December 16, 2002—Four South Dakota small businesses that have demonstrated exceptional achievements in improving their safety and health programs were recently honored by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The companies, all participants in the OSHA-funded, free consultation service conducted by Engineering Extension at South Dakota State University, are now exempt from general scheduled OSHA inspections for one year.
Receiving OSHA’s national SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) Award November 15 were: Applied Engineering Inc., Yankton; Trail-EZE Trailers, Platte; Lou-Rich Inc., Brandon; and Mereen-Johnson Machine Company, Webster.
“The SHARP program recognizes high-hazard employers who have demonstrated exemplary achievements in workplace safety and health,” said Dr. Adam Finkel, OSHA regional administrator in Denver. “They have received a comprehensive consultation program visit and have corrected all workplace safety and health hazards.”
Finkel explained that SHARP companies boast effective safety and health management systems. They also agree to call for further consultative visits when new hazards arise due to major changes in their working conditions or processes.
