Witnesses and Members Back Bill to Codify OSHA Voluntary Protection Program

Supporters of the Voluntary Protection Program told the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections that codifying the program and dedicating funds to it would strengthen workplace safety across industries.

Chris Williams, executive director of the Voluntary Protection Programs Participant Association, told the panel that VPP ‘‘fosters a culture where safety is the core value on which every decision is made.’’ He said the program has broad participation and impact: VPPPA represents more than 1,400 members and, he said, ‘‘the nearly 1,900 sites across the country’’ that participate in VPP ‘‘share in our mission to raise the standard for workplace health and safety excellence.’’

The witnesses and several members pressed why the program should be made permanent. ‘‘VPP remains [a] discretionary program, meaning that it can be eliminated at any time for any reason,’’ Williams said, and he voiced support for HR 2844, the Michael Lindsey Voluntary Protection Program Act, which he said ‘‘aims . . . to make VPP a permanent program within OSHA’’ and would require a dedicated portion of OSHA funding for VPP.

Why this matters: Supporters told the subcommittee that VPP sites report lower injury rates and that VPP spreads safety practices beyond participating worksites. In written and oral testimony, witnesses cited OSHA data showing VPP worksites maintain an injury and illness rate ‘‘53% below BLS industry averages.’’ Witnesses argued that codifying funding would stabilize a program they said delivers proactive, year-round safety improvements rather than relying solely on after-the-fact inspections.

Details from testimony: Myron Harper, national health and safety director for Cintas Corporation, said his company has used the program as the foundation of its safety management system and that ‘‘a 139 additional Cintas facilities nationwide have achieved VPP star certification’’ since its first site was certified in 2010. Kevin Selle, senior director for corporate development at Quest Group, testifying on behalf of the Associated Builders and Contractors, said VPP and related area-office compliance assistance give employers ‘‘non-enforcement support so you can work with OSHA to get better and reduce risk.’’

Witnesses described practical components of VPP: employee involvement, management commitment and third-party audits. Williams and others said VPP sites undergo annual self-evaluations and a formal OSHA validation ‘‘every 3 to 5 years’’ that includes participation by special government employees (SGEs). Harper described his work as an SGE, saying the role allows experienced safety professionals to mentor smaller employers and help them adopt better practices.

Questions and concerns: Multiple Democratic members emphasized that compliance assistance should not replace enforcement. Rebecca Rheindahl, safety and health director at the AFL-CIO, warned that voluntary programs ‘‘are no substitute for a clear standard that are actively and effectively enforced,’’ and she and other Democrats urged stronger funding for OSHA enforcement and for agencies such as NIOSH. Committee members also probed the program’s union participation, with Williams estimating roughly ‘‘15–20%’’ of VPP sites are union-affiliated and noting that in some states, such as California, union affiliation among VPP sites is higher.

Legislative proposal: HR 2844, the Michael Lindsey Voluntary Protection Program Act, was discussed as the vehicle to make VPP permanent and to require a designated share of OSHA funding be used for it. Witnesses said prior versions of similar legislation raised concerns about open-ended funding language and partisan framing; they said the current text addresses those concerns by specifying a percentage. No committee vote or formal action on HR 2844 took place during the hearing.

Context and limits: Witnesses and members repeatedly framed VPP as an adjunct to enforcement, not a replacement. Supporters said OSHA would retain inspection authority for imminent dangers, whistleblower complaints and other circumstances. Opponents and skeptical members raised past GAO reviews and urged continued oversight and validation of VPP sites.

The hearing moved on to broader concerns about Department of Labor rulemaking and agency staffing, which witnesses said could affect the overall effectiveness of voluntary programs. For now, supporters urged Congress to consider HR 2844 to stabilize funding for a program they said ‘‘pays and saves’’ by reducing injuries and improving workplace safety practices.