Curtis Lumber is proud to
be partnered with OSHA. Our programs insure a safe
work environment for our employees as well as a safe place
for our customers to browse and shop. Curtis Lumber is the
smallest VPP company in the Nation. Eighteen of our locations
are currently involved in the Voluntary Protection
Program. (VPP) We also have 8 VPP Star Sites and 5 New
York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Safety and Health
Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) sites.
What is VPP?
The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) promote effective
worksite-based safety and health. In VPP, 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.
What Is the Authority for VPP?
The legislative underpinning for VPP is Section (2) (b)
(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970,
which declares the Congress’s intent “to assure as far as
possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe
and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human
resources – (1) by encouraging employers and employees in
their efforts to reduce the number of occupational safety
and health hazards at their place of employment, and to
stimulate employers and employees to institute new and to
perfect existing programs for providing safe and healthful
working conditions”
How Does VPP Work?
In practice, VPP sets performance-based criteria for a
managed safety and health system, invites sites to apply,
and then assesses applications against these criteria.
OSHA’s verification includes an application review and a
rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of OSHA safety and
health experts. Sites that make the grade must submit
annual self-evaluations and undergo periodic onsite
re-evaluations to remain in the programs.
How Has VPP Improved Worker Safety and Health?
Statistical evidence for VPP’s success is impressive. The
average VPP worksite has a lost workday incidence rate of
52% below the average for its industry. These sites
typically do not start out with such low rates. Reductions
in injuries and illnesses begin when the site commits to
the VPP approach to safety and health management and the
challenging VPP application process.
What is SHARP?
The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program
(SHARP) recognizes small employers who operate exemplary
safety and health management system. Acceptance into SHARP
by OSHA is an achievement of status that will single you
out among your business peers as a model for worksite
safety and health.
The Curtis Way is the Safe Way for all of our
Employees, Customers and Vendors.
If you or your organization is interested in developing a
safe and healthy work environment for your employees and
customers please e-mail our Safety Director Tracy Cook
for more details or visit the OSHA website at
www.osha.gov
Route 67, Ballston
Spa, NY 12020 | 1800-724-WOOD
