NEWSRELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2010
OSHA’s VPP Will Continue to Thrive
FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association, Inc. (VPPPA) released a video message (http://www.vpppa.org/pubs/EDMessage.cfm) today, February 4, 2010, in response to concerns about the future of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). President Obama’s recently released proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 and an ensuing live chat by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels raised questions among VPP participants, which the association aims to address.
While the proposed budget foresees a $3 million decrease in funding for compliance assistance, Secretary Solis announced during the live chat that OSHA would take additional funding away from VPP to redirect toward enforcement. However, both Secretary Solis and Assistant Secretary Michaels stated their support for VPP and confirmed the value they see in the program. Dr. Michaels has invited the association to work with OSHA in finding innovative ways of funding the program and to ensure that it continues to thrive.
In the video message to the members of VPPPA and the safety and health community, Executive Director R. Davis Layne explains that the association appreciates the opportunity to work closely with OSHA in ensuring that this one-of-a-kind safety and health management system will continue to thrive and provide America with safer and healthier worksites. Furthermore, Congress has the authority to restore funding for VPP and many VPP sites have already contacted their congressional representatives to voice their concerns. This has received favorable responses and statements of support.
“During my 35 years with OSHA, I’ve seen this happen many times,” said Layne. “Support for government programs comes and goes, but in the end, it all evens out. I’m confident that this will be resolved.”
Regardless of OSHA’s current focus, VPP is a safety and health management system that will continue to benefit participating worksites through lower injury and illness rates, lower workers’ compensation costs, increased productivity, increased communication between workers and management and an overall improved moral.
“VPP is more than a recognition program; it establishes a safety and health culture at your worksite,” said Layne. “We encourage you to keep up your efforts of continuous improvement. VPPPA regional and national conferences offer excellent opportunities to share best practices to improve safety and health for your worksite, keeping the American workforce safe and healthy, which is the only thing that counts at the end of the day.”
VPPPA, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is dedicated to promoting advances in worker safety and health excellence through cooperation among communities, workers, industries and governments. The more than 2,100 VPPPA member sites primarily consist of worksites that have been approved, or are seeking approval, into VPP as administered by OSHA, state-plan OSHA and the Department of Energy.