THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997 TAG: 9702060405
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LON WAGNER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 51 lines
Virginia companies with high worker injury rates will have two choices this summer when the state rolls out its Compliance Alternative Program - volunteer or get a surprise inspection.
A couple hundred business owners, managers and union representatives were warned and briefed on other changes in state regulations Wednesday at Camp Pendleton.
The briefing was one of a series of updates that the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry will hold this year.
Many topics focused on small changes to the laws that impact businesses, but the segment dealing with the Compliance Alternative Program signals a change in philosophy at Virginia Occupational Safety and Health.
VOSH is charged with enforcing workplace safety rules, much like the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. But Elizabeth Andrews, who works on legal matters at VOSH, said the department is shifting its focus from rooting out violations and assessing fines to helping companies comply with the law.
``Why CAP?'' she asked. ``To stay competitive with other states. We hope this partnership with employers will reduce injuries better than traditional enforcement methods.''
The Compliance Alternative Program will work like this: VOSH will use serious Worker's Compensation claims and employment data to determine the companies in Virginia with the highest injury rates.
VOSH should have a list of companies by this summer, Andrews said. The public will never know the names of those companies, she said, because the VOSH program is exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests.
The companies will then have the option of becoming part of the program - though Andrews' description of the ``voluntary'' program drew laughs from the audience
``Employers who do not wish to participate who are on this list will be subject to an unannounced, comprehensive inspection with traditional penalties,'' she said.
The employer will have to come up with an action plan to reduce workplace injuries, conduct an employee-assisted inspection to determine unsafe work areas, agree to an unannounced follow-up inspection by VOSH and conduct ``self-inspections'' every three months.
VOSH, however, says it retains its enforcement powers if an employer doesn't meet its obligations under the program.
In return for joining the program, VOSH will provide the business with materials to help them begin a safety program, hold briefings with managers and employee representatives and assign a VOSH compliance officer to each business.