County Box & Pallet earns top safety award
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — County Box & Pallet (CBP) is the latest recipient of one of the highest honors a company can receive with regard to safety, following the presentation of a SHARP award on April 1.
Staff photos/Kathy McCarty
STEVE GREELEY, director of the Workplace Safety and Health Division of the Maine Department of Labor, at left, presents a SHARP award to Scott Searles, director of work services for the Central Aroostook Association in Presque Isle. The honor was earned by the staff of County Box & Pallet in Presque Isle for their ongoing efforts to maintain a safe work environment. 
HONORED FOR SAFETY — Employees of County Box & Pallet in Presque Isle were recently honored for their efforts at maintaining a safe workplace, with the presentation of a SHARP award. Pictured in front from left are: Nathan Driscoll, Amy Thurlow, Paul Doucette, Donnie Kelly, Charlotte Coty, Stefanie Hanson, Leona York and Ray Bucklin. In back: Kiel Dionne, Glenn Miles, Milford Helton, Richard Wilcox, Justin Johnston, Robert Little, Doug Allen, Ron Doustou and Sue Smith.
The business, located on the Houlton Road in Presque Isle, employs 18 people and specializes in the manufacturing of pallets for area farms and businesses.
“The majority of our staff is trained in all aspects of production, with one trained to run our forklift. They’re placed according to their ability,” said Scott Searles, director of work services. Searles explained that most of the staff are made up of individuals who are “differently-abled.”
“They’re clients of the Central Aroostook Association. They are perfectly capable of the work we need done. They’re not disabled but rather differently-abled,” said Searles.
Searles said all receive on-the-job training, whether full- or part-time.
“They refurbish pallets, from scratch, for area farmers and businesses,” he said.
This marks the first time CBP has received a SHARP award.
“We recently celebrated three years without a lost-time injury. That’s an important milestone, give we’re in an industry that uses pneumatic nailers and hydraulic equipment on a daily basis. We match the jobs with an individual’s skill level, providing jobs for those who would otherwise be unable to find work,” said Searles. “This gives them a sense of identity.”
“They take safety very seriously. We’re proud of the culture of safety we’ve created here. Everyone polices everyone else,” said Searles.
Steve Greeley, director of the Workplace Safety and Health Division of the Maine Department of Labor, was on hand to present staff with a plaque denoting their status as a SHARP honoree.
“They’re doing a great job. This is my favorite part — presenting awards. ‘SHARP’ stands for ‘Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.’ It’s a national program involving the private sector. ‘SHAPE’ or ‘Safety and Health Award for Public Employees,’ is for the public sector — municipalities and MDOT, for example,” explained Greeley.
He said few businesses meet the requirements for SHARP recognition.
“One of our most recent in the area was presented to Bison Pump in Houlton. To receive a SHARP, a business has to have an injury/health program in place. Receiving this award impacts the business from a financial standpoint. It means they’re not paying higher work comp costs, seeing production issues due to someone out with an injury,” said Greeley. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Greeley said earning this honor means an employee is working for a safe company.
“It shows a business cares about its employees,” said Greeley. “It also results in lower employee turnover.”
He said there’s an added bonus to the business for being a recipient.
“Businesses are exempt from an OSHA inspection for two years, once they’ve been recognized. The business can then seek renewal after that. It’s a win for OSHA as well, whose time is better spent investigating concerns at other companies,” said Greeley.
Steve Richard, CAA’s executive director, said “the efforts made to achieve this SHARP award is a credit to what they (employees) do.”
Greeley said it was, in part, due to the excellent safety program CBP has in place.
“OSHA is better served going elsewhere. To achieve this honor, first Safety Works staff make a consultation visit, looking to correct any issues they find. Central Aroostook Association is one of 70 locations in the state to receive this award. This is a national program, with less than 2,000 SHARP sites in the group,” said Greeley, noting the significance of being one of the few recognized out of the many businesses there are across the United States.
“We celebrate your efforts today,” said Greeley, as he presented the award to Searles, noting “the plaque has space for renewals, so your work has just begun.”
“It’s difficult to maintain a safe and healthy work environment. I couldn’t be more proud of them (employees),” said Searles, in accepting the SHARP award.
