Layne is scheduled to speak as part of Panel 10 from 3:50 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. Unifying the perspectives of the agency, corporate America and the 900,000 workers impacted by OSHA's VPP, he will testify to the merits of this innovative, cooperative program as a way for the agency to enhance and encourage the efforts of employers, workers and unions to identify and address workplace hazards.

"VPP is more than a recognition program," says Layne in the prepared speech submitted to OSHA on February 8. "It builds on the cooperation between management, labor and the government in a joint effort to go above and beyond OSHA standards to protect workers from unaddressed, inadequately addressed and emerging hazards. Unlike enforcement, VPP is a safety and health management system that addresses real problems in real time, leading the way for more current safety and health program standards."

"OSHA Listens" is available via a live webcast at www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/live. For a copy of the submitted speech, please e-mail Communications@vpppa.org.

VPPPA, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is dedicated to promoting advances in worker safety and health excellence through cooperation among communities, workers, industries and governments. The more than 2,100 VPPPA member sites primarily consist of worksites that have been approved, or are seeking approval, into VPP as administered by OSHA, state-plan OSHA and the Department of Energy.

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