Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) April 27 introduced the Voluntary Protection Program Act (
S. 3257) that would restore funding for OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). In addition, this bill would prohibit any form of payment for an employer to qualify or participate in the VPP.
Under the VPP, management, labor and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. Despite the VPP’s proven record of increasing workplace health and safety, OSHA requested less money for the program in its fiscal year 2011 budget and instead plans to focus its resources on traditional enforcement efforts. The bill proposed by Enzi and co-sponsored by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), would restore the
$3.125 million OSHA cut from the 2011 budget.
OSHA formally announced the VPP and approved the first site in 1982. Since then, the program has grown to include 2,284 worksites and about 1 million workers. The average VPP worksite has a Days Away Restricted or Transferred (DART) case rate of 52% below the industry average.
In addition to S. 3257, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), chair of the Senate Budget Committee, April 22 introduced an amendment to the fiscal 2011 budget that would preserve funding for the VPP; however it has yet to be voted on in the House and Senate.