Sponsors (2)
The bill expands and modernizes a voluntary workplace safety program—potentially improving safety and reducing regulatory burden for participating employers—while trading off reduced routine OSHA oversight, reallocated agency funding, and reliance on alternative oversight mechanisms that could leave some workers less protected.
Workers at participating worksites (e.g., construction, transportation, healthcare) will face fewer occupational hazards because employers must adopt comprehensive safety and health management systems.
Employers already in good standing with the prior Voluntary Protection Program can continue participation, preserving existing safety gains and program continuity.
Participation in the Program is free and cannot be conditioned on fees, lowering financial barriers for employers to join.
Exempting approved worksites from programmed inspections and prohibiting citations from onsite evaluations reduces independent oversight and enforcement, increasing the risk that workplace hazards persist and workers remain unprotected.
The requirement to direct at least 5% of OSHA appropriations to the Program could divert funds from other OSHA activities or enforcement priorities.
Reliance on special Government employees and regional internal controls risks inconsistent evaluations and potential conflicts of interest if oversight is weak, undermining program integrity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a permanent, no-fee OSHA Voluntary Protection Program to recognize employer safety systems, exempt participants from programmed inspections, require hazard correction, and dedicate at least 5% of OSHA funds to run it.
Official title: To authorize the Department of Labor's voluntary protection program.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Diana Harshbarger · Last progress April 10, 2025
Creates the Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program within the Department of Labor to recognize employers that adopt comprehensive workplace safety and health management systems. The Secretary of Labor must run the program, accept applications, perform annual self-evaluations and onsite evaluations that do not trigger OSHA citations (but require correction of serious hazards), exempt approved worksites from programmed inspections, provide a no-cost tiered challenge pathway, modernize program technology within two years, and spend at least 5% of OSHA appropriations each year to operate the program.