Good performance. Voluntary Protection Programs

participants are selected based on their written

safety and health management system and ongoing performance. OSHA also conducts a thorough

on-site evaluation to judge how well the site’s protective system is working, including a review of

site injury/illness rates. Continuous improvement

is expected.

Star

The Star Program is designed for exemplary

worksites with comprehensive, successful safety

and health management systems. Companies in

the Star Program have achieved injury and illness

rates at or below the national average of their

respective industries. These sites are self-sufficient

in their ability to control workplace hazards. 

Star participants are reevaluated every three to

five years, although incident rates are reviewed 

annually.

Merit

Merit is an effective stepping stone to Star. Merit

sites have good safety and health management

systems, but these systems need some improvement to be judged excellent. Merit sites demonstrate the potential and the commitment to meet

goals tailored to each site and to achieve Star

quality within three years. However, each Merit

site is limited to one three-year term unless a second term is approved by the Assistant Secretary

of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Onsite evaluations occur every 18 to 24 months.

Scope

All groups covered by OSHA, including federal

agencies, are eligible to join the Voluntary

Protection Programs. Each worksite that applies

must show a commitment to effective safety and

health management systems and work to be an

industry leader in occupational safety and health.

General Requirements

An effective, ongoing safety and health program.

OSHA believes an effective safety and health

management system is the best way to prevent

occupational illnesses and injuries. By meeting

performance-based criteria, the VPP participant is

expected to use a comprehensive system geared

toward each worksite’s needs. Management leadership and employee participation, in addition to

company self-evaluations, are key elements of

this process. Annual self-evaluations measure

success and identify areas needing improvement.

Cooperation. VPP emphasizes trust and cooperation among OSHA, the employers, employees and

employee representatives. Since 1982, this cooperation – and the excellent protection found at

VPP sites – complements the agency's enforcement activity without replacing it, allowing the

agency to focus its inspection resources on higher-risk establishments. Although VPP sites are

exempt from programmed inspections, employers and employees retain their rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and

Health Act.

FactSheet

Voluntary Protection Programs

Created in 1982, OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs recognize and partner with

businesses and worksites that show excellence in occupational safety and health.

Sites are committed to effective employee protection beyond the requirements of

OSHA standards. VPP participants develop and implement systems to effectively

identify, evaluate, prevent, and control occupational hazards to prevent employee

injuries and illnesses. As a result, the average VPP worksite has a lost workday incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average of its industry. OSHA removes 

participants from programmed inspection lists.
Star Demonstration

The Star Demonstration program is designed for

worksites with Star quality safety and health protection to test alternatives to current Star eligibility and performance requirements. Promising and

successful projects are considered for changes to

Star requirements. Star Demonstration program

participants are evaluated every 12 to 18 months.

OSHA Responsibilities

Application review. Each applicant undergoes a

review of its safety and health programs. The

multi-stepped on-site review requires about four

days, depending on the size of the facility and

complexity of the operations. In addition to a

review of records, logs and inspection history, the

on-site review includes an initial meeting with

management staff and employees, a walk-through

of the facilities to determine hazards and precautions, formal and informal interviews, and a closing meeting to discuss findings and recommendations. Current employees of a VPP site can serve

on an evaluation team by volunteering for an

OSHA training course and becoming a Special

Government Employee.

Evaluation. Star Demonstration sites are evaluated every 12 to 18 months, Merit sites every 18 to

24 months, and Star sites every three to five

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

years. Injury and illness rates are compared to

national averages. Merit sites must show a 

commitment toward gaining Star status within

three years.

Contact person. OSHA assigns a VPP site representative to each VPP workplace to provide ongoing guidance and assistance.

Inspections. Participation in VPP does not eliminate the rights or responsibilities of employers or

employees under the Occupational Safety and

Health Act. OSHA enforcement inspections will

result from valid complaints, workplace accidents

or fatalities, chemical leaks and spills and other

significant events.

All states with approved occupational safety and

health programs offer VPP programs. A list of

states with approved programs is available at

OSHA’s website. For further information about a

specific state program, contact the state program

directly.

For more information on joining VPP, contact

OSHA’s Office of Partnerships and Recognition at

(202) 693-2213 or the VPP Manager at your OSHA

Regional Office.

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information:

8/2009