specific criteria including: demonstrated knowledge and expertise of safety and health management systems; availability of resources and

expertise to perform necessary administrative

functions; and commitment to the growth of the

program.

Challenge Administrators must make a commitment to sponsor a specific number of eligible participants. For the pilot, Administrators must sponsor a minimum of 10 participants. Administrators

serve as the primary contact for Challenge

Participants and OSHA. The Administrator will

appoint and use a Coordinator(s) to assist and

manage participant activities. Sponsored

Challenge Participants will be guided through a

series of structured stages to make incremental

improvements in their safety and health management systems. OSHA provides Challenge

How It Works

In the Challenge Pilot, OSHA works cooperatively

with Challenge Administrators to guide Challenge

Participants to incrementally improve their safety

and health management systems. An explanation

of the role of each of these key players follows:

Challenge Administrators

Challenge Administrators are organizational entities such as corporations, Federal agencies, or

nonprofit associations. For the pilot, Challenge

Administrators are invited by OSHA to participate

based on their interest and qualifications.

Challenge Pilot Administrators include private sector companies, Federal agencies and several nonprofit associations. At the conclusion of the pilot,

Administrator selections by OSHA will be made

public by official announcement in the Federal

Register. Administrators will be selected based on

FactSheet

OSHA Challenge Pilot

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created the Challenge

Pilot to provide greater opportunities for eligible employers interested in working

with OSHA to create safer and healthier workplaces for their employees. This pilot

is designed to reach and guide employers and companies in all major industry

groups strongly committed to improving their safety and health management systems and interested in pursuing recognition in the Voluntary Protection Programs

(VPP). OSHA provides Challenge Participants a guide or roadmap to improve performance and ultimately to VPP Merit or Star. The Challenge program outlines the

requirements needed to develop and implement effective safety and health management systems through incremental steps. 

OSHA Challenge uses "qualified volunteers" to sponsor and act as Administrators

for Challenge Participants. These Challenge Administrators must demonstrate

knowledge of safety and health management systems and make a commitment to

the pilot program. Challenge Administrators assist, encourage, track and periodically

report to OSHA on the progress made by Challenge Participants. OSHA recognizes

the Challenge Participants as they complete the required stages and make incremental improvements to their safety and health management systems. Once a

Challenge Participant successfully completes all the stages, they may be considered

for expedited participation in the VPP Star or Merit programs. OSHA will operate

the Challenge Pilot for at least two years. After the first year, OSHA will evaluate

the pilot to determine whether to continue, modify or terminate the program.
Administrators with tools to operate, manage and

track performance of their sponsored participants.

Challenge Administrators report on the progress

made by Challenge Participants to OSHA on a

periodic basis. 

Challenge Participants

The Challenge Pilot is open to private or public

sector employers under OSHA’s jurisdiction who

are committed to improving their safety and

health management systems. These employers

must have the sponsorship of a Challenge

Administrator. Challenge Participants must submit company information and a statement of

commitment to their Challenge Administrator.

This information must be provided to OSHA for

review and for approval of the participant for the

pilot. Additionally, OSHA and the Challenge

Administrator will determine the appropriate level

or stage for the participant’s entry into the pilot

based on the status of their safety and health

management system.

Using the roadmap or guidance materials provided by OSHA and assistance from their

Administrator, Challenge Participants will gradually progress through the stages. At each stage,

certain actions, documentation and outcomes are

required to be accomplished and documented.

Continued participation requires that each particiThis 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.

pant exhibit continued improvements in safety

and health management systems and that they

provide regular progress reports to their

Challenge Administrator. 

OSHA recognizes Challenge Participants for each

measured success and incremental improvement

through the stages. OSHA will provide incentives

and recognition to Challenge Participants at the

completion of each stage to encourage their

growth and implementation of a successful safety

and health management system. Incentives may

include access to compliance assistance and outreach, letters and certificates of recognition from

OSHA, recognition on OSHA’s website and priority

scheduling for OSHA VPP onsite evaluations.

Contact Information

For more information on VPP, contact the VPP

Manager at your OSHA Regional Office or OSHA’s

Office of Partnerships and Recognition at: 

U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs

Office of Partnerships and Recognition

200 Constitution Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20210

Telephone: (202) 693-2213

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information:

4/2004