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Tag Archives: OSHA VPP Program

Total Safety’s Valero-Texas City Location Awarded OSHA’s VPP Star Certification for Safety Excellence

Total Safety's Valero-Texas City Location Receives OSHA VPP Star CertificationTotal Safety, a leading global safety services company, announced that its Valero-Texas City location has been awarded the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) prestigious Voluntary Protection Program (“VPP”) Star Certification for safety excellence in the workplace. This is the fifth such award for Total Safety.

OSHA’s VPP recognizes employers and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintained injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. VPP Star certification recognizes the outstanding efforts of employees and managers who have achieved exemplary safety and health management systems (SHMS). Safety is a core value throughout the Total Safety organization and is practiced each and every day at all facilities.

“The OSHA VPP star certification is truly an honor. This recognition demonstrates the commitment of our staff to both their own safety and the safety of others,” said Chuck Gibson, Total Safety’s VPP Director. “They should be congratulated for their attention to workplace safety.”

With more than 20 other sites currently in the review process, Total Safety strives for Star Certification at additional locations within the next few years.

Ellis Pellerin, Total Safety’s Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Director, added, “Outstanding teamwork leads to safety success, and the Total Safety team is dedicated to be the very best.”

In addition to the OSHA honor, Total Safety has received the “Best in Class” award from the Houston Business Roundtable, AFPM Awards, and a host of industry and customer safety accolades.

Total Safety’s Valero Houston Refinery Location Achieves VPP Star Status

Total Safety's Valero Houston Refinery Location Receives OSHA'a VPP Star AwardNot only does Total Safety promote a culture of safety to their clients, we strive for safety excellence within our own company. As a result, Total Safety is proud to announce that our Valero Houston Refinery location has received OSHA’s Vomuntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status. Total Safety would not have been able to achieve this level of excellence without the commitment of our employees and the leadership of management.

We would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of our employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health in accordance with OSHA’s VPP and within our own mission to ensure the safe Wellbeing of Workers Worldwide (W3).

About OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)

The VPP recognizes employers and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. In VPP, management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on:

  • Hazard prevention and control
  • Worksite analysis
  • Training
  • Management commitment and worker involvement

To participate, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals. Union support is required for applicants represented by a bargaining unit. VPP participants are re-evaluated every three to five years to remain in the programs. VPP participants are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status.

To learn more about OSHA’s VPP, please visit their website at:

 

The OSHA Challenge Program, First Steps to the VPP Star

By Chuck Gibson, VPP Manager, Total Safety

For increased occupational health and safety, go Total Safety.Preparing for and attaining certification in the OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) can sometimes seem to be a confusing and overwhelming task, particularly for companies that do not have mature safety and health management systems already in place. To help, OSHA has developed a program for companies that are interested in improving their safety and health management systems and potentially participating in VPP, but may need assistance in understanding and meeting VPP requirements. The Challenge Program provides a comprehensive self-paced, three-stage roadmap that leads to improved safety and health management systems and preparation for VPP application.

Challenge is open to General Industry and Construction employers (determined by SIC/NAICS code) in both public and private sectors under OSHA federal jurisdiction. The Program is facilitated by OSHA-designated Administrators who may be corporations, nonprofit organizations or federal agencies. The Administrators act as the primary contact between OSHA and the Challenge Participant, and guide the Participant through the program stages. At the completion of each stage, the Administrator will review the participant’s progress and authorize advancement to the next stage.  OSHA will formally recognize progression from stage to stage and issue a certificate of graduation upon completion of Stage III. Provided it meets basic criteria, such as mishap rates and citation history, an organization should be ready to submit a VPP application following graduation, and may be considered for expedited review for certification.

To become a Challenge Participate, a candidate organization must first affiliate with an Administrator. A list of Administrators is available on the OSHA website or by calling your local OSHA office. The candidate organization completes an application and statement of commitment that is reviewed by OSHA, and upon acceptance, is designated an OSHA Challenge Participant. The Participant then proceeds through three progressive stages of safety and health program improvement with specific action and outcome requirements related to the VPP elements; management leadership and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training. As the Participant organization works through the stages, it will change from being reactive to proactive in identifying and controlling hazards. Additionally, it will progress in knowledge of and compliance with OSHA standards, develop an improved workplace safety culture, have improved documentation, increase safety and health activities, and show improvements in injury and illness rates. Documentation of achievements is required and progress is tracked on an electronic spreadsheet that provides color-coded status on each action and outcome item and a percentage completion level for the current stage.

The beauty of Challenge is the step by step guidance and direction it provides for improving a safety and health management system. The required actions and outcomes for each sub-element in each stage eliminate the guesswork of “what do I do next” for Participants. The status tracking sheet provides a visual and easy to understand tool to chart program progress. Even for organizations that consider their safety and health management systems more mature, Challenge tools and guidelines provide utility in confirming that necessary program elements are in place and functioning effectively. Go online and look at the list of Challenge Participants. It should come as no surprise that the list includes OSHA regional and area offices that are striving to become VPP certified themselves. So follow the lead of the experts. If you think your organization is not quite ready for VPP don’t be troubled – take the OSHA Challenge and travel the road to improved safety and health.

For more ideas on ways to increase occupational health and safety in your workplace, call us at 888.44.TOTAL.

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