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| Q: |
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What are the benefits of participating in VPP? |
| A: |
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Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) participants establish and maintain excellent safety and health
programs in their workplaces that are recognized by OSHA as models for their industries. Cooperative
interaction with OSHA gives companies the opportunity to provide OSHA with input on safety and health
matters and to provide industry with models of effective means for accomplishing workplace safety and
health objectives. While it certainly is necessary to maintain compliance activity, resources used to
promote the Voluntary Protection Programs will benefit both the worker and the bottom line. When a
compliance officer cites a worksite for unguarded machinery, the company pays the fine and provides
appropriate guards. When a worksite institutes the elements necessary for membership in the VPP,
every person entering the worksite is protected from occupational safety and health hazards, and the
other improvements follow.
Participants are not subject to routine OSHA inspections, because OSHA's VPP onsite reviews ensure
that their safety and health programs provide superior protection. Establishing and maintaining safety
and health programs on the VPP model are reflected in substantially lower than average worker injury
rates at VPP worksites.
Injury Incidence Rates: In 1994, of the 178 companies in the program, 9 sites had no injuries at all.
Overall, the sites had only 45% of the injuries expected, or were 55% below the expected average for
similar industries.
Lost Workday Injury Rates: In 1994, of the 178 companies in the program, 31 had no lost workday
injuries. Overall, the sites had only 49% of the lost workdays expected, or were 51% below the
expected average for similar industries.
While protecting workers from occupational safety and health hazards, companies following the
management guidelines mandated for VPP membership also experience decreased costs in workmen's
compensation and lost worktime, and often experience increased production and improved employee
morale. Documentation of these assertions come from testimony given by safety and health managers
during OSHA hearings on the Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines, from triennial reports
of member sites, and from the literature cited below. |
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