The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting public comment on proposed information-collection requirements for its voluntary protection programs (VPP).
Established in 1982 to promote cooperation on employee protection among government, industry, and labor, VPP recognize effective worksite-based safety and health management systems.
VPP approval is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. To earn and maintain VPP approval, participants must apply for entry into the program and undergo annual evaluations that indicate adherence to ongoing procedural enhancements and requirements.
OSHA recently modified procedures for VPP applicants, including onsite evaluations and annual participant self-evaluations. To evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of these procedures, OSHA has invited interested stakeholders to submit comments on the following aspects of VPP:
• whether the information-collection requirements are necessary for proper performance of the agency's functions, including whether the information is useful;
• the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the time and cost burden of information-collection requirements
• the quality, utility, and clarity of information collected
• ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply, for example, by using automated or other technological information-collection and -transmission techniques.
Interested parties can access the Federal Register for specific details regarding affected VPP and the submission of comments.
Comments are due by 4:45 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2008, and can be submitted electronically.
