star participants are reevaluated every three to five years to ensure continuous improvement.
Application Process
Companies applying for VPP Star certification must submit a written application providing detailed information about their industry, injury and illness performance, employee involvement, safety training programs and hazard prevention and control. All safety program elements must be in place for at least one year to be considered. Promising applicants are scheduled for an on-site OSHA review to verify the safety performance outlined in the application.
OSHA Site Review
An OSHA evaluation team consisting of a team leader, a safety specialist, an industrial hygienist and occasionally another VPP site employee will arrive to perform a workplace review. The on-site review typically lasts four days. During that time, the OSHA team will review four major VPP areas: management leadership and employee involvement, worksite analysis, safety and health training and hazard prevention and control.
Management and Employee Involvement
The OSHA VPP evaluation team must see company leadership and employees committed to the highest level of safety. Involvement must go beyond written rules; the day-to-day activities of every employee should reflect an internalized safety culture. Management must provide a written policy, a system of accountability and the necessary resources to administer all aspects of the safety program. Employees must be meaningfully engaged in activities and decisions that impact their safety and health; they must clearly understand safety regulations. Unions on site must document their support of the safety program and VPP application.
Worksite Analysis
The VPP review team will conduct a facility walk-through to determine if all hazards are identified and controlled. They will observe employees at work and talk with them about job safety. A worksite must have an effective system for handling safety observations, near-miss and incident reporting, hazard identification and employee safety concerns to qualify for VPP Star status.
Safety and Health Training
The VPP team will evaluate all written documents including safety manuals, accident reports, safety meeting minutes and employee training records. Anything in the workplace that involves safety should have written records to document management and employee actions. The team will also hold formal interviews with employees to determine whether their training has been understood and put into practice. VPP reviewers are looking for more than a surface-level involvement; safe work practices should be an integral part of completing each job.
Closing and Determination
The VPP review team will conduct a brief closing meeting after all inspections and interviews are complete to discuss their draft report. Any issues that require clarification or additional information will be addressed. Team members will forward their final report to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health who will make the final determination. Companies will receive a copy of the final report along with a pass-fail decision letter for VPP Star status.
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