NAICS Code: 333997- Scale and Balance Manufacturing

Number of employees: 45

Southwestern Scale Company, Inc. has served the needs of customers throughout Arizona, regionally, and nationally for over 70 years. It provides scale and weighing systems and services for industrial, chemical, agricultural, waste, trucking, rail, and many other applications. In the spring of 2019, Southwestern Scale Company attended an Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) Safety Summit. During the summit, the company learned about the partnership programs that ADOSH Consultation and Training offers and contacted them for more information. In November of 2020, the new Safety and Quality Compliance Manager for Southwestern Scale Company set a goal to achieve Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) status. Southwestern Scale Company reached out to ADOSH Consultation in spring of 2022.

During the initial ADOSH Consultation visit, the consultants found deficiencies with emergency exit signage, electrical relocatable power taps usage, hazard communication labeling, sling identification tags, and sling proof testing. The company made the necessary corrections. After additional Consultation site visits and program reviews, the company felt it was ready for SHARP. Southwestern Scale Company achieved its goal and received the SHARP status in summer of 2022. SHARP acknowledges small and medium-sized businesses that have used OSHA On-Site Consultation Services and operate exemplary workplace safety and health programs. Small businesses that achieve SHARP status receive a deferral from OSHA or State Plan programmed inspections for the period that the SHARP designation is valid. Acceptance of a worksite into SHARP is an achievement that identifies the employer as a model for occupational safety and health among its business peers.

In 2018, Southwestern Scale’s Total Recordable Cases (TRC) and Days Aways, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rates were over the national average. After working with ADOSH Consultation, the company was able to maintain a current three-year average of below the national average for its industry. During the 2021 calendar year, the company was able to reduce its incident rate by 50% compared to 2020.

“Achieving the SHARP certification was not the end of the race, but the beginning of putting safety first no matter what,” stated Chris Jannise, Safety and Quality Compliance Manager at Southwestern Scale. “During the journey to SHARP, we made vast improvements to our health and safety program which made our facility safer for all our employees and visitors. This was not an easy process to go through. It took great determination not just from the safety department, but from all employees top to bottom.”

Companies interested in SHARP can contact their local OSHA On-Site Consultation program to discuss details and schedule an on-site safety and health evaluation. To locate the On-Site Consultation program nearest you, call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit www.osha.gov/consultation.