Seven facilities and counting have earned the OSHA designation
The SHARP program, administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), identifies small business employers that maintain exemplary safety and health programs. By earning SHARP recognition, businesses demonstrate their commitment to creating a culture of safety, protecting workers, and setting industry standards. For MKC, the benefits extend beyond worker wellbeing; achieving SHARP status also exempts these sites from programmed OSHA inspections for up to two years, with potential renewals.
MKC’s achievements in SHARP have been the result of a thorough, time-intensive process focused on creating a culture of safety at every level. Each recognized location collaborated with OSHA to identify workplace hazards, implement best practices, and develop robust safety programs tailored to the unique challenges of the grain industry. This recognition highlights MKC’s role as a model employer in providing safe, health-conscious workplaces that go beyond minimum safety requirements.
SHARP and Workplace Safety
The SHARP program benefits both employers and employees by creating a safer work environment. Under SHARP, companies like MKC work closely with OSHA consultants to assess potential safety risks, set preventive measures, and ensure all workers are well-equipped to maintain safety standards. As a result, employees are protected, morale is boosted, and a culture of safety is instilled throughout the workforce. This dedication to safety is often extended to the surrounding communities, as workers take these practices beyond the worksite, promoting a safer lifestyle overall.
The benefits of SHARP are also practical and economic: with a focus on proactive safety practices, companies often see a reduction in workplace incidents, translating to fewer worker compensation claims and a reduction in costly turnover. For MKC, the SHARP designation affirms its leadership in maintaining a safe workplace and attracting skilled talent who value a commitment to health and safety.
Celebration and Recognition
To honor this achievement, MKC hosted a special reception, welcoming OSHA’s area director, the SHARP program coordinator, MKC representatives, and safety advocates from each location. Each site received an official SHARP plaque and flag, signifying its commitment to safety excellence and its unique standing in the industry. Attendees also toured MKC’s new Learning Center, which provides a state-of-the-art training environment for hands-on safety education.
MKC’s Learning Center is a central element of its ongoing safety program. Designed to provide employees with realistic, hands-on training, the facility is set up to meet the needs of the high-risk grain sector. With this center, MKC can simulate potential workplace hazards in a controlled environment, allowing employees to practice safety measures and emergency responses that are critical in grain handling.
Scott Biel, director of safety, and Jon Brown, director of facilities management, discussed the facility’s development and MKC’s commitment to training that makes a meaningful impact on worker safety and the company’s bottom line. The Center underscores MKC’s goal to prepare employees for the dangers of their work, with the SHARP program playing an instrumental role in raising awareness and standards across the company.
Ongoing Commitment
Looking ahead, MKC is committed to further expanding its SHARP participation, with additional locations actively working toward certification. By embedding safety within the core values of each site, MKC not only upholds OSHA’s stringent SHARP requirements but also sets a high bar for the grain industry in fostering safe, efficient work environments.
The success of SHARP in MKC’s locations stands as a testament to the company’s ongoing safety mission: to protect employees, reduce operational risks, and set an example of safety excellence for other organizations in the agricultural sector.
For more information on OSHA SHARP, go to osha.gov/sharp.