The Arsenal Files 4/The Arsenal Files 4 (Arsenal Computer).ISO/health/osha.10

Text File | 1995-01-22 | 6KB | 116 lines

INFORMATION DATE  19920602
DESCRIPTION       USDOL Program Highlights, 92-10
SUBJECT           Voluntary Protection Programs



U. S. Department of Labor
Program Highlights
Fact Sheet No. OSHA 92-10

                     VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAMS

    Do you have an effective safety and health program?  Is your injury
and/or illness rate lower than the average for your industry?  Do managers
and employees work together to prevent accidents and eliminate hazards?
Would you like to develop a more cooperative relationship with OSHA?

    If so, your company may be a candidate for one of OSHA's Voluntary
Protection Programs -- Star, Merit or the Demonstration Program. Designed
to augment OSHA's enforcement efforts, these programs encourage and
recognize excellence in occupational safety and health.  Only those
companies which demonstrate commitment to workplace safety and health
beyond the requirements of the OSHA standards -- especially at senior
management levels -- are eligible.  Participation exempts a worksite
from OSHA's programmed inspections.

GENERAL  REQUIREMENTS
    An effective, ongoing safety and health program.  A strong safety and
health program exemplifies commitment to the prevention of occupational
illness and injury beyond satisfying the requirements of OSHA standards.
It is the central element which qualifies a company for participation in
the Voluntary Protection Programs.  Companies participating in Merit and
Star are expected to have comprehensive programs including elements such
as employee participation and annual comprehensive self-evaluation.  OSHA
assesses the effectiveness of the program through a number of measures
including on-site review.

     Cooperation.  A cooperative atmosphere is essential to make
voluntary protection work.  Construction companies are required to use a
labor-management approach which includes joint labor-management safety
and health committees.  General industry sites may use some other form of
employee participation.  Companies must demonstrate that the collective
bargaining agent(s) representing their employees, if any, has (have) no
objection to the company's participation.  It is important under all
Voluntary Protection Programs that both employers and employees recognize
that they retain their rights and responsibilities under the Occupational
Safety and Health Act.

     Good performance.  Although performance levels required vary with the
individual Voluntary Protection Program, the company must demonstrate that
its efforts are working to minimize injury and illness in the workplace.
Two indicators are the Bureau of Labor Statistics injury incidence and lost
workday injury rates.  Also, the company must have demonstrated good faith
in any previous dealings with OSHA.

STAR
     Open to any industry, Star is targeted for a company with
comprehensive, successful safety and health programs.  Companies that are
in the forefront of employee protection as indicated by three-year average
incidence and lost workday case rates at or below the national average for
their industry may participate. They must also meet requirements
for extensive management systems.  Because of the changing nature of the
worksite, construction firms must maintain strong employee participation
in their programs.  Star participants are evaluated every three years,
although their incident rates are reviewed annually.

MERIT
     Merit is an effective stepping stone to Star.  Merit sites may have
more general management systems but must set goals for meeting Star
requirements.  While there are less stringent rate requirements for Merit,
applicants must agree to specific goals for reducing rates to below the
average for their industry.  Merit participants are evaluated onsite
annually.

DEMONSTRATION
     The Demonstration program provides a basis for promising
alternative safety and health program approaches that are not currently
available under the VPP as well as to allow for special industry
operations such as logging, maritime, etc.  Alternative approaches that
are successful will be considered for inclusion in the Star program.

OSHA RESPONSIBILITIES

     Application review. Each applicant undergoes a review of its safety
and health programs including an onsite examination of its records and
logs, a review of its inspection history, if any, and an assessment of
site conditions.  OSHA also conducts interviews of management and
employees.  The onsite portion of the review requires about four days.

     Evaluation.  Annual evaluations for Merit and Demonstration
participation and three-year evaluations for Star participants compare
injury and/or illness rates to industry rates, determine the satisfaction
of participants and assure that the companies continue to meet the
requirements.  In addition, at Merit sites, OSHA measures progress toward
Star requirements.

     Contact person.  For each participant, OSHA provides a contact person
to provide assistance.

     Inspections.  OSHA retains responsibility for inspections in response
to formal, valid employee complaints, significant chemical leaks and
spills, and workplace fatalities and catastrophes.

     For applications or further information, write OSHA Voluntary
Protection Programs, Room N3700, Frances Perkins DOL Bldg., 200
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210; telephone [phone].

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This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of
Labor programs.  It is intended as a general description only and does
not carry the force of legal opinion. This information will be made
available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:
[phone]. TDD message referral phone: [phone].