NAICS Code: 336390, Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing

Egelhof Controls Corporation, an automotive parts supplier based in Toledo, Ohio, and a 2018 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award recipient, has cultivated a culture of safety based on the belief that employee well-being is the cornerstone of superb quality, excellent productivity, and sustained profitability. This program acknowledges small and medium-sized businesses that have used the no-cost and confidential OSHA On-Site Consultation Program services and operate exemplary workplace safety and health programs. Egelhof realized early on that a successful campaign to achieve the SHARP certification would necessitate out-of-the-box thinking, dismantling paradigms, and setting high safety standards that few thought were necessary or achievable.

"Working with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), On-Site Consultation Program made our journey possible," said Dan Kiblawi, CEO, Egelhof tapped the resources of these two entities and was guided through the process of developing safety protocols, documentation, training, systemic excellence, goal setting, and performance tracking. The results far exceeded expectations, and the benefits far outweighed the investment in time, money, and effort.

The OSHA On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On-Site Consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies, such as BWC, 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.

Collaborating with the BWC consultants, the Egelhof safety committee, management, and employees have worked hard to put a host of safety initiatives in place. "Becoming SHARP certified has been about setting goals, having a positive attitude, keeping an open mind, embracing change, and achieving desired results," said Kiblawi. "Over the years, these values seeped into our culture and became part of our fabric."

The Egelhof Safety Committee is a group of cross-discipline employees that are passionate about challenging the status quo and maintaining a safe workplace. This committee meets monthly to conduct a safety walk through and discuss the previous month's matters, such as accessing the status of tasks, action items, and research efforts.This information is presented to the management group on a monthly basis, which allows the team to communicate its achievements and garner the support of the senior staff.

With the implementation of some key actions, Egelhof's work environment has seen significant safety improvement. Examples include the purchasing ergonomic push carts for the production department; installing a central helium distribution system, which eliminated the transportation and handling of high-pressure cylinders; improving new hire safety training; and implimenting a host of other safety-related activities. Egelhof has enjoyed and appreciated working with the BWC consultants, who have provided a wealth of knowledge in an open and friendly approach.

To create a culture of safety, Egelhof understands that all employees must engage in and value safety policies and procedures whether big or small. Safety education starts on an employee's date of hire and continues on with specialized and general training.

The company always looks for ways to make safety fun, engaging, and informative. Egelhof Health & Safety Week is a lively and informational event that inlcudes daily presentations by industry experts and a company-provided lunch. A contest amongst all employees determines the design of the safety-themed T-shirt that all employees receive once per year. Some of the topics presented during the Health & Safety Week are listed below.

To earn the OSHA SHARP designation, companies must have injury and illness rates below the national average. Because of their efforts, the Egelhof experience modification rate decreased 10%. In addition, Total Recordable Case Rate (TRC) was maintained at zero in 2015 to zero in 2017. Days Away, Restricted, and/or Transfer Rate (DART) decreased from 6.0 in 2013 to zero in 2017. For NAICS code 336390, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the industry average TRC rate was 4.2, and the average DART rate was 2.6 for 2016. [NOTE: 2016 is the most recent year national averages are available.]

These workplace safety efforts were rewarded when Egelhof was designated as a SHARP participant in March 2018. Acceptance into SHARP by OSHA is an achievement that identifies this company as a model for occupational safety and health among its business peers.

To locate the OSHA On-Site Consultation program nearest you, call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit www.osha.gov/consultation.

Source: Tarah Pinkert, Human Resouces Supervisor