NAICS Code: 423310 - Lumber, Plywood, Millwork, and Wood Panel Merchant Wholesalers

Number of employees: 181

Founded in 1911, with headquarters in Green Bay Wisconsin, VerHalen, Inc. is comprised of two major business units: 1) Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin and 2) VerHalen. Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin serves residential and commercial construction customers, coordinating the sales and installation of customized windows and doors and providing field support services. VerHalen is a commercial installer of metal framing and drywall and acoustical ceilings.

In early November 2019, a proposal to partner with Wisconsin's OSHA On-Site Consultation Program (WisCon) was presented to the company's Executive Team and the first WisCon consultation visit took place later that month.

During the initial safety and industrial hygiene visits, WisCon identified several hazards including:

• Accumulation of combustible residue from water-based coatings.
• Improper guarding on woodworking related equipment.
• Temporary electrical cord was being used in a permanent manner.
• Failure to have a written certification for fall protection training.
• A secondary container was missing a hazard communication label.

The company abated all hazards within the initial required timeframe. Example abatement actions included:

• Elimination of the hazards. (e.g., discarding tools that are no longer needed)
• Engineering controls (e.g., installing machine guards).
• Multiple administrative controls (e.g., written programs and procedures).
• Enhanced personal protective equipment (e.g., replaced work gloves with A4 cut resistant alternatives and implemented eyewear that is more fog resistant than previous eyewear).

The company made additional safety and health improvements since the initial consultation visits, including:

• Developing a formal Safety Management System (SMS), including a Safety 'Playbook'. The SMS resulted in standardized programs, procedures, and forms that applied to all facets of the organization.
• Conducting fresher trainings.
• Enhanced training records, including obtaining safety training records from applicable union organizations.
• Standardized fall protection equipment and methods to store equipment.
• Improving the safety culture through employee hazard recognition activities, such as audits, and hazard reporting and improvement suggestions.

Although multiple hazards were initially identified, the WisCon consultants saw a strong commitment from VerHalen, Inc. to improve its safety and health programs. As a result, the consultants suggested that VerHalen, Inc. consider becoming a participant in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). In May 2022, VerHalen received SHARP recognition. The SHARP program acknowledges small and medium-sized businesses that have used OSHA On-Site Consultation Program services and operate exemplary workplace safety and health programs. Small businesses that achieve SHARP status receive a deferral from OSHA or the 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.

Paul Scheel, VerHalen's Corporate Safety Director, emphasizes that while the company's injury and illness rates have decreased and money has been saved on worker's compensation costs, their drive to get better goes beyond this. He said "At the end of the day, we all have someone waiting for us to come home, to hear our voice on a call, to hear what was said at school, to tie a shoe, to share a meal and to kiss someone's forehead." VerHalen continues to make improvements in safety and health every day.

Companies interested in SHARP can contact their local OSHA On-Site Consultation program to discuss details and schedule an onsite 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.