Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program Act

This bill creates a nationwide, voluntary program at the Department of Labor to recognize workplaces that go above and beyond on safety. Employers who join must build strong safety systems, check for hazards, prevent and control risks, involve workers, and provide training. To stay in, they apply, do yearly self-reviews, and get periodic onsite reviews by OSHA. These visits don’t result in citations, but any serious hazard found must be fixed within 90 days or as soon as possible. While in the program, a worksite is exempt from routine scheduled OSHA inspections, and there are no fees to apply or participate.

The bill also requires better tracking and quality control so only qualified worksites remain in the program, sets performance goals, and puts OSHA in charge of oversight at all times. OSHA must modernize the program’s technology (like applications, self-evaluations, and audit reporting) and offer a basic, no-cost “challenge” option to help employers build strong safety systems. Current OSHA voluntary protection sites can continue under the new program. OSHA must issue final rules and begin the program within two years, and it must use at least 5% of its budget each year to carry it out.

Key points

• Who is affected: Employers and workers at participating worksites; OSHA staff who review and support them.
• What changes: Creates the “Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program,” adds regular self-checks and OSHA reviews, exempts participants from routine inspections, and removes fees; improves monitoring and tech tools; adds a no-cost challenge program .
• When: OSHA must finalize rules and start the program within two years; the tech upgrade plan is also due within two years.