Shoeneck Containers in New Berlin, Wis., a manufacturer of plastic containers for consumers and commercial businesses around the world, recently announced it has reduced workplace injuries by 90 percent while doubling the size of its workforce by entering the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) offered by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
What Is SHARP?
SHARP is a free, comprehensive consultation service offered by OSHA and regional safety partners. The goal of this program is to help improve the occupational safety and health programs put in place by private businesses. Most consultations take place onsite, and they provide several benefits to workers, management and the business as a whole.
Employee Benefits
- Helps workers identify and remove workplace/worksite hazards
- Protects employees from injuries and illnesses
- Improves morale
Management Benefits
- Helps managers comply with federal and state laws and regulations
- Increases overall management effectiveness
- Increases productivity and product quality
Business Benefits
- Demonstrates how the cost of accidents greatly outweighs the cost of accident prevention
- Lowers workers’ compensation rates
- Limits damage to equipment and inventory
How SHARP Works
SHARP is open to all businesses that have fewer than 250 employees at one site and fewer than 500 employees at all locations, not including franchises. The consultations are completely confidential, and consultants from OSHA are not allowed to issue citations or, propose penalties to OSHA or report possible violations to OSHA enforcement.
In fact, most business in the program are exempt from standard OSHA inspections for up to a year. In addition, successfully completing the program and following through with all recommendations guarantees that your business will pass future OSHA inspections.
The program consists of four steps that will educate you about general approaches to workplace safety and health, provide you with a written report of findings, help you develop and maintain and effective program for preventing illness and injury and provide training for you and your staff.
The four steps are as follows:
- Opening conference
- Walkthrough and analysis
- Closing conference
- Abatement and followup
SHARP Certification
Once you complete the consultation, the consultant will evaluate your response, and based on that evaluation, may recommend your business for SHARP certification. If approved, most states will conduct a ceremony to recognize the achievement, and your business will be exempt from programmed inspections for up to two years.
After two years, you may request a SHARP renewal for up to three additional years by continuing to meet all certification and renewal criteria. You can read a variety of SHARP success stories and view all SHARP-certified businesses by state at the OSHA website.
For further information about SHARP and OSHA’s Onsite Consultation Program, visit OSHA.gov or call (800) 321-OSHA.
