Contact:
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661
Terry Moen, Wisconsin Health Consultation Program, 608/266-9383
MADISON–Gov. Jim Doyle today congratulated Edstrom Industries, Inc.,
Waterford, for achieving the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition
Program (SHARP) award from the federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA). SHARP honors small and medium employers that operate
top-notch safety and health management systems and maintain an injury and
illness rate below the national average for their industry. It is a part of
the voluntary OSHA Consultation program that in Wisconsin is jointly
administered by the Wisconsin Safety Consultation (WiSCon) Program at the
Department of Commerce and the Wisconsin Health Consultation Program at the
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene.
“I commend Edstrom Industries, Inc. for joining the elite Wisconsin
employers that operate exemplary safety and health management systems,” Gov.
Doyle said. “This is an example of the kind of public-private cooperation we
want to promote in Wisconsin. This company has demonstrated a strong,
ongoing commitment to the safety and health of its employees.”
“Edstrom Industries has gone beyond meeting the minimum required by OSHA
standards, and has created a culture that puts safety on an equal footing
with product quality and profit,” said Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
Director Ronald H. Laessig, Ph.D.
OSHA Region 5 Administrator Michael Connors will present a plaque to Edstrom
Industries in recognition of this achievement at a Dec. 8th ceremony at
their Waterford facility.
Edstrom Industries, Inc., which designs and manufactures automated watering
and monitoring systems for animal research facilities around the world,
employs more than 200 at its Waterford facility. The company met program
requirements by requesting a full-service visit from both the health and
safety consultation programs and correcting all identified safety and health
hazards. It has implemented and maintains an effective safety and health
management system that includes the broad categories of management
commitment, employee involvement, hazard identification and control, and
training and evaluation.
The WiSCon Safety Consultation Program assesses current safety programs and
recommends improvements; evaluates physical work practices; identifies
available assistance; and provides training and education for managers and
employees. WiSCon consultants do not issue citations, propose penalties, or
report possible safety violations to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration. Contact the WiSCon office at 1-800-947-0553, or e-mail
wiscon@commerce.state.wi.us.
The Wisconsin Health Consultation Program provides free assistance to
employers to establish and maintain a safe and healthful workplace.
Consultants conduct on-site monitoring for chemical, biological,
radiological, and physical hazards; perform ergonomic evaluation; assess the
employer’s safety and health programs; and present occupational
health-related training. This program, formerly in the Wisconsin Department
of Health and Family Services, will be moving to the Wisconsin State
Laboratory of Hygiene in early 2005. Call 608-266-9383 or e-mail
moente@dhfs.state.wi.us
information.
