As OSHA Goes National With Chemical NEP, Organized Labor Wants VPP Sites Included

OSHA, in a move sources say closely hews to the intent of a pilot program to reduce safety hazards in chemical plants, as well as a similar effort in refineries, has launched a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) for the chemical industry in all states and regions. Worker advocates, while praising the stepped-up inspections, would like to see voluntary protection program (VPP) sites included in the new initiative, a union official told Inside OSHA Online. The newly launched NEP replaces a pilot chemical NEP launched in 2009 in several OSHA regions. The agency says the pilot program found many