The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) recognize and partner with businesses and worksites that show excellence in occupational safety and health.

Created by OSHA in 1982, the VPP recognizes the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health programs exceeding OSHA standards.

To qualify for VPP status, sites must have an effective and comprehensive safety and health management system in place that meets performance-based criteria, as well as occupational injury and illness rates that fall below industry averages.

Three recognition classifications address unique safety and health issues: Star, Merit, and Star Demonstration.

According to Tom Gentner, director of Environment, Safety and Health at Rockwell Collins, only 0.02 percent of all United States workplace sites have achieved VPP status on safety program and performance.

The Rockwell Collins Service Center in Wichita, Kan., recently became our fourth facility to earn Star status, which is the highest honor that OSHA can bestow upon a company for safety in the workplace. Our facilities in Bellevue, Coralville, and Decorah have also been recognized in past years with Star status.

"This outstanding achievement further validates the safety and health program in Wichita," said Gentner. "The facility has been delivering quality safety performance for a long time."

Read the full story on Wichita's success

Check out a VPP fact sheet

More information about VPP