Dear Valued Customer,

In this issue of the “——————“ we focus on the OSHA Recognition For An Exceptional Injury & Illness Prevention Program.

The On-site Consultation Program’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes small business employers who operate an exemplary injury and illness prevention program. Not only that, by achieving SHARP status, you have placed yourself in an elite group of small businesses that maintain exemplary injury and illness prevention programs. Read on to understand the benefits of SHARP.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

Source: United States Department of Labor, “On-site Consultation https://www.osha.gov website. Accessed November 24, 2015. https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/sharp.html

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

By achieving SHARP status, you have placed yourself in an elite group of small businesses that maintain exemplary injury and illness prevention programs. In addition to being granted an exemption from OSHA programmed inspections for up to 2 years, and subsequent renewal for up to 3 years,^*you:

Provide Protection

• Protect workers from all safety and health hazards that may exist at your workplace;
• Work with OSHA to identify and implement best practices to protect your workers;
• Develop an innovative injury and illness prevention program for your business that will protect your workers.

Create a Culture

• Create a better working environment free of safety and health hazards;
• Boost worker morale by involving workers in creating a culture that emphasizes a safe and healthful workplace;
• Improve communication among workers and management;
• Encourage safety in the community as workers may transfer safe and healthy work practices outside of the workplace.

Build a Reputation

• Receive official recognition from OSHA for your achievement of SHARP status and for maintaining an exemplary injury and illness prevention program;
• Become a leader in your industry by providing a safe and healthy workplace for workers;
• Attract skillful workers looking to join a business that is at the forefront of its industry in providing a safe and healthy workplace for its workers;

Save Money

• Lower worker compensation insurance premiums;
• Improve your worker retention and reduce costly turnover;
• Reduce worker days away from work to keep operations and production running smoothly;

See how many worksites have become Small Business Success Stories through SHARP!

^*Participation in SHARP does not eliminate the responsibilities of owners or rights of workers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Under OSHA, the following types of incidents can trigger an OSHA enforcement inspection at SHARP sites: formal complaints, fatality, imminent danger situations and any other significant events as directed by the Assistant Secretary of OSHA.

Source: United States Department of Labor, “What are the Benefits of SHARP?” https://www.osha.gov website. Accessed November 24, 2015. https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/sharp_benefits.html

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

After you satisfy all SHARP requirements, the Consultation Project Manager in your state may recommend your worksite for SHARP approval. The state and OSHA will formally recognize your worksite with a SHARP Certificate. Many states coordinate with your worksites to hold ceremonies and further recognize your achievements.

When you are initially certified as a SHARP site, you will be granted an exemption from OSHA programmed inspections for up to 2 years^*. After your initial certification, you may request SHARP renewal for up to 3 years^**, provided that you:

• Apply for renewal during the last quarter of the exemption period;
• Allow a full service comprehensive visit to ensure that your exemplary injury and illness prevention program has been effectively maintained or improved;
• Continue to meet all SHARP eligibility criteria and program requirements; and
• Agree, if requesting a 2 or 3 year renewal, to conduct and submit an Interim Year SHARP Site Self-Evaluation to your state On-site Consultation Program Manager that is based on the elements of the Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines and includes your worksite’s injury and illness logs that are required by OSHA to be maintained.

See how many worksites have become Small Business Success Stories through SHARP!

^*Participation in SHARP does not eliminate the responsibilities of owners or rights of workers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Under OSHA, the following types of incidents can trigger an OSHA enforcement inspection at SHARP sites: formal complaints, fatality, imminent danger situations and any other significant events as directed by the Assistant Secretary of OSHA.

^**Please note that OSHA recently published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing changes to the regulations covering the On-site Consultation Program and SHARP exemptions. The proposed changes can be found at 75 FR 54064.

Source: United States Department of Labor, “What happens after my small business achieves SHARP?” https://www.osha.gov website. Accessed November 17, 2015. https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/sharp_achieves.html

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.