Bill > HR2844

This bill, titled the Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program Act of 2025, authorizes and establishes a program within the Department of Labor to recognize employers who voluntarily commit to robust safety and health management systems for their employees. This program, officially named the "Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program," requires employers to systematically assess hazards, implement prevention and control measures, actively involve management and employees, and provide safety training. Participating employers must apply, conduct annual self-evaluations, and undergo onsite evaluations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), though these evaluations will not result in enforcement citations. Any serious hazards identified during these onsite visits must be corrected promptly. The program also mandates that employers make safety and health information readily available to employees and undergo periodic reevaluations for continued participation. To ensure consistent oversight, audits and evaluations will be supervised by designated OSHA employees. The bill also directs OSHA to develop policies for documenting responses to fatalities and serious injuries at participating worksites, establish internal controls for consistent program compliance, and create a system for monitoring the program's performance. Importantly, worksites approved for this program will be exempt from routine OSHA inspections, and there will be no cost for employers to participate. The bill also calls for modernizing the technology used to administer the program, including its application and reporting processes, and establishes a tiered, no-cost safety and health management system challenge program. Finally, it outlines a transition process from existing voluntary protection programs and requires the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations and begin implementation within two years of enactment, dedicating at least 5 percent of OSHA's appropriated funds to carry out this Act.