For immediate release: Nov. 15, 2011

Beavercreek nursing home the first SHARP health-care facility in Ohio

DAYTON – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) last week recognized the United Church Homes/Trinity Community in Beavercreek (Greene County) for attaining Safety and Health Achievement Program (SHARP) status through the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). The facility is the first nursing home in Ohio to achieve SHARP status since the program began, and one of only 27 SHARP-certified Ohio employers.

“Achieving SHARP status places Trinity in an elite group of small businesses, and they deserve to be recognized as a model in the healthcare industry for workplace safety and health,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephen Buehrer. “It takes real commitment to safety to enter this program; however, the reward goes to both employees who are working in a safer environment, and employers that see costs go down as accidents decrease.”

OSHA designated BWC as the OSHA On-Site Consultation program coordinator of the SHARP program, which recognizes small employers that operate exemplary safety and health management systems. The program provides incentives and support to smaller, high-hazard employers to develop, implement and continuously improve effective safety and health programs at their work site(s). As a reward for their efforts, OSHA grants SHARP employers a two-year exemption from inspections, with the opportunity to renew for three more years of exemptions.

OSHA On-Site Consultation Program has been a wonderful process that not only has improved the safety of our employees but has provided the education and direction to continuously improve our safety program for the future,” said Trinity Administrator Laura Farrell. “I highly recommend this program for any industry that truly embraces safety in the workplace."

BWC safety and industrial hygiene consultants worked with Trinity’s management and staff for more than two years to implement changes in safety policies and programs, and help them reach their goal of becoming SHARP certified. Changes included a “no-lift” policy to minimize manual resident lifting tasks using mechanical devices whenever possible. Also created was a safety team that regularly reviews programs and policies, and hosts safety fairs to update staff and residents on safety issues.

“Our consultants were very thorough throughout a more than two-year process, providing us the tools to simplify occupational safety, so that our safety program developed into a results-based program with clear goals and objectives that we could maintain,” explained Trinity HR/Safety Director Kathy Wojcehowicz.

BWC consultants are available to help small businesses create safety programs and identify hazards that need corrected to help them achieve SHARP status, a process that can take from 12 to 24 months.

The On-Site Consultation program is one of many safety-related programs available to BWC. Ohio employers who wish to create a culture of safety and wellness within their workplaces are encouraged to learn more by calling 1-800-OHIO-BWC, or visiting OhioBWC.com.

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