AUGUSTA — Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette announced that four businesses have earned the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program Award (SHARP), bringing Maine’s total SHARP worksites to 66.
Included in those four, was Community Living Association (Green Center) in Houlton. The award will be presented April 2 at 10 a.m.
“Employers earn SHARP recognition by operating their facility under strict safety and health management standards,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “We congratulate these four worksites for earning SHARP certification. They demonstrate to their industry peers that making safety a priority pays off for everyone.”
Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette stated, “SHARP companies know that a safer facility is not only good for Maine workers, but also good for their businesses. Better safety means less lost time due to injury and illness as well as lower workers’ comp costs.”
To qualify for SHARP, companies must undergo a comprehensive audit, correct all hazards identified during an onsite 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.
