Saftey

A common topic for many members of our community is safety. The citizens of Port St. John should know that the Reliant Energy facility in Port St. John has made a commitment to obtain OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Certification.

What is VPP? The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) promotes worksite-based safety and health. The VPP program establishes performance-based, measurable criteria for facility safety and health programs. Workplaces, like the Reliant Facility in Port St. John, apply for VPP certification from OSHA, and they are then assessed against these criteria. Once a facility applies for VPP, they enter a rigorous process that examines management, safety and health training, leadership, employee involvement in safety, work site safety analysis, and hazard prevention and control. There is then a comprehensive onsite review by OSHA to evaluate the workplace safety and health program and to interview employees. Workplaces that are accepted must then submit annual self-evaluations and undergo periodic onsite re-evaluations to remain in the program and at the OSHA certification level.

Why is it important to the citizens of Port St. John to know that Reliant’s Facility in Port St. John is working to become VPP Certified? Statistical evidence for VPP’s success is impressive. The average VPP worksite in the United States has seen a 52% reduction in worker safety incidents. Simply put, VPP certified sites are statistically safer!! The Reliant Energy facility in Port St. John is presently moving through the VPP application process, and they have recently sent seven of their employees to an OSHA VPP workshop. We will keep you posted on their progress as they work towards achieving OSHA VPP certification. If you would like to learn more about the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program, visit OSHA’s VPP website at: http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html