November 19, 2009 - Arnold Center Inc.'s Midland and Gladwin manufacturing facilities received the prestigious Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award for an exemplary safety and health management system at a special ceremony today.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) established the Michigan SHARP Award to recognize employers that have achieved workplace safety and health excellence far beyond their peers. The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG).
"We are very pleased to welcome Arnold Center Inc. into this elite group of companies who provide outstanding safety and health protection for their workers," said Susan R. Corbin, DELEG Deputy Director & Chief of Staff. "We applaud your leadership and commitment to provide a safe and healthy work environment."
MIOSHA Deputy Director Martha Yoder and CET Division Director Connie O'Neill presented the SHARP Award to Charlie Markey, Arnold Center President, Ann Frimodig, Arnold Center Safety Committee Chair and the Safety Committee. Employees from both manufacturing facilities, elected officials and invited guests attended the award ceremony and reception.
"The Board of Directors, staff, and employees of the Arnold Center wish to thank MIOSHA for its recognition of our efforts to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace," said Markey. "Chris Coughlin, City of Midland Fire Department, Ron Miller, Arbury Insurance Company, and Bob Brown, Cincinnati Insurance, were instrumental in leading the Arnold Center's journey in continuous improvement in our health and safety programs."
The Michigan SHARP Program targets small, high-hazard employers - to help them develop, implement and continuously improve the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health management system. SHARP provides an incentive for employers to emphasize accident and illness prevention by anticipating problems, rather than simply reacting to them.
The MIOSHA Onsite Consultation Program within the Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division operates the Michigan SHARP Program. Onsite consultants work with employers to help them become self-sufficient in managing occupational safety and health. SHARP worksites earn an exemption from "programmed" MIOSHA inspections on a yearly basis.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for the Arnold Center is 624310 - Vocational Rehabilitation Services, which is classified as a high-hazard industry. The MIOSHA review team consisted of Bob Dayringer, CET Senior Onsite Industrial Hygienist, and Bill Shane, CET Senior Onsite Safety Consultant. Bob Carrier, CET Senior Safety Consultant, worked with the Safety Committee.
In 2008, the Arnold Center had a Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) and Days Away from Work and Restricted/Transfer cases (DART) rate that was below the 2007 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) industry average. Their 2008 TCIR was 0.6 compared to the BLS rate of 6.7 for this type of industry. Their 2008 DART was 0.0, and compares favorably to the BLS rate of 3.4.
"The Michigan SHARP Program requires a comprehensive consultation visit, and the correction of all serious workplace safety and health hazards," said Yoder. "The Arnold Center has developed a safety and health management system at each site that provides outstanding protection for their workers."
The organization has an excellent system in place, which incorporates each of the seven required elements: Hazard Anticipation and Detection; Hazard Prevention and Control; Planning and Evaluation; Administration and Supervision; Safety and Health Training; Management Leadership; and Employee Participation.
The management team at the Arnold Center makes every effort to provide a safe and healthy work environment, especially allocating resources to support their safety and health system. Some of the company's best safety and health practices include:
- They have a strategic planning process that looks at the risk analysis of all operations and establishes annual safety goals.
- The Safety Committee meets monthly and all employees have some safety responsibilities.
- There is an effective hazard reporting system and monthly audits are performed by staff at all levels.
- Safety training is conducted regularly and post training effectiveness is tested.
- The facility has effective, written programs that are reviewed for effectiveness.
Arnold Center is a non-profit community rehabilitation organization with facilities in Midland and Gladwin. Since 1967 it has served the tri-county area as a catalyst for improving the quality of life for the people they serve. As a provider of vocational and related training programs and an employer of persons with disabilities, the Arnold Center has developed a proud history of providing state-of-the-art services.
For more information about DELEG, please visit www.michigan.gov/deleg. Follow DELEG at http://twitter.com/MIDELEGor visit the "DELEG" page on Facebook and Become a Fan.
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