September 24, 2004—A new VPP for Construction (VPPC) initiative, the last of three Voluntary Protection Programs raised by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration two years ago, was announced by OSHA August 30. VPPC joins VPP Corporate Pilot and OSHA Challenge Pilot as the newest member of OSHA’s premier cooperative program that recognizes and promotes effective health and safety management systems.
VPPC creates two categories of participation: one for long-term, site-based construction projects; and the other for companies, divisions, and other business units that employ mobile workforces and work at various sites or projects not always controlled by the participant.
The construction industry has not been able to take advantage of the benefits of VPP participation because VPP was originally designed for fixed workplaces. OSHA says that this program is crafted to the industry’s specific needs.
The agency is seeking public comment on the proposal, published in the Aug. 31 Federal Register.
