The O’Fallon, MO facility of St. Louis-based textile rental and laundry service CLEAN was recently pre-certified by the Missouri Department of Labor for its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
CLEAN already participates in the Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program, which is one of the prerequisites for SHARP certification. Following the completion of a full-service health and safety survey, a thorough review of the existing health and safety management, and a review of workplace hazards by the Missouri Department of Labor, CLEAN O’Fallon was granted pre-SHARP status by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“This award is truly a reflection of the commitment to safety every employee at the O’Fallon facility has,” said CLEAN Corporate Human Resources Manager Brian Reitz. “When asked by OSHA who is responsible for safety at the O’Fallon location, an employee’s response was, ‘all of ours.’”
SHARP is a program created by the Missouri Department of Labor in the early 1990s designed to honor businesses with 250 employees or fewer who operate effective and up-to-date health and safety management programs.
Employers that receive SHARP certification are eligible for one or two-year exemptions from OSHA general inspections. The goals of the program are to improve the health and safety of workers, reduce employers’ out-of-pocket expenses related to workplace injuries, and reduce insurance costs.
According to the Missouri Department of Labor, there are currently 35 employers in Missouri who have been SHARP certified. These businesses are made members of the SHARP Association, which was created especially for SHARP employers. The purpose of the association is to mentor and provide an example to other businesses and other industries in Missouri. The Department of Labor sees SHARP as a mark of community and industry distinction for an employer.
CLEAN O’Fallon is proud to receive pre-SHARP certification. All CLEAN facilities are committed to lead their communities in workplace safety, “green” business practices, and community involvement.