AUGUSTA — Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette recently announced that four Maine employers have earned the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program award (SHARP).
According to a news release, the certification recognizes businesses that voluntary undertake a safety achievement program. The four business locations receiving SHARP recognition in December were Lyman-Morse Fabrication in Thomaston, Johanson Boatworks in Rockland, French & Webb in Belfast and Marden’s in Sanford.
Employers earn SHARP recognition by operating their facility under exemplary safety and health management standards. Acceptance into SHARP by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes each business as a model for worksite safety and health standards.
“We congratulate these businesses and our other 49 SHARP locations for becoming SHARP certified,” Paquette said. “Companies that achieve SHARP status demonstrate that focusing on worker safety is of utmost importance.”
To qualify for SHARP, companies must undergo a comprehensive audit, correct all hazards identified during an on-site health and safety consultation, demonstrate that effective safety and health programs are in place and maintain injury rates below the industry average for the last year of completed data.
After awarding the SHARP designation, OSHA removes the worksite from its general scheduled inspection list for two years. If the company continues to meet all conditions of the program, the SHARP designation may be renewed for another two years.
Fewer than 2,000 worksites in the United States have earned SHARP certification.
Employers interested in learning more about the SHARP designation, should contact SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) or go to www.safetyworksmaine.com.
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