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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 16. Labor And Employment
Agency 25. Safety And Health Codes Board
Chapter 200. Virginia Voluntary Protection Program
11/21/2024

16VAC25-200-10. Voluntary protection program.

A. Participation in VPP is strictly voluntary. The applicant that wishes to participate freely submits information to VOSH on its safety and health management system and opens itself to department review.

B. VPP emphasizes trust and cooperation between VOSH, the employer, employees, and employee representatives and is complementary to the department's enforcement activity but does not take its place. This partnership enables the department to remove participating sites from programmed inspection lists, allowing it to focus inspection resources on establishments in greater need of department oversight and intervention. However, VOSH will continue to investigate valid employee safety and health complaints, referrals, fatalities, accidents, and other significant events at VPP participant sites in accordance with VOSH enforcement procedures.

C. VPP participants develop and implement a systems approach to effectively identify, evaluate, prevent, and control occupational hazards so that injuries and illnesses to employees are prevented.

D. VPP participants are selected based on their written safety and health management system, the effective implementation of this system over time, and their performance in meeting VPP requirements. Not all worksites are appropriate candidates for VPP. At qualifying sites, all personnel are involved in the effort to maintain rigorous, detailed attention to safety and health. VPP participants often mentor other worksites interested in improving safety and health, participate in safety and health outreach and training initiatives, share best practices, and promote excellence in safety and health in their industries and communities.

E. VPP participants must demonstrate continuous improvement in the operation and impact of their safety and health management systems. Annual VPP self-evaluations help participant's measure success, identify areas needing improvement, and determine needed changes. VOSH onsite evaluation teams verify this improvement.

F. Participation in VPP does not diminish employee and employer rights and responsibilities under VOSH laws, standards, and regulations.

G. The provisions of this chapter are intended to provide solely for the safety, health, and welfare of employees and the benefits thereof shall not run to any applicant, participant, or any other person nor shall a third party have any right of action for breach of any provision of this chapter except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter.

H. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to in any way limit the commissioner's discretion to use department personnel and resources in accordance with the powers and duties as set forth in Title 40.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Statutory Authority

§§ 40.1-22 and 40.1-49.13 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 9, eff. January 25, 2018.

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