Cal/OSHA

Partnership Programs

About Partnership Programs

Construction Worker Cal/OSHA has long recognized the need to find innovative approaches to improving occupational safety and health in industry. Safety and health standards, no matter how carefully conceived and crafted, will never address all work activities and conditions. It is not possible to conduct enforcement inspections in every workplace, but it is possible to make critical safety and health information available to every employer and employee and to improve workplace safety culture throughout the state. The potential for doing so is greatly magnified when industry, labor and Cal/OSHA can work together in a cooperative manner.

Cal/OSHA was the first agency in the nation to develop what is now called the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), a program that specifically relies on the efficiencies gained by management, worker, and government cooperation to improve workplace safety and health. Since the inception of this project, Cal/OSHA’s cooperative consultation programs have blossomed into four different structured partnership programs, and Cal/OSHA continues to experiment with new approaches to partnering with labor and management to promote safety.

Benefits

Participation in one of the Division's partnership programs will provide the following benefits. Some programs also offer an exemption from routine enforcement inspections.

Reduction in injuries and illnesses
Lower worker's compensation costs
Improvement in employee motivation
Higher quality and productivity
Community recognition as a leader
Statewide recognition from their industry and government as a quality employer
Increased job referrals and bid acceptance

Program Overview

California Voluntary Protection Program (Star and VPP Construction) is a top-level safety and health leadership program designed for fixed and non-site establishments. Large construction projects that will be in operation for at least one year may be eligible for Cal/VPP Star fix-site recognition. Non-fixed worksite employers, such as construction contractors. Statewide recognition and exemption from programmed inspections will apply to all sites in California where the Cal/VPP Construction employer has overall responsibility for worker safety and health at the site.

SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) is a mid-level recognition program that may offer eligible employers an exemption from Cal/OSHA Enforcement programmed inspections. California offers two SHARP programs: Cal/SHARP for high-hazard employers with fixed- and mobile-worksites, except construction worksites; and Cal/SHARP – Construction, a pilot program for contractors working at construction sites.

Golden Gate is an entry-level program for small high-hazard employers and is site specific. Employers must have an established, minimally effective injury and illness prevention program in order to receive recognition. The Golden Gate program does not offer inspection exemptions.

Alliances enable organizations committed to workplace safety and health to collaborate with OSHA to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace. OSHA and its allies work together to reach out to, educate, and lead the nation's employers and their employees in improving and advancing workplace safety and health.