Visitors who tour BC Wood Products pass by a certificate right out front that shows our central Virginia facility has been recognized as a top-notch site for workplace safety through the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
What is the SHARP certification?
Relatively few workplaces in our state have been honored with the SHARP designation from the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. That’s because the bar to earn that certification is so high.
But BC Wood Products cleared that bar through a five-year journey where we repeatedly refined and improved our safety processes.
State inspectors toured BC Wood Products to make sure we had the needed personal protective equipment and that proper safety signage was displayed on-site. It’s such a comprehensive review that also covers lots of other safety issues, and we got better every year on our way to being certified.
Why is the SHARP certification important?
Earning our SHARP designation sends a message that everybody here at BC Wood Products looks out for each other. It says to each employee that we value you and your experience and that we want you to go home safe at the end of the workday.
When I first started here, I got a powerful reminder of our dedication to workplace safety. One day, as I took a couple steps while going from the office to the cutting area, 10 employees immediately called over and reminded me to put on one of the safety vests we wear to make us more visible as we move about the equipment.
That’s just one example of how safety is at the forefront of how we do business. We bring a continuing commitment to protecting our employees.
If you’re unsafe in our industry, you can lose your life. We constantly drive that message home to new employees as we train them on the seriousness of protecting themselves on the job.
While our SHARP certification lets employees know just how much we value their safety, it also sends a message to potential customers about the level of professionalism here at BC Wood Products. Many of them are familiar with the SHARP program and know that it takes a lot of effort to earn this designation.
Our dedication to safety is just one of the ways we look out for our employees. We know that when we take care of our employees, they take care of our customers.
If you want to see our dedication to safety firsthand, we invite you to set up a tour by calling us at 804-798-9154.
