A Field Guide To OSHA© - Baker & Hostetler LLP

tools and resources and share information with employers andemployees to help prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities in theworkplace. OSHA and the organization sign a formal agreementwith goals that address training and education, outreachand communication, and promoting the national dialogue onworkplace safety and health. Alliance Program participants donot receive exemptions from OSHA-programmed inspections.B. Voluntary Protection Programs. VPPs are OSHA’s premierrecognition programs for employers and employees whichhave implemented exemplary workplace safety and healthmanagement systems. In VPP, management, labor, and OSHAwork cooperatively and proactively to prevent injuries, illnesses,and workplace hazards. To attain VPP status, employers mustdemonstrate management commitment to the safety and healthof their employees and employees must be actively involved inactivities that support the safety and health management system.C. OSHA Strategic Partnership Programs. OSPP provides theopportunity for OSHA to partner with employers, employees,professional or trade associations, labor organizations, state OnsiteConsultation projects, and/or other interested stakeholders.OSHA Strategic Partnerships are designed to encourage,assist, and recognize efforts to eliminate serious hazards andachieve model workplace safety and health practices. EachOSHA Strategic Partnership forms a unique, formal agreementthat establishes specific goals, strategies, and performancemeasures. The OSPP is available to all private sector industriesand government agencies in locales where OSHA hasjurisdiction.D. OSHA Challenge. OSHA Challenge uses the VoluntaryProtection Programs (VPP) model as a foundation to providea roadmap to eligible employers interested in implementingeffective safety and health management systems. VolunteerAdministrators help guide participants through a three-stageprocess. Graduates of OSHA Challenge receive recognition fromOSHA and an invitation to apply for VPP with possible expeditedapproval. OSHA Challenge is available to general industry andconstruction employers in private and public sectors underOSHA’s federal jurisdiction.E. Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program.Employers that have an On-site Consultation visit with a completehazard identification survey and meet other requirements maybe recognized under SHARP for their exemplary safety andhealth management systems. Worksites that receive SHARPrecognition are exempt from programmed inspections during theperiod that the SHARP certification is valid.-15-