The Missouri Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Acceptance into Missouri SHARP and subsequent approval by OSHA is an achievement of status that will single you out among your business peers as a model for worksite safety and health. Upon receiving SHARP recognition, your worksite will be exempt from programmed OSHA inspections from one to three years depending on your history with the program. There are currently 21 employers across Missouri who have met these requirements.

How You Can Participate In SHARP

To participate in SHARP, you must:

• Request a consultation visit that involves a complete hazard identification survey;
• Involve employees in the consultation process;
• Correct all hazards identified by the consultant;
• Implement and maintain a safety and health management system that, at a minimum, addresses OSHA's 1989 Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines;
• Lower your company's Days Away Restricted and Transferred (DART) Rate and Total Recordable Case Rate (TRCR) below the national average; and
• Agree to notify your state Consultation Project Office prior to making any changes in the working conditions or introducing new hazards into the workplace.

SHARP Certification and Inspection Exemption

After you satisfy all SHARP requirements, the Consultation Project Manager may recommend your worksite for final SHARP approval and certification from OSHA. The state and OSHA will formally recognize your worksite at a SHARP awards ceremony.

As a certified SHARP site, you will be granted a 1-year exemption from OSHA's scheduled inspections for the first year of your SHARP participation. After one year of certification, you may request renewal for 1 or 2 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 safety and health management system has been effectively maintained or improved;
• Continue to meet all eligibility criteria and program requirements; and
• Agree, if requesting a 2-year renewal, to conduct an interim-year self-evaluation and to submit a written report to your state Consultation Program Manager that is based on the elements of the 1989 Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines (available online at http://www.osha.gov) and includes OSHA's required injury and illness logs.

After the initial approval and renewal periods, SHARP renewals may be for a period up to three years.

Not Quite Ready for SHARP?

If you meet most but not all of the SHARP eligibility criteria and are committed to working toward full SHARP approval, you may be recommended by your state Consultation Project Manager for an inspection deferral of up to 18 months if:

• You have had a complete hazard identification consultation visit at your worksite and you have corrected all hazards;
• You are in the process of implementing an effective safety and health management system; and
• You can meet all SHARP requirements during the deferral period.

Please contact our office for further information if you are interested in the SHARP Program or print out the REQUEST, complete it and fax or send it in.