OSHA Seeks To Preserve VPP, But Trim Spending On Federal Compliance Assistance

OSHA plans to maintain funding for Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) under the Obama administration's budget plan for the agency heading into the next fiscal year, but reduce federal compliance assistance costs overall to ensure state consultation funds are preserved, agency officials say. Among upcoming changes, OSHA says it will no longer offer the Corporate and Merit VPP program to new sites in fiscal 2013. At the same time the agency says it plans to form new agreements -- as well as 18 new partnerships in high-hazard industries in fiscal 2013. The agency's plans for funding the programs