DOLI – Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

Virginia STAR is a FREE recognition program promoting worksite-based safety and health excellence. The program assists businesses and government agencies in substantially improving occupational safety and health protections for thousands of employees through voluntary and cooperative efforts to create a safer work environment. These efforts include a reduction of injuries, illnesses and fatal accidents; while decreasing insurance premiums, Workers’ Compensation costs and absenteeism, and increasing productivity and competitiveness.

For more information, please email us at VPPStar@doli.virginia.gov

Eligibility

Virginia STAR is for Virginia worksites of any size. Current participants range from sites with less than 20 employees to sites including more than 1,800 employees.

There are four major elements to Virginia STAR:

Management Leadership & Employee Involvement
Worksite Analysis
Hazard Prevention & Control
Safety & Health Training

For more information, please email us at VPPStar@doli.virginia.gov

Benefits

Improves employee motivation to work safely, leading to higher quality and productivity.
Reduces workers’ compensation costs.
Reduction of 50% or more for lost workday injuries as compared to an average site of the same size in the same industry.
Improvement of exemplary programs, through the internal and external review that is part of the VPP application process.
National recognized program.

Application Process

Once your application is submitted and accepted, a date will be set for a VPP team to come to your site. This team will consist of VOSH employees, Special Government Employees (SGE) and Private Industry Volunteers. The team will verify the site’s safety and health program is fully operational and addresses all potential hazards at the site. The team will also conduct interviews with a wide range of site employees and supervisors.

At the conclusion of their visit, the VPP Team will provide their recommendation for the level of participation in Virginia STAR. This recommendation will then be presented to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry for final approval.