VPPPA Launches 'Safety Excellence Journey'

The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association (VPPPA) has launched new safety and health resources designed to help companies and sites achieve what the organization calls “total safety excellence.”
The program is designed to aid participants through a structured continuous improvement plan that includes enhanced self-assessments and tailored mentoring opportunities and will oﬃcially launch Sept. 1.
As part of the program, VPPPA has developed a gap analysis tool—available to any company or worksite free of charge—that can be used to identify strengths and weaknesses in a company or site’s existing safety and health management program.
“By leveraging current VPPPA member knowledge and expertise, VPPPA has created the tools and processes to help workplaces across the country on their journeys to achieve health and safety excellence,” stated VPPPA Chairperson Terry J. Schulte, in a statement.
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law three pieces of legislation that seek to preserve worker protections.
One bill, the Illinois Workers’ Rights and Safety Act, codified under state law the worker protections granted under the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and Coal Mine Health and Safety Act.
“This legislation is crucial to ensure that long-established worker protections remain intact in Illinois, especially in the face of persistent federal threats to workers’ rights,” according to a statement from the Governor’s office.
The law also requires the Illinois Department of Labor to replace any repealed federal occupational safety standard with a state standard to protect workers across the state.
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Next Insurance is making the case for businesses to save money by creating a workplace safety program.
The neo-carrier, which offers small business workers compensation coverage, outlined six steps, from conducting a thorough hazard assessment to scheduling regular and consistent training sessions, for SMBs to follow.
Resources link to a variety of industry and regulator websites.
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