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(Springfield) The Department of Consumer and Business Services, Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) today announced the graduation of Selectemp from Oregon OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

SHARP is a recognition program that provides an incentive and road map for Oregon employers to work with their employees to find and correct hazards, to develop and implement effective safety-and-health programs, to continuously improve, and become self-sufficient in managing occupational safety-and-health issues. Currently 91 employers in Oregon participate in the safety-and-health recognition program. Selectemp in Springfield has been a member of SHARP for five years, and with today's announcement becomes the tenth employer in the state to be recognized as a 'SHARP Graduate.'

Selectemp in Springfield has not experienced a serious injury that resulted in a day of work being lost for five years. The state average for temporary service employers is 1.6 lost-workday cases annually.

"The human impact of that success is that nine people did not become seriously injured during the past five years that our statistics suggest could have been injured," says Peter De Luca, administrator of Oregon OSHA.

Membership in SHARP does not restrict Oregon OSHA regulatory enforcement for workplace safety, and employees retain all workplace safety and health rights contained in the Oregon Safe Employment Act. Oregon employers who have been in business for more than one year are eligible to apply for SHARP regardless of size or type of business.

Oregon OSHA is committed to partnering with employers and workers to keep Oregon's injury rates low, and workers' compensation costs under control. One of the best things an employer can do to prevent injuries is to properly train employees. Oregon OSHA offers free training, free safety and health consultations, and education and training materials from the OR-OSHA Resource Center.
Keep your employees and workplaces safe through a commitment to training, education and elimination of hazards. More information and resources are available on Oregon OSHA's Web site, www.orosha.org

For additional information about the SHARP program, contact Mark Hurliman with Oregon OSHA at (503) 947-7437.