OSHA Holding July 17 Meeting on Strengthening VPP
OSHA said it is "seeking to reshape VPP so that it continues to represent safety and health excellence, leverages partner resources, further recognizes the successes of long-term participants, and supports smart program growth." The agency anticipates holding a second meeting in conjunction with VPPPA's Safety+ annual conference in New Orleans.
OSHA announced it will hold a public meeting July 17 in Washington, D.C., to solicit suggestions for strengthening the Voluntary Protection Programs and to discuss the future direction of its Voluntary Protection Programs. (The date is six weeks before Safety+, the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association, Inc.'s annual conference taking place Aug. 29-Sept. 1 in New Orleans.)
OSHA said it is "seeking to reshape VPP so that it continues to represent safety and health excellence, leverages partner resources, further recognizes the successes of long-term participants, and supports smart program growth." Some of the questions OSHA invites stakeholder input include:
- What can the agency do to enhance and encourage the efforts of employers, workers and unions to identify and address workplace hazards through the VPP?
- How can the agency support increased participation in VPP while operating with available resources and maintaining the integrity of the program?
- How can the agency modify VPP to enhance the efforts and engagement of long-term VPP participants?
- How might the agency modify Corporate VPP for greater leverage and effectiveness?
- How can the agency further leverage participant resources, such as Special Government Employees?
The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Frances Perkins Building, U.S. Department of Labor headquarters at 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210. Those wishing to attend must register by July 10 at this website. And for those who cannot attend in person, a docket has been opened to receive comments. You can provide your input and/or read others' comments at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=OSHA-2017-0009. The docket closes Sept. 15, 2017.
The agency indicated it anticipates hosting a second stakeholder meeting tentatively scheduled to occur in conjunction with the VPPPA conference.