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  • ASSP and VPPPA to collaborate on worker safety

ASSP and VPPPA to collaborate on worker safety

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Moyo WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 20, 2023) — VPPPA, the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association and the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 15 to advance health and safety excellence. The 18-month agreement brings the safety organizations together to focus on assisting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in modernizing and expanding its longstanding Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

The strategic partnership was finalized in advance of both organizations participating that day in an OSHA stakeholder meeting about improving the VPP. “ASSP has received strong support from our members to advocate for the enhancement of the VPP,” said Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP, incoming president-elect of the Society.

The MOU objectives include providing OSHA with a framework that identifies components of occupational safety and health management system consensus standards that meet requirements for VPP qualification and requalification. VPPPA and ASSP will also work together to develop recommendations for a construction and demolition-specific VPP.

“Many of our VPPPA member employees – myself included – are also ASSP members, so coming together to work toward our shared goal of enhancing workplace safety and health through the Voluntary Protection Programs is a natural fit,” said VPPPA Executive Director Chris Williams, CAE. “By combining efforts to develop pathways for other OHSMS users and underserved industry sectors to take part in the VPP, we can positively impact the program’s long-term future.”

The standards emphasized in the MOU include U.S.-based ANSI/ASSP Z10 and global standard ANSI/ASSP/ISO 45001. Other standards related to the efforts around construction and demolition operations include ANSI/ASSP A10.1 (pre-planning), ANSI/ASSP A10.33 (multiemployer worksites), ANSI/ASSP A10.38 (general occupational safety and health management principles) and ANSI/ASSP A10.39 (auditing).

“We recognize the benefits of collaboration to improve occupational safety and health practices while elevating the voice of the profession,” said ASSP CEO Jennifer McNelly, CAE. “We strive to eliminate worker illnesses, injuries and fatalities across the board, as does VPPPA, and safety organizations working together improves the ability to achieve that result.”

Since its founding in 1985, VPPPA has grown into a community of more than 1,400 VPP member sites and companies working together to raise the standard for a safe and healthy workplace through collaboration, mentorship and education. ASSP is the world’s oldest professional safety organization with 35,000 members advancing worker well-being since the Society’s inception in 1911.

Media Contacts

cheap Lyrica canada VPPPA contact: Ariana Hanaity, 703.761.6517, ahanaity@vpppa.org

ASSP contact: Blaine Krage, 847.768.3416, bkrage@assp.org

Jacqueline "Jackie" Annis is an industrial hygienist with the Office of Partnerships and Recognition, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs in OSHA’s National Office.  Jackie’s primary responsibilities include developing and overseeing internal policies and procedures for the VPP, reviewing VPP on-site evaluation reports for process safety management information, serving as the National Office liaison for two of OSHA’s ten Regions, and facilitating the management of OSHA’s National Strategic Partnership Program.  She is an integral part of OSHA’s National Office team. 

She has served with the Agency for 36 years, including five years as a senior industrial hygienist in OSHA’s Office of Health Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs in the National Office and 17 years as a compliance safety and health officer in the Denver, CO Area Office.  Prior to her tenure at OSHA, Jackie worked as an industrial hygienist for the Department of the Navy in Alameda, California.  Jackie obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA in 1983.

Wayne Howard earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Davis and has spent 12 years with Shell (at Martinez) refinery, 3 years with the consulting firm Process Safety, 15 years with Valero (at Benicia), and the last 10 years in the Corporate Process Safety Department. He is the Valero representative to AFPM's Advancing Process Safety Initiative.

Nathan Obaugh, PE is a senior engineer in the Safety and Operational Excellence Group at NuStar Energy. Nathan has over 10 years of PSM and process design experience in the petrochemical, refining and midstream industries. At NuStar, Nathan oversees all elements of the corporate PSM program and works directly on hazard analysis, process safety studies, PSM/RMP audits and provides process engineering support to the operations and capital projects groups.

Jared Teter, PhD is a senior staff scientist with a background in physics and hazards analysis. He has extensive experience in subscale testing of energetic materials and has served as program manager for several large testing and risk management projects. He has applied engineering and risk management protocols while evaluating the risk associated with propellant and explosives manufacturing, combustible dust, and other hazardous material related processes.

Tim Belitz has a degree in Environmental Health/Industrial Hygiene from Old Dominion University and a Master’s from Duke University. He has over 25 years of Industrial Health Safety and Environmental Experience and is a Certified Safety Professional. He has many years focused on Contractor Management and Process Safety programs.

Rob Walker graduated from Virginia Tech in Microbiology and Chemical Engineering. Rob has almost 35 years of experience working in the chemical plant and refining industry. His passion for Process Safety and Mechanical Integrity began very early in his career. Rob began with his current company, Honeywell, back in 2011.

Prasad Joshi has B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Chemical Engineering from two universities in India. Prasad has over 30 years’ experience in the business. He began with Honeywell in May 2022 as Principal Maintenance Engineer. He has worked internationally in Asia and Europe.