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OSHA announced a plan to offer the Voluntary Protection Plan (VPP) to a broad group in the construction industry. Previously only owners, general contractors, and projects of a long duration could qualify for a VPP. OSHA is recognizing that subcontractors and general contractors that do short projects can make a significant difference on the safety on a jobsite. They have published a set of guidelines and are asking for comments before going forward with those guidelines. The due date for comments is November 1, 2004.

Here's the draft Notice of VPPC program. Go here to leave a comment for OSHA.

I need to spend more time reading through the proposal before I offer my comments. I'll share those here at the same time I send them to OSHA. In the meantime, I urge you to read the draft document and send your comments to OSHA. The VPPC is perhaps the most important initiative OSHA has taken for the construction industry in the last 10 years. OSHA put it this way in the draft document:

"In calendar year 2002, construction companies accounted for an estimated six percent of total private sector employment, but almost nine percent of total work-related recordable injuries and illnesses. There were 1,121 work-related fatalities involving construction work, more than 20 percent of the private sector's 5,524 fatalities reported during that year."

I will comment on the program proposal in more detail over the next weeks. Please join me in getting behind this important initiative. Based on the success of VPP in other industries the VPPC is sure to make a significant contribution to the safety of our friends and colleagues.

Read Safety Everyday's construction safety in the news sideblog.