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Frequently Asked Questions: Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)
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What is the Virginia Voluntary Protection Program?
The Virginia Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) is a cooperative compliance
program designed to recognize and promote effective safety and health
management. The VPP concept recognizes that enforcement of safety regulations
alone can never fully achieve the objectives of the Occupational Safety
and Health Act. Good safety management programs that go beyond VOSH
standards can protect employees more effectively than simple compliance.
Therefore, VPP is NOT "just another program," it is really
a "process" that defines a single system and structured approach
to help achieve the goal of working more safely. VPP has been described
as both an "umbrella" and as a "roadmap," focusing
on four key areas necessary to have a comprehensive safety and health
program. Those key areas are:
- Management Leadership and Employee Involvement
- Worksite Analysis
- Hazard Prevention and Control
- Safety and Health Training
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How will my company benefit from participation in the VPP?
While there are many
benefits that can be realized from participation in VPP, the most
common ones are:
- Improved employee motivation to work safely, leading to better quality
and productivity
- Lost workday case rates that are generally 60% to 80% below average
for companies of the same size and industry
- Reduced workers' compensation and other injury and illness-related
costs
- Positive community recognition and interaction
- Further improvement of already good programs through the internal
and external reviews that are part of the application process and through
annual evaluation of safety and health programs
- Access to the resources and expertise of a larger community of safety
and health professionals
- Partnership with VOSH
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How do I apply for participation in VPP?
You must submit a written application to the Virginia Department
of Labor and Industry, Voluntary Protection Program. The application
guidelines are included in the VPP information
kit (PDF). After your written application and all necessary documents
have been reviewed, an on-site review will be scheduled.
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How long does it take after submitting the VPP application for
a company to be ready for the VPP Star certification audit?
The length of time required for preparation is different for each company.
While some companies may only need minor modifications to their existing
programs, others may be starting from scratch.
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How do I know if my company will qualify for participation?
A Self-Assessment
Checklist (PDF) is included in the application package. If your
company meets the criteria in the checklist, or could within a short
period of time, your company is probably ready to apply for participation
in the VPP.
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Some employees at my company are represented by a union and are
covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Does that make a difference?
The union representatives will play a critical roll in the entire VPP
process, so the union(s) that represents your employees must provide
written support of the VPP and include that with the VPP application.
No VPP application will be approved without the formal support of all
collective bargaining agents.
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Why does VOSH need to come to my site?
The VPP review team must verify that the safety and health program described
in your VPP application is fully operational and addresses all potential
hazards at the site.
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Who comes on a VPP on-site review?
That depends on how large your facility is. Normally the on-site team
consists of a team leader, a safety specialist, an industrial hygienist
and a back-up leader. Most team members will be employees of VOSH but
some may be volunteer safety and health professionals from current VPP
Star sites.
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What will happen if the team discovers an apparent violation of
VOSH standards during the certification audit?
VOSH safety and health professionals will be looking for evidence that
your program is creating and maintaining safe and healthful working
conditions. Any hazards they may observe will serve as indicators that
some aspect of your program may need improvement. While they won't issue
citations, safety and health professionals will not ignore hazards.
They will work with you to determine how and when to correct any hazards
they see. If corrections require more time than the on-site review allows,
you will be asked to notify your VOSH VPP Coordinator when corrections
are completed.
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Do I have to wait until the end of the review to find out my chances
of being approved?
The recommendation of the VVVP team regarding approval of your site
will be based on a comprehensive assessment of your operations in relation
to the VPP requirements, so a recommendation cannot be made until the
review is complete. However, the VPP team leader will discuss the team's
observations with your designated representatives at the end of each
day so that you will know how the review is progressing.
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We've been recommended as a Star worksite! What happens next?
The VPP team report and recommendation are sent to the Commissioner
of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry for approval. If approved
by the Commissioner, a letter and a copy of the final report will be
sent to the site manager and VPP Coordinator announcing approval of
your site as a Star Worksite.
In most cases the company will hold a ceremony where the Commissioner
or other DOLI representative presents a VPP Star flag and a certificate
of recognition from the Governor.
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Once my site is approved as a Star Worksite, is that it?
Reaching Star status is not the end, but really just the beginning.
As a Star Worksite you not only have a responsibility to strive for
continuous improvement in your own safety programs, you also have a
responsibility to support the VPP by mentoring other companies that
are seeking Star status. In some cases your company can also support
the VPP by sponsoring volunteer VPP team members, similar to OSHA's
Special
Government Employees (external link to Directives section of http://www.osha.gov).
You can also participate in the VPPPA
(extermal link to http://www.vpppa.org)
which is a private, non-profit organization that works to support the
goals of the VPP.
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So what is mentoring anyway?
Mentors inform, counsel, train, and assist other establishments to reduce
injuries and illnesses. All Star sites agree to mentor other establishments
that have an interest and desire to improve their safety and health
management systems and work toward becoming Star worksites.
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There can I get more information?
The VPP Coordinator can help you with any questions you have about the application process, self-assessment, or any other questions pertaining to VPP.
You can also contact Virginia VPP Star worksites. These sites have mentors that have been through the entire VPP process and are quite willing to help other companies that want to pursue Star certification.
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