Washington — OSHA has a brand new online portal for employers to submit applications to the company’s Voluntary Protection Programs.
VPP is a collaboration amongst authorities, business and labor supposed to encourage greatest practices in worker safety and health. Employers submit their safety data and insurance policies once they apply for VPP standing and, if accepted, proceed to advertise safety at their websites, in addition to assist different employers enhance their safety practices on their option to VPP standing. VPP websites are exempt from programmed inspections.
In keeping with an company press launch, the portal permits OSHA to evaluate applications in actual time and employers to appropriate errors/omissions extra shortly. Certified organizations with “mature safety and health management systems” can apply to VPP through the brand new portal.
“Applicants can use the portal to upload electronic versions of supporting documentation,” the discharge states, “and they can stop and complete their application at a later time without having to restart. Alternatively, after completing an applicant profile, they may download an application form to complete offline and submit their application materials by mail.”
OSHA initiated VPP in 1982 “to recognize cooperative action among government, industry and labor, as a means of addressing worker safety and health issues, and expanding worker protection.”
Within the launch, OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Jim Frederick stated: “Companies in the Voluntary Protection Programs go above and beyond basic OSHA requirements and strive to create a culture of safety. This important program comprises sites that serve as models of excellence and influence safety and health practices in all industries.”