The number of federally-approved OSHA Voluntary Protection Program sites has declined in the past two years, after peaking at 1,720 in 2010. As of December 31, 2012, 1,633 sites were enrolled in the VPP. At the end 0f 2011, the number stood at 1,688 sites, according to data posted on OSHA’s web site.
This drop-off follows a decade of booming growth in federal VPP sites, most occurring during the two terms of George W. Bush’s administration. In 2000, 542 sites were enrolled in VPP. By 2010, the number had more than tripled to 1,720. Between 2005 and 2008 during the second Bush term, federal VPP sites increased from 1,032 to 1,545.