Today's Safety News
VPPPA Comments on OSHA’s Realignment of VPP Core Elements
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced updates to its Voluntary Protection Programs Policies and Procedures Manual effective June 16, 2026. Notably, sites participating in OSHA’s VPP will be required to follow the seven core elements outlined in OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs. Changes to the program, including updates to language for Medical Access Orders, and the creation of both VPP Elite and VPP Emeritus levels, are outlined in OSHA Directive CSP 03-01-005.
“VPPPA recognizes that, as part of our collective goal to raise the standard for workplace safety across the United States, the programs we utilize to achieve this must continually evolve,” stated VPPPA Chairperson Terry J. Schulte (MI Windows & Doors; Tacoma, WA). “OSHA’s announcement that its Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) will now align with the agency’s “Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs” represents another step forward for VPP and VPPPA members.”
Continued Schulte, “VPPPA, as we have done for more than 40 years, stands ready to provide its members and all American workplaces with the resources and expertise to implement the seven core elements outlined in OSHA’s Recommended Practices through our mentoring and Journey Toward Safety Excellence programs. Together, VPPPA, its members and OSHA will work together to help every workplace achieve the levels of safety and health excellence that VPP sites currently represent.”
Resources and guidance pertaining to the updated VPP Core Elements will be available during VPPPA’s 2026 Safety + Symposium in Nashville August 30-September 2. Learning opportunities will be available to help existing VPP sites adapt their programs, and for those implementing world-class safety and health management systems through VPPPA’s Journey to Safety Excellence. Additional resources and guidance, including webinars, process maps and mentoring, will also be made available following the Symposium.
For more information, visit www.vpppa.org.
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