UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE
OSHAÂ’s Cooperative Programs
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
2. Identify the legal framework for ensuring safe and healthful working conditions.
2.1 Identify the steps in achieving OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status.
2.2 Discuss the purpose of OSHAÂ’s consultation program.
2.3 Explain benefits the OSHA alliance provides to employers and workers.
2.4 Discuss the steps in attaining employer Pre-SHARP status.
Course/Unit
Learning Outcomes
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Learning Activity
Unit Lesson
Review Chapter 2
Unit VIII Assessment
Unit Lesson
Review Chapter 2
Unit VIII Assessment
Unit Lesson
Review Chapter 2
Unit VIII Assessment
Unit Lesson
Review Chapter 2
Unit VIII Assessment
Required Unit Resources
This unit will use a chapter from the following resource:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2020). Field operations manual. U.S. Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-00-164
In order to access the following chapter resource, click the chapter link below.
Review Chapter 2, previously read in an earlier unit, as it may help you in completing your assignment for this
unit.
Chapter 2: Program Planning
Unit Lesson
Introduction
Congratulations on making it to the last unit of the course! In Unit VII, we finished talking about the last portion
of the OSHA inspection process, criminal proceedings. In this unitÂ’s lesson, we are going to shift our focus
and talk about OSHAÂ’s Cooperative Programs.
OSH 3302, Legal Aspects of Safety and Health
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Historically, the relationship between OSHA and employers has been viewed as
adversarial.
many cases,
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employers view OSHA as supportive of labor (the workers) and against business
(the company). This view of
Title
the relationship can hinder the progress of health and safety initiatives. To help improve cooperation between
OSHA, employers, and employees, OSHA developed several cooperative programs.
Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)
One of the most widely recognized cooperative programs is the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
Participation in the VPP is strictly voluntary. The VPP is designed to recognize effective safety and health
management programs (OSHA, 2020). OSHA uses the VPP program to recognize locations that have already
implemented effective health and safety programs and that keep their injury and illness rates below the
national average. OSHA intends for this recognition to show a cooperative relationship between management,
workers, and unions (where unionization has occurred).
The VPP is not an easy process by design. First, the employer has to already have had an effective safety
and health management plan implemented. If the facility does not already have an effective safety and health
management plan, they must first use one of the other cooperative programs to implement an effective
management plan. Many employers incorrectly assume that merely complying with existing OSHA regulations
is the goal of the VPP. In fact, OSHA states that compliance is merely the starting point of the VPP. VPP
participants are expected to go beyond mere compliance and develop programs that identify, evaluate,
prevent, and control hazards in their workplace(s). This systematic approach will help reduce or eliminate
employee injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
To qualify for the VPP, a lengthy, formal application must be completed and sent to OSHA. The site must also
then undergo a rigorous on-site evaluation. Once the process is complete and a site obtains the VPP status,
they are reevaluated every three to five years. Participation in the VPP requires continuous improvement. To
promote continuous improvement, the site must also perform an annual self-assessment and submit annual,
required forms to OSHA. However, as long as the VPP status is maintained, the site is exempt from any
programmed inspections.
Levels of Achievement Within Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)
There are three levels of achievement within the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). They are star program,
star demonstration program, and merit program.
Star Program
This is the highest level of achievement within the VPP. The Star Program sites have such excellent health
and safety management programs that OSHA considers them to be self-sufficient in identifying and controlling
health and safety hazards
OSH 3302, Legal Aspects of Safety and Health
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Star Demonstration Program
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There are some sites that have excellent safety and health management programs, but the programs do not
meet the Star Program model established by OSHA. OSHA calls these sites Star Demonstration Program
sites. These sites may use alternative management programs to control health and safety hazards at a work
site.
Merit Program
Lower-level program within VPP. When a site has shown the potential to reach the Star level but still needs to
improve some aspects of their safety and health management system, they can be given specific goals under
the Merit Program that must be met before they can reach the Star status and continue within VPP (OSHA,
n.d.-d).
Elements of Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)
OSHA lists four basic elements to the VPP model:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Management leadership and employee involvement
Work-site analysis
Hazard prevention and control
Safety and health training.
In order for an employer to achieve VPP status, a site must show that these four elements have been
integrated into the health and safety management plan and are operating effectively.
States who have their own OSHA programs have all developed their own VPP that will parallel the OSHA
VPP. Each of the statesÂ’ programs had to be approved by the federal OSHA.
Onsite Consultation Program
OSHA also provides an onsite consultation program to employers upon request. Under this cooperative
program, OSHA will provide assistance to employers to develop and implement health and safety
management programs. This assistance typically will include at least one onsite inspection by OSHA.
Because the program is voluntary, no citations or penalties are issued just as long as the employer agrees to
correct the identified violations.
OSHA Strategic Partnership Program (OSPP)
Another cooperative program OSHA uses to improve worker health and safety is the OSHA Strategic
Partnership Program (OSPP). The OSPP was established in 1998 to help improve the use of cooperation
between groups of workers, employers, and trade organizations. By working with groups in this program,
OSHA can recognize and support efforts to improve the health and safety of employees by cooperative
efforts. In an OSPP, OSHA will partner with groups of employers, workers, professional or trade associations,
labor organizations, and other interested stakeholders. The goal of an OSPP is to assist the partner in
eliminating serious hazards at their workplace and improve workplace safety and health practices (OSHA,
OSH 3302, Legal Aspects of Safety and Health
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n.d.-a). The OSPP also is used to recognize improvements as they occur. OSHA
works
with the
partner to
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establish specific goals, strategies, and performance measures. Most OSPPs Title
are established at the OSHA
area or regional offices. The majority of OSPPs are also with small businesses who typically do not participate
in the VPP. Thus, the OSPP is designed to complement other cooperative programs like the VPP.
OSHA Challenge
OSHA uses a program called OSHA Challenge to help sites improve their health and safety management
programs. OSHA uses challenge administrators to mentor, train, and track the progress of participants
(OSHA, n.d.-b). Challenge administrators must apply for the position and must be a corporation, nonprofit
association, and/or federal agency. The challenge administrators are not affiliated with OSHA. There is also
an application process for the OSHA Challenge site, including a requirement to first contact a current
challenge administrator and confirm his or her availability and willingness to serve as the challenge
administrator. One difference between the OSHA Challenge program and the VPP is that participants do not
receive exemptions from OSHA-programmed inspections.
Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)
OSHAÂ’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) is administered by the onsite
consultation group of state OSHA programs. However, the SHARPs are funded by the federal OSHA. SHARP
provides incentive and support to employers who implement and continuously improve an effective health and
safety management program. These sites can be recognized and gain exemption from OSHA-programmed
inspections for up to two years. The priority for SHARP is smaller businesses (
