Conversion Technology, Inc. (CTI) has over 20 years of experience assisting a wide variety of industries in achieving safety and health excellence, and is fully qualified to aid any manufacturing or processing facility in pursuing OSHA’s VPP certification and attaining all of the resulting benefits of this program.

Significant Benefits
In addition to being recognized as industry leaders in occupational safety and health, VPP-certified facilities also benefit from noteworthy financial gains. Statistically, the average worksite participating in the VPP has a lost workday incidence rate at least 50% below its industry average. Because of this significant decrease in job-related injuries, the VPP facility enjoys major decreases in workers’ compensation claims and premiums. One example of such savings is Lockheed Martin: between 1999, the year before beginning VPP, to 2006, the workers’ compensation costs at their New Jersey facility decreased from $740,121 to $93,938.

VPP Certification Requirements

• An effective, ongoing safety and health program. The facility must have a management program in place that structures the facility’s safety efforts and facilitates ongoing improvement.
• Cooperation. The facility must demonstrate the mutual commitment of management and employees to maintaining and improving safety at the facility.
• Good Performance. The facility must show that its management system is functioning effectively as a means of improving workplace safety and health.

Companies in the Merit program have strong safety and health management systems in place, but some improvement is needed to reach the standards of the Star program. It is expected that Merit companies will achieve Star quality within 3 years. On-site evaluations occur every 18 to 24 months.

Application Process
A rigorous evaluation is performed by OSHA for entrance into the VPP. An on-site review, which lasts about four days, will be performed. During this review, inspection records, logs and inspection history will be evaluated. There will be both formal and informal interviews of management staff and employees. Finally, a closing meeting with the site contact will be performed to offer recommendations. After careful review, OSHA will determine whether the company meets the Star program requirements, is allowed to enter into the Merit program, or is declined entrance.

Assistance Offered by CTI
CTI is an Environmental, Health & Safety Engineering consulting firm whose goal is to provide clients with practical strategies that enable them to reduce liabilities and become more profitable. CTI is staffed with qualified health and safety professionals and registered engineers with extensive experience assisting facilities in reducing workplace accidents and injuries. Our wide range of experience with clients includes all types of industrial facilities. We are uniquely suited to design a safety and health management system to fit any manufacturing or processing facility’s needs.

It is clear that the benefits a facility can gain through participation in OSHA’s VPP are significant. CTI is ready to assist your facility in meeting the requirements of this program. A qualified engineer will:

• Assess all of your current Health and Safety Programs;
• Assess workers’ risk;
• Develop a comprehensive safety and health management system uniquely designed to satisfy the rigorous VPP safety standards;
• Help you effectively implement this management system, which will bring your facility into the necessary compliance for VPP entrance;
• Guide you through the application and inspection process;
• Stand with you during the on-site OSHA review;
• Be your liaison with OSHA though the entire process.