Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)

SHARP recognizes small business employers who have used OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program services and operate an exemplary injury and illness prevention program. Acceptance of a worksite into SHARP by OSHA is an achievement of status that singles you out among your business peers as a model for worksite safety and health.

* Participation in SHARP does not eliminate the responsibilities of owners or rights of workers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Under OSHA, the following types of incidents can trigger an OSHA enforcement inspection at SHARP sites: formal complaints, fatality, imminent danger situations and any other significant events as directed by the Assistant Secretary of OSHA.

Who is eligible for SHARP?

• For businesses already in OSHA's On-site Consultation Program: Everyone currently in the program.
• For new businesses who want to join: The size requirements for employer participation in SHARP are 250 or fewer onsite employees and fewer than 500 corporate-wide employees. This upper corporate size limit does not apply to individual franchisees.

What are the benefits of SHARP?

• By achieving SHARP status, you have placed yourself in an elite group of small businesses that maintain exemplary injury and illness prevention programs. In addition to being granted an exemption from OSHA programmed inspections for up to 2 years, and subsequent renewal for up to 3 years, you:

  Provide Protection

  • Protect workers from all safety and health hazards that may exist at your workplace;
  • Work with OSHA to identify and implement best practices to protect your workers;
  • Develop an innovative injury and illness prevention program for your business that will protect your workers.

  Create a Culture

  • Create a better working environment free of safety and health hazards;
  • Boost worker morale by involving workers in creating a culture that emphasizes a safe and healthful workplace;
  • Improve communication among workers and management;
  • Encourage safety in the community as workers may transfer safe and healthy work practices outside of the workplace.

  Build a Reputation

  • Receive official recognition from OSHA for your achievement of SHARP status and for maintaining an exemplary injury and illness prevention program;
  • Become a leader in your industry by providing a safe and healthy workplace for workers;
  • Attract skillful workers looking to join a business that is at the forefront of its industry in providing a safe and healthy workplace for its workers;

  Save Money

  • Lower worker compensation insurance premiums;
  • Improve your worker retention and reduce costly turnover;
  • Reduce worker days away from work to keep operations and production running smoothly;

How can my small business participate in SHARP?

• To participate in SHARP, you must:
  • Request a comprehensive consultation visit from our office that involves a complete hazard identification survey;
  • Involve employees in the consultation process;
  • Correct all hazards identified by the consultant;
  • Implement and maintain an injury and illness prevention program that, at a minimum, addresses OSHA's Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines;
  • Maintain your company's Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rate and Total Recordable Case (TRC) rate below the national average for your industry; and
  • Agree to notify our office prior to making any changes in the working conditions or introducing new hazards into the workplace.

What happens after my small business achieves SHARP?

• After you satisfy all SHARP requirements, the Consultation Project Manager in your state may recommend your worksite for SHARP approval. The state and OSHA will formally recognize your worksite with a SHARP Certificate. Many states coordinate with your worksites to hold ceremonies and further recognize your achievements.
• When you are initially certified as a SHARP site, you will be granted an exemption from OSHA programmed inspections for up to 2 years. After your initial certification, you may request SHARP renewal for up to 3 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 injury and illness prevention program has been effectively maintained or improved;
  • Continue to meet all SHARP eligibility criteria and program requirements; and
  • Agree, if requesting a 2 or 3 year renewal, to conduct and submit an Interim Year SHARP Site Self-Evaluation to your state On-site Consultation Program Manager that is based on the elements of the Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines and includes your worksite's injury and illness logs that are required by OSHA to be maintained.
  • See how many worksites have become Small Business Success Stories through SHARP

What if my small business is not quite ready for SHARP?

• If you meet most but not all of the SHARP eligibility criteria and are committed to working toward SHARP approval, you may be recommended for Pre-SHARP status. Upon achieving Pre-SHARP status, you are granted a deferral from OSHA programmed inspections.
• To achieve Pre-SHARP status:
  • You have had a full service, comprehensive consultation visit at your worksite;
  • You have corrected all hazards identified by the consultant(s);
  • You have informed your workers of hazard correction(s);
  • You are in the process of implementing an effective injury and illness prevention program; and
  • You can meet all SHARP requirements during the Pre-SHARP deferral period, not to exceed a total of 18 months.
  • To determine your eligibility for Pre-SHARP, schedule an On-site Consultation visit by contacting our office.