Economic Effects of the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Compliance Programs
This report evaluates the economic effects of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s (DOLI) Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) compliance programs. Virginia is one of 22 states authorized by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to enforce its own Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regulations for private enterprises and state and local government organizations. The VOSH program, initially approved in 1976 and fully approved in 1988, seeks to improve workplace safety and health through inspections, compliance activities, outreach, consultation services, training, and recognition programs. The report outlines key findings in:
- program structure and activities
- workplace safety and health trends
- long-term effects of workplace injuries and illnesses
- economic impact analysis
- cost-effectiveness analysis
The VOSH compliance programs provide substantial economic benefits to the state of Virginia by reducing workplace injuries and illnesses, improving worker productivity, and generating positive economic and fiscal impacts. The cost-effectiveness of VOSH inspections further supports the value of continued investment in workplace safety and health initiatives. These conclusions are based primarily on assessing the long-term effects of VOSH compliance on the most serious categories of injuries and illnesses.