The GAO report, “OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs: Improved Oversight and Controls Would Better Ensure Program Quality,” recommended that OSHA strengthen VPP’s oversight activity, documentation and other aspects of program operations and impact to ensure consistency and adherence to existing OSHA policies and procedures.
As a result of the recent attention surrounding the programs, Barab stated at the meeting that he has been getting much feedback on the benefits of VPP. He attributed much of the internal issues found in the 2009 GAO report to be a result of exponential growth of the program, “the program has grown a lot faster than we could keep track of.”
With the new administration putting more emphasis and money into the enforcement side of safety and health, OSHA is left to determine the best ways of maintaining and improving the benefits of VPP. VPPPA representatives provided examples of many resources OSHA has within the VPP program, including OSHA’s Special Government Employees (SGE) and the VPPPA Mentoring Program.
When Barab, who listened to individual accounts of VPP participation, asked, “What exactly are you getting out of VPP?” representatives from VPPPA shared their knowledge and experience.
“Prior to participating in the program, we had a flavor-of-the-month safety program. Then VPP came along and you saw immediate partnership,” stated Rob Henson, VPPPA Board Member and Process Technician from LyondellBasell in Channelview, Texas. “VPP provided a structure from the bottom up and provided a foundation that labor could stand behind and management needed to live up to. When we gained VPP, we gained thousands of safety and health professionals.”
On behalf of L.L.Bean Inc., Executive Director R. Davis Layne read prepared comments from a letter addressed to Barab stating, “Our improved statistical results point to the fact that our employees are less likely to go home injured, and our cultural survey data shows that employees are more engaged in our VPP locations than those that have not begun implementation.”
The meeting concluded with the message that this was only the beginning of open communication between OSHA and VPPPA members. Barab encouraged VPPPA representatives and all safety and health personnel to get more involved in the process, “you all are the best of the best … when we make a proposal, we need you to tell us what works and what doesn’t work.”
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