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FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, CONTACT:  Amy Susan (573) 751-1518
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 4, 2011

St. Louis Co, Ambassador Steel, is among Best in Workplace Safety
Department of Labor Bestows Company with Prestigious SHARP Award

Jefferson City, Mo – The Labor Department’s On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program is pleased to announce that Ambassador Steel of St. Louis, Mo, has earned the distinction of being named the newest member of the Missouri’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) for its excellent workplace safety record, for a new total of 34 SHARP businesses in the state.

“We welcome Ambassador Steel to Missouri’s elite workplace safety program,” said Larry Rebman, Director of the Labor Department. “The businesses that belong to this group are essentially the best of the best when it comes to providing a safe and hazard-free workplace. These businesses really care about their employees and should be rewarded for the commitment they put forth in protecting them,” Rebman added.

Ambassador Steel employs more than 60 people in Missouri and fabricates rebar (steel) used to build large structures. Some of Ambassador Steel’s accomplishments include St. Louis landmarks Busch Stadium, Lumiere Casino, and the St. Louis University’s Chaifetz Arena. Additional notable projects include the Prairie State Energy Campus, the largest mine and coal fuel power plant in the Midwest, as well as the Trump Tower in Chicago and the Colts Stadium in Indianapolis. Ambassador Steel has had a safety and health management program in anticipation of working with the Department’s Division of Labor Standards to pursue SHARP certification.

The on-site consultations are discretionary and are initiated by employers who want to provide a safe work environment for their workers. Businesses that achieve an excellent workplace safety record and eliminate the occurrences of injuries on the job can qualify for this exclusive safety and health incentive and recognition program. SHARP members also have lower insurance premiums, reduced worker’s compensation, and are exempt from OSHA inspections for a period of time.

“We have had an intense focus on safety for years now. Participation in the SHARP program has given us even more tools and allowed the employees to be recognized for their hard work on our primary shared value as a company. This is truly a win-win for everyone,” says Jeff Albert, Vice President of Ambassador Steel.

Ambassador Steel was honored for its achievement during a ceremony at 12 noon, on April 4, 2011, at their business, located at 150 Tyler Street, in St. Louis. Officials from the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Missouri Department of Labor attended the event to present the business a Certificate of Recognition, a SHARP flag, and a proclamation issued by Governor Jay Nixon, which will further signify their achievement.

SHARP was implemented in Missouri in 1991 and has since offered the highest level consultative services to businesses with 250 or fewer employees. The Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program is the prerequisite for those who wish to be a part of SHARP. It is designed to promote effective workplace safety and health program management by helping the employer locate and remove existing hazards in the facility, thereby reducing injuries and illnesses. SHARP is a reward program designed to provide incentives and support to smaller, high-hazard employers to work with their employees to develop, implement, and continuously improve the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health programs.

To be eligible for SHARP, a company may employ no more than 500 total employees at all nationwide worksites. In addition, the worksite’s lost workday injury and illness rate must be below the national average for its industry.

Through the safety program, Missouri employers have avoided more than $3.5 million in OSHA fines. In addition, 1,536 serious workplace hazards and 6,206 hazards in the workplace were corrected by the on-site safety consultants. For more information about the SHARP or to request a free safety and health consultation, please visit www.labor.mo.gov/SAFE or call the Division of Labor Standards at (573) 522-SAFE.

View event slideshow!

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