Safety

OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is charged by Congress "to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources." OSHA does this "by encouraging employers and employees in their efforts to reduce the number of occupational safety and health hazards at their places of employment, and to stimulate employers and employees to institute new and to perfect existing programs for providing safe and healthful working conditions."

One of the programs, and perhaps its premier program, that OSHA uses to meet this challenge is the Voluntary Protection Program. The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. In this program, management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. Approval into VPP is OSHA's official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.

In order to qualify for VPP certification, worksites must meet performance-based criteria for safety and health systems. The worksite files an extensive application and then OSHA assesses the applicant against the performance criteria. OSHA's verification includes an application review and a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of OSHA safety and health experts.

Less than one one-hundredth of one percent of the worksites in the U.S. have been certified by OSHA as VPP Star worksites.

In March 2007, Wheelabrator achieved its goal of having all 21 of its energy facilities certified as OSHA VPP Star worksites. Only nine other companies in the U.S. have more worksites certified as VPP Star locations.

According to OSHA: "Statistical evidence for VPP's success is impressive. The average VPP worksite has a lost workday incidence rate 52% below the average for its industry." Obviously, fewer injuries and illnesses mean less expense for employers in terms of lower workers' compensation premiums and other costs associated with lost work time.

Wheelabrator's VPP Star worksites Wheelabrator Frackville Energy Wheelabrator Concord Wheelabrator South Broward Wheelabrator North Broward Wheelabrator Lisbon Wheelabrator McKay Bay Wheelabrator North Andover Wheelabrator Hudson Falls Wheelabrator Gloucester Wheelabrator Millbury Wheelabrator Spokane Wheelabrator Bridgeport Wheelabrator Falls Wheelabrator Westchester Wheelabrator Ridge Energy Wheelabrator Claremont Wheelabrator Lassen Wheelabrator Shasta Wheelabrator Saugus Wheelabrator Baltimore Wheelabrator Norwalk