title: On the road to the OSHA voluntary protection program.
abstract: In 1998, representatives from the Employee Health Services, Safety and Security, Physical Therapy, Human Resources, and Legal Affairs Departments and the Risk Management Program at Robert Packer Hospital (RPH) in Sayre, PA began a project to create a "culture of safety." The journey would ultimately lead to application to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program (OSHA VPP). Four years later, because of the dedication and collaboration of many individuals, RPH received notification that its application for OSHA VPP participation was approved by the Assistant Secretary of Labor. This article describes that journey and provides other healthcare organizations with the information needed to begin their own journey to successful project implementation.
authors.affiliation: Guthrie Health's Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA, USA. marysadamus@aol.com
authors.forename: Mary Sgarlata
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Adamus
mesh_terms: D004496:Education, Continuing; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D016272:Occupational Health; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010414:Pennsylvania; D016730:Program Development; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration