August 11, 2004—The health and safety agencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland joined with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in June to announce the development of a pilot Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) for their government.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in Dublin, Ireland and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) are initiating a joint Ireland North-South initiative modeled after OSHA’s highly-successful VPP program. The joint initiative will begin with a pilot program consisting of eight companies, all of which have parent companies in the United States already participating in VPP.
The Voluntary Protection Programs promote effective worksite-based safety and health and allows for cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.
