It’s official: OSHA cuts funding for compliance assistance
February 9, 2010 by Fred HosierPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, OSHA news, Voluntary Protection Program, enforcement
The writing was on the wall when OSHA said last year it was reviewing its Voluntary Protection Program. But now it’s official: The program is slated to get less funding in the President’s proposed 2011 budget.
VPP’s budget would decrease 4.1%. Simultaneously, OSHA’s enforcement budget would go up 4.5%, including the hiring of 25 new inspectors.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said the administration is working to identify funding for VPP outside of the government.
Solis said, with scarce resources, OSHA has decided to redirect funds to enforcement, targeting companies that disregard workplace safety and allow workers to die.
Besides the new inspectors, OSHA will also shift 35 employees from its compliance assistance directorate to its enforcement department.
OSHA hopes to conduct 6,250 more inspections as the result of new and transferred employees.
OSHA administrator David Michaels noted that VPP companies are doing the right thing regarding worker safety. He said OSHA needs focus on employers who don’t understand the importance of protecting workers.
What do you think of OSHA’s decision to redirect its funds from assistance to compliance? Let us know in the Comments Box below.
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Tags: compliance assistance, David Michaels, Hilda Solis, Voluntary Protection Program, VPP
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February 10th, 2010 at 6:01 am
[...] It’s official: OSHA cuts funding for compliance assistanceOSHA de-emphasizes assistance program to free up funds for enforcementDeath knell for Voluntary Protection Programs?OSHA’s new quick-hit approach on process safetyGroups file lawsuit against per-employee citation policy February 10, 2010 by Fred Hosier [...]
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:27 pm
I think this is a poor decision on OSHAs part. No doubt enforcement is important and that sector needed some fixing. But don’t take funding away from something that has proven it works.
You know the ole saying if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! Leave VPP alone!
June 3rd, 2010 at 6:01 am
[...] not a secret anymore that OSHA under the Obama administration will focus more on enforcement than employer assistance programs. But a U.S. senator has introduced a bill to make one such [...]
June 8th, 2010 at 9:35 am
It is unfortunate that this change will occur. Human nature will cause me and many others (including my employees) to hide our problems rather than to openly seek assistance, in fear of retribution. That is good for neither my company, my employees nor the nation.
June 8th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
VPP is TOO important. Sadly, it does look like OSHA is more into bringing in a revinue instead of helping companies becoming safe workplaces.