I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 632 
To authorize the Department of Labor’s voluntary protection program and 
to expand the program to include more small businesses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2013 
Mr. PETRI (for himself, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, 
and Mr. AMODEI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To authorize the Department of Labor’s voluntary protection 
program and to expand the program to include more 
small businesses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Voluntary Protection 
Program Act’’. 
SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
(a) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of 
Labor shall establish a program of entering into coopera-
tive agreements with employers to encourage the establish-
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ment of comprehensive safety and health management sys-
tems that include— 
(1) requirements for systematic assessment of 
hazards; 
(2) comprehensive hazard prevention, mitiga-
tion, and control programs; 
(3) active and meaningful management and em-
ployee participation in the voluntary program de-
scribed in subsection (b); and 
(4) employee safety and health training. 
(b) VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor shall 
establish and carry out a voluntary protection pro-
gram (consistent with subsection (a)) to encourage 
excellence and recognize the achievement of excel-
lence in both the technical and managerial protec-
tion of employees from occupational hazards. 
(2) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The voluntary 
protection program shall include the following: 
(A) APPLICATION.—Employers who volun-
teer under the program shall be required to 
submit an application to the Secretary of Labor 
demonstrating that the worksite with respect to 
which the application is made meets such re-
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quirements as the Secretary of Labor may re-
quire for participation in the program. 
(B) ONSITE
EVALUATIONS.—There shall 
be onsite evaluations by representatives of the 
Secretary of Labor to ensure a high level of 
protection of employees. The onsite visits shall 
not result in enforcement of citations under the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
(29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.). 
(C) INFORMATION.—Employers who are 
approved by the Secretary of Labor for partici-
pation in the program shall assure the Sec-
retary of Labor that information about the 
safety and health program shall be made read-
ily available to the Secretary of Labor to share 
with employees. 
(D) REEVALUATIONS.—Periodic reevalua-
tions by the Secretary of Labor of the employ-
ers shall be required for continued participation 
in the program. 
(3) MONITORING.—To ensure proper controls 
and measurement of program performance for the 
voluntary protection program under this section, the 
Secretary of Labor shall direct the Assistant Sec-
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retary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health 
to take the following actions: 
(A) Develop a documentation policy re-
garding information on follow-up actions taken 
by the regional offices of the Occupational Safe-
ty and Health Administration in response to fa-
talities and serious injuries at worksites partici-
pating in the voluntary protection program. 
(B) Establish internal controls that ensure 
consistent compliance by the regional offices of 
the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis-
tration with the voluntary protection program 
policies of the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration for conducting onsite reviews 
and monitoring injury and illness rates, to en-
sure that only qualified worksites participate in 
the program. 
(C) Establish a system for monitoring the 
performance of the voluntary protection pro-
gram by developing specific performance goals 
and measures for the program. 
(4) EXEMPTIONS.—A site with respect to which 
a voluntary protection program has been approved 
shall, during participation in the program, be ex-
empt from inspections or investigations and certain 
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