TDI, OSHA Recognizes Texas Employers with Exemplary Safety Programs

AUSTIN, Texas, June 30 -- The Texas Department of Insurance issued the following news release:

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently recognized seven Texas companies for their outstanding safety programs.

The SHARP award recognizes small, private sector Texas employers for exemplary safety management programs and low incidence rates of work-related injuries and illnesses after participation in the TDI-DWC Occupational Safety and Health Consultation (OSHCON) program.

The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award was presented to:

* BASF Polyurethane Foam Enterprises, LLC employs 47 people at the Houston location, and produces polyurethane foam products. The company has been granted a two-year exemption from programmed OSHA inspections.

* Dewied International employs 60 people at the San Antonio location where they wash, repackage, and distribute sausage casings. The company has been ranted a two-year exemption from programmed OSHA inspections,

* Houston Foam Plastics employs 50 people at its No. 2 location in Houston location where they fabricate and store foam and corrugated boxes. The facility has been granted a two-year exemption from programmed OSHA inspections.

* Houston Foam Plastics employs 122 people at Brooks Street location in Houston where they fabricate and store foam and corrugated boxes. The facility has been granted a two-year exemption from programmed OSHA inspections.

* Panel Specialists, Inc. employs 25 people at the Temple location, and manufactures panels, partitions, wall systems, casework, furniture and countertops. The company has been granted a one-year exemption from programmed OSHA inspections.

* Rama Fabrication, Inc. employs 80 people at the Odessa location, and manufactures, installs, and repairs high pressure vessels and other oil field equipment. The company has been granted a one-year exemption from programmed OSHA inspections.

* Texas PMW, Inc. employs 60 people at the Houston location where they manufacture pipe fittings including forged pressure fittings and branch outlets. The company has been granted a two-year exemption from programmed OSHA inspections.

* Western Tank Company of Odessa employs 25 people at the Odessa location, and manufactures large industrial tanks. The company has been granted a two-year exemption from programmed OSHA inspections.

OSHCON is a free service designed to help employers understand and comply with OSHA standards through safety inspections conducted by TDI-DWC's professional consultants. Benefits for employers participating in the OSHCON program include prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses; confirmation to their employees and customers of their commitment to safety; public acknowledgement of their safety efforts; monetary savings to the company by reducing workers' compensation costs and other costs associated with work-related injuries and illnesses; and protection of company assets such as employees, equipment, supplies, products and facilities.

Employers receiving consultation services from the OSHCON program may be eligible for SHARP status if they have fewer than 250 employees at a worksite and fewer than 500 employees corporate-wide; have operations limited to a fixed worksite; undergo a full-service OSHCON consultation; involve employees in the consultation process; correct all hazards identified by the consultation; and have days away restricted time (DART) and total case rate (TCR) injury and illness incidence rates below the national average for their industries.

For further information about the OSHCON program and SHARP, call 1-800-687-7080, visit the TDI website at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/safety/oshcon.html, or e-mail [email protected].

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