OSHA Programs Alliance Program: Though

OSHA Programs

Alliance Program:

Though the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is responsible for providing oversight to businesses where safety and worker health are concerned, it does not develop its standards alone. The Alliance Program is designed to channel the input of a variety of invested parties into the development of compliance assistance tools and resources According to the U.S. Department of Labor (2012), a wide array of pertinent groups are tapped to construct and share best practices information and knowledge. According to the DoL, "these groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, businesses, faith- and community-based organizations, and educational institutions." (U.S. Department of Labor, p. 1)

The Alliance Program has been since 2004 and was developed as a response to insufficient safety resources available to workers in a wide range of industries. The program's milestone successes include the collaborative development of employee safety education tools and resources with industrial operations or professional associations such as Altec Industries, the American Foundry Society and Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association.

Voluntary Protection Program:

A key aspect of OSHA's efforts since 1979 when California initiated the first pilot program, the Department of Labor (2013) indicates that the Voluntary Protection Program was established as a way of recognizing the efforts of business leaders taking health and safety initiative. Under the premise that recognition could promote performance beyond OSHA's basic standards, the program in question has proven particularly successful. According to Department of Labor, "the average VPP worksite has a Days Away Restricted or Transferred (DART) case 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." (Department of Labor1, 1)

This denotes that the impact of this program on safety has been an overall improvement of worker conditions in contexts qualifying for the protection in question. This also spares OSHA resources by reducing the necessity for regularly scheduled inspection visits.

Challenge Program:

Subordinate to the Voluntary Protection Program but called into action in 2006, the Challenge Program was created to provide critical support and resources to those businesses taking the initiative to improve safety and health standards. According to the Department of Labor, the major contribution of the Challenge Program to general worker health and safety is its proliferation of innovative electronic tools for monitoring safety compliance.