What is SHARP?
Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program
A safe and healthy workplace is the result of teamwork that includes
both employers and employees. Through a spirit of cooperation, employers,
employees, and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry can work
together to reduce injuries and illnesses in our workplaces.
The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) was developed
to provide incentives and support to smaller, high-hazard employers
to work with employees to develop, implement, and continuously improve
safety and health programs.
SHARP recognizes worksites that operate exemplary safety and
health programs that result in the immediate and long-term prevention
of job related injuries and illnesses. This is achieved by:
- Encouraging employers to use Virginia Occupational Safety and Health
(VOSH) funded consultation service and to involve their employees
in establishing fully effective safety and health programs;
- Providing public recognition for employers and employees who have
worked together successfully to establish effective and exemplary
safety and health programs; and
- Removing the company's name from general schedule compliance inspection
lists.
View SHARP
Sites
Eligibility
You are eligible for SHARP if you:
- Have no more than 250 employees at the site and not more than 500
total employees at all sites within the same Standard Industrial Classification
(SIC) controlled nationwide;
- Are a single, fixed worksite;
- Have at least one full year in operation;
- Have a lost workday injury and illness (LWDII) rate and a total
recordable case rate (TRCR) below that for your industry within the
established SIC or be willing to commit the time and resources to
reduce your current rates to those required over an 18-month deferral
period; or
- Be on VOSH's high hazard inspection list, or have a SIC on any emphasis
program list at the national, state or local level.
Employers with Existing Exemplary Safety and Health Programs
Employers found during the initial visit to meet all the criteria to
participate in SHARP as outlined in the eligibility section may be recommended
for participation without having to meet the 18 month deferral period.
The company must demonstrate that its LWDII and TRCR are currently below
the national average for the establishment SIC and have been maintained
at that level over time.
Employer Responsibility
Employers requesting initial participation must agree to the following:
- A full service comprehensive survey of all conditions and operations
of the establishment, including a complete safety and health program
review;
- Involve employees in the development, operation, and improvement
of all elements of the workplace safety and health program and in
the decisions that affect their safety and health; and
- Work with the consultation program to:
- Correct all identified safety and health hazards and provide
confirmation of corrections;
- Effectively implement all elements of a safety and health program;
- Lower the LWDII and TRCR rates below that of the national average
for the establishment SIC;
- Consult in advance with the consultation program on any changes
in working conditions or work processes that might introduce new
hazards into the workplace; and
- Notify the consultation program at the end of the deferral
period to request a final comprehensive visit to verify the above
requirements have been met. The site may then be recommended for
SHARP approval and participation by the Program Manager.
Larger Employees
The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry offers a companion program
for large employers, the Virginia Voluntary Protection Program (VVPP).
If you are interested in this program go to VVPP.
Click here to obtain the Consultation
Services Request Form in MS Word format.