A SHARP success story

Haltec Corporation earns SHARP status through positive partnership with BWC OSHA on-site

On a chilly morning in February Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer began his day with a visit to a company in Salem, Ohio. That's because Haltec Corporation, who's worked with BWC's Paul Monus and Mike McAtee from OSHA on-site for the last 18 months, had achieved Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) status.

The plan was for the administrator to present an award to the company for achieving SHARP status — that's significant. However, something even more powerful happened - the ripple effect.

The ripple effect BWC employees have when they consult with employers is significant too.

• The owner of the company flew in from Florida for the occasion.
• The project specialist mentioned how much company employees "loved" working with BWC. Monus and McAtee had been a big help teaching them ways to make their workplace safe and inspiring them to continue looking for better ways.
• The local safety council and chamber of commerce sent representatives to the ceremony.

After the ceremony, Administrator Buehrer received a tour of the plant. He saw things in work processes that were changed and introduced to employees who've worked at Haltec for years. All shared stories about what a great place it is to work. Some even have relatives working there. One woman said her two daughters and two cousins worked there. You could tell this company cares about its employees.

But, maybe, the biggest example of the ripple effect came from the head of sales. He said that from working with BWC employees, the company realized it should be selling safety with the product. The sales rep said customers have commented over and over that the safety lesson they receive with the product is highly valued. However, the company took it a step further and created a new product line.

Haltec sells tire valves. For years the process to get a reading on the pressure of the gauge has been the same, a person bends down and puts the gauge on a tire not knowing if it has been compromised and could blow up with a little added pressure. So, they created a gauge system that allows the reading and filling of the tire to be done at a safe distance and automatically. He attributed all these changes to the safety culture Haltec employees created.

Experience the ripple effect yourself. Find out more about OSHA on-site and SHARP.