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Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) - MOSH

On May 4, 2017, Governor Larry Hogan signed a bill for the historic Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Act in Maryland. The bill will continue to develop the successful VPP system, which encourages companies to take safety and health to a level above and beyond the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Act safety and health requirements.
The Maryland Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) is a cooperative effort by the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) and participating employers to extend worker protection beyond the minimum required by MOSH standards. VPP system is designed to:

  • Recognize the outstanding achievements of participating employers who have successfully incorporated comprehensive safety and health management programs into their total management system.
  • Motivate other employers to achieve excellent safety and health performance in the same manner.
  • Enable employers to establish a cooperative relationship with MOSH.

Under the Voluntary Protection Program, MOSH, management and labor establish a cooperative relationship at general industry and public sector workplaces that have implemented an exemplary safety and health management system.

  • Management commits to operate an effective program that meets an established set of criteria.
  • Employees commit to participate in the program and work with management to ensure a safe and healthful workplace.
  • Improves employer and employee safety and health performance.
  • Creates a safer working environment for the employees.
  • Enhances already good programs through continuous improvement.
  • Provides community and industry recognition.
  • Builds strong partnerships with employees and with MOSH.
  • Reduces employee’s injury and illness which lowers workers' compensation and other injury and illness-related costs

The VPP concept recognizes that the objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act can never be fully achieved by enforcement alone. Safety and health management programs which go beyond OSHA standards can protect workers more effectively.
VPP participants are a select group of employers or facilities that have designed and implemented outstanding safety and health management systems.
The benefits of VPP participation to employers and employees includes:

  • Improves employer and employee safety and health performance.
  • Creates a safer working environment for the employees.
  • Enhances already good programs through continuous improvement.
  • Provides Community and industry recognition.
  • Builds strong partnerships with employees and with MOSH.
  • Reduces employee’s injury and illness which lowers workers' compensation and other injury and illness-related costs.

Active VPP STAR Designated Sites
includes Approval Date - Designated Site, Location

  • 11/5/2005 - Performance Pipe, Hagerstown
  • 3/3/2006 - Covanta Energy, Dickerson
  • 11/27/2006 – Bayer, Galena
  • 3/12/2007 - Wheelabrator, Baltimore
  • 6/17/2008 - Sherwin Williams, Crisfield
  • 5/25/2009 - Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Baltimore
  • 6/18/2009 - Thermo Fisher Scientific, Frederick
  • 8/15/2011 - Covanta Montgomery Transfer Station, Derwood
  • 3/13/2012 - (Raytheon) Solipsys Corp., Fulton
  • 10/31/2015 - Cintas Corporation 42, Baltimore
  • 12/29/2015 - Sherwin Williams, Baltimore
  • 3/4/2016 - Cintas Corporation 387, Frederick
  • 3/4/2016 - Cintas Corporation 41, Landover
  • 5/5/2016 - Cintas Corporation 393, Hughesville
  • 5/9/2016 - Raytheon IIS Riverdale, Riverdale
  • 2/2/2018 - Cintas Corporation D52 Fire Protection Division, Jessup
  • 4/2/2018 - Cintas Corporation 386, Cumberland
  • 4/2/2018 - Cintas Corporation B22 (CRT), Cumberland
  • 3/26/2019 – Sunoco LP Terminal, Baltimore
  • 12/18/2019 – USALCO, Baltimore

Recognizing Maryland employers with exemplary safety and health performance.


For further information, contact:
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health
10946 Golden West Drive, Suite 160
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
Phone: 410 527-4499