The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has sent a letter in support of H.R. 2500, the “Voluntary Protection Program Act,” introduced by Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind. The Act would codify the Department of Labor’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), ensuring that the program would continue with adequate funding.
VPP was formally announced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1982 and is intended to promote effective work site-based safety and health. AIHA believes that enacting the Voluntary Protection Program Act would provide direction for OSHA on how to best monitor and evaluate VPP, enhancing the program’s efficiency. AIHA also hopes that H.R. 2500 would expand the program to small businesses, which are historically underserved workplaces in terms of health and safety protection and health and safety compliance.
AIHA notes that the success of VPP has been recognized at the state level. Virginia recently became the first state to codify VPP, making the program permanent within its OSHA state plan. AIHA was a strong supporter of the bill and believes that additional states will consider similar legislation in the coming year.
