McElroy receives SHARP Award for commitment to workplace safety

On Monday, June 6, 2022, McElroy was recognized for its commitment to workplace safety and its participation in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn presented the company with a proclamation commending leadership and employees.  

SHARP is an on-site consultation program that offers confidential occupational safety and health services to small- and medium-sized businesses in the U.S., free of charge.

McElroy staff are joined by OSHA representatives to recognize McElroy’s commitment to workplace safety. Pictured are, from left, Jason Hudson, OSHA Program Director; McElroy Environmental Health and Safety Manager Tony Little; Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn; and McElroy Vice President of Operations Paul Lui.

Consultants from local agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs.

“The certification process gives us another set of eyes that help us make sure we’re doing the right things here at McElroy and providing a safe workplace for our team,” said McElroy Environmental Health and Safety Manager Tony Little.

To become SHARP certified, companies must first reach out to their local OSHA representatives for a consultation visit. During the visit, representatives study the company’s entire workplace, doing walk-throughs of facilities, examining existing safety programs, interviewing employees, and going through the company’s training records. The process is time and labor-intensive, and once completed OSHA representatives provide a report of their findings.

McElroy has been SHARP certified since 1999 and is one of 19 SHARP-certified workplaces in Oklahoma. This certification extends from March 2022 to March 2024.

This dedication to workplace safety is nothing new, Little said. In 1964, McElroy founder Art McElroy asked for OSHA to visit and help assure compliance with OSHA standards. This predated federal OSHA requirements and is a testament to McElroy’s culture of safety.

“Even back in those days, Art knew that it would be good to have someone come in and help make the workplace safer for his team,” Little said.

While presenting a pair of proclamations that announce McElroy’s SHARP certification, Osborn commended the company for its commitment to safety.

“The family and the executive staff of this business believes in (employees’) safety,” she said. “And it’s our belief at the Department of Labor that everyone who goes to a job to earn a living for their family deserves a safe place where they can go home to their families at night.”

This year’s award is particularly special, said Paul Lui, McElroy’s Vice President of Operations.

“We’ve added between 70 and 80 new employees over the last couple years, and during that time, our safety performance has improved,” Lui said. “That means a lot.”

Lui went on to thank McElroy employees for ensuring the safety of themselves and others each day.

“Safety is our highest priority above all else,” Lui said. “We are proud of this SHARP Award, but it’s only a checkmark in our safety journey. The real value of this award is your safety, day in and day out.”