WISHA’S VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM

1. WISHA’S VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM John Geppert Division of Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program Cooperative Programs Supervisor

2. VPP: A Path for Achieving Safety and Health Excellence • Recognize and Promote Effective safety and Health Management. • Cooperative relationship between Management, Labor, and WISHA • Proactive Approach to Safety • Continuous Improvement Process

3. VPP Contact • Ken Werenko with the Department of Labor & Industries, Department of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH), Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Specialist, Phone (360) 902-5515 werk235@lni.wa.gov

4. Overview Objectives To Learn: • What is VPP? • What are the benefits of participating in VPP? • What is required to participate in the VPP? • What are the elements of VPP? • What is the VPP application process and onsite evaluation? • What resources are available to sites interested in applying for VPP status? • What are some new ideas to take back to your site on how to obtain VPP status?

5. VPP PHILOSOPHY • VPP sites serve as models of excellence and mentor other companies. • VPP promotes innovations and facilitates expansion of cooperative programs • VPP fosters a cooperative learning environment - Assistance in their efforts to reach safety & health excellence.

6. KEY CONCEPTS THE VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM (VPP) • Safety and health management systems that go beyond the WISHA standards can protect workers more effectively. • WISHA encourages, supports, and recognizes voluntary improvements and expansions to worker protection programs. • VPP participation demonstrates leadership in safety and health. • Participants have successfully implemented a high quality safety and health program.

7. INDUSTRIESIN VPP Nationally representing over 1500 sites out of approximately 7.2 million worksites (29 Sites) • Size Independent • 47% Have < 200 Employees • Smallest Employer: 6 Employees • Largest Employer: 17,700 Employees + 14,000 Contract Employees

8. WHAT IS DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A COOPERATIVE EFFORT? • MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT. • EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION. • WISHA VERIFIES, EVALUATES, AND RECOGNIZE VPP PATICIPATION.

9. “STAR” VPP • DESIGNED FOR WORKSITES WITH COMPREHENSIVE, SUCCESSFUL SAFETY & HEALTH PROGRAMS • OPEN TO ANY COMPANY WITH INJURY/ILLNESS INCIDENCE AND DAYS AWAY/RESTRICTED WORK ACTIVITY RATES BELOW THE INDUSTRY'S NATIONAL AVERAGE • STAR PARTICIPANTS ARE EVALUATED ONSITE EVERY THREE YEARS, & WITH ANNUAL INJURY RATE REVIEWS

10. WISHA MERIT VPP • THIS TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM IS OFFERED AFTER A STAR APPLICATION HAS BEEN DETERMINED AS NOT MEETING THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, BUT WISHA DETERMINES THE EMPLOYER HAS DEMONSTRATED THE COMMITMENT AND POTENTIAL TO ACHIEVE THE STAR REQUIREMENT WITHIN TWO YEARS. • MERIT IS USED TO SET GOALS, THAT WHEN ACHIEVED, WILL QUALIFY THE SITE FOR STAR PARTICIPATION. • APPLICATIONS NOT ACCEPTED FOR MERIT VPP.

11. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? • IMPROVED EMPLOYEE MORALE • REDUCED INJURIES/ LOST WORKDAYS • FINANCIAL SAVINGS • PUBLIC RECOGNITION • COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT • CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT • PARTNERSHIP WITH DOSH

12. WORKSITES’ IMPROVE THEIR RECORDABLE AND LWDI BY 35% WA’s average result are LOWER compared to national rates • 47 % Total recordable incident rate • 59 % Days away/restricted work incident rate

13. KEY ELEMENTS OF THE VPP • MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP • EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT • WORKSITE ANALYSES • HAZARD PREVENTION AND CONTROL • TRAINING

14. On-site review conducted (3-7 days) Company rep. counseled on application preparation Hazard & 90 day list items addressed/verified (1 –4 mo) Report submitted to company rep. for review (1 mo) Company rep. completes & submits application Report submitted to WISHA AD for concurrence (1-2 mo) Application reviewed by WISHA VPP rep (1-2 mo) Report approved by Director of Labor & Industries (1 mo) Application returned for revision OR accepted Director sends congratulatory letter Company rep. and WISHA prepare for on-site review Company rep. and Union notified VPP Application Processwith estimated timeline Commitment by company representatives to VPP 5 to10 months for process Company rep. can withdraw at any time

15. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TEAM COMES ONSITE FOR VPP • ONSITE VERIFICATION TEAM (FOUR EVALUATORS/CONSULTANTS) • ONSITE THREE TO FIVE DAYS • TEAMS REVIEW STEPS

16. TEAMS REVIEW STEPS • INITIAL MEETING • DOCUMENT REVIEW • WALKTHROUGH • INTERVIEWS - Formal / Informal • CLOSING MEETINGS • DRAFT REPORT / RECOMMENDATION

17. Congratulations!!!!! • Approval by the Director of Labor & Industries

18. SUGGESTED STEPS TOWARDS ACHIEVING VPP STATUS • RESEARCH AND FACT FINDING ABOUT VPP. • DETERMINE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT FROM MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES. • COMMIT TO VPP. • ASSESS & IMPROVE PROGRAMS AS NECESSARY. • PREPARE VPP APPLICATION. • SUBMIT VPP APPLICATION. • APPLICATION REVIEWED, AMMENDED IF NECESSARY AND ACCEPTED. • SCHEDULE ONSITE EVALUATION VISIT.

19. HELP IS AVAILABLE • VPPPA • (703) 761-1146 (8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST) • Networking, Mentoring, and Outreach • http://www.fiesta.com/vpppa • OSHA http://www.osha.gov/oshprogs/vpp • WA-WISHA http://www.wa.gov/lni/wisha

20. Resources Electronic Resources • VPPPA website: www.vpppa.org • OSHA website: www.osha.gov • DOE website: www.doe.gov • DOE VPP Homepage: • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website: www.bls.gov • Federal Register Updates: http://www.osha-slc.gov/FedReg_osha_data/FED20000724A.html • VPP Policies and Procedures: http://www.osha.gov/oshprogs/vpp/

21. WISHA’S VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM Questions?